The Planning Applications Committee is responsible for all functions relating to town and country planning and development control specified in the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) Regulations 2000, including:

·       Development control

·       Building control

·       Conservation matters

·       Tree preservation orders

·       Listed buildings

·       Street naming

·       Public rights of way

The full terms of reference can be found in Article 8 of the Council’s Constitution:

Constitution of the council - Reading Borough Council

Public Speaking at Planning Applications Committee

(1)  Public speaking at meetings of the Planning Applications Committee will be allowed in line with the resolutions of Planning Applications Committee on 23 September 1998 and 7 November 2001 (Minutes 55 and 57 refer):

In every case where an individual planning application is to be considered by the Planning Applications Committee, the Head of Planning and Building Control will:

a) Inform by letter all people who have commented on a planning application that the application is to be considered by the Committee, and the date of the Committee meeting, and

b) Send them a copy of the Public Speaking at Planning Committee leaflet with the letter;

(2)    Any persons receiving the letter referred to in 1(a) above may notify the Head of Planning and Building Control that they wish to speak on the application at the Planning Applications Committee meeting, subject to such notification being in writing and being received by the Head of Planning and Building Control by 2:00pm two days before the Planning Applications Committee meeting (this means that if the Committee meeting is held on a Wednesday, this notification must be received by 2.00pm on the preceding Monday)

The local Reading MPs may also give similar notice that he/she wishes to speak on the application at the Planning Applications Committee, subject to the site being within his/her constituency.

(3) Where the Head of Planning and Building Control receives a notification under (2) above:

a) S/he will then notify the applicant and agent that other person(s) have given notice that they wish to speak on their application at the meeting.

b) The applicant and agent may notify the Head of Planning and Building Control, up to 1:00pm of the day of the meeting, that they also wish to speak on the application.

c) Applicants/agents may only speak on their application if another person has given notice to speak under (2) above; and where they have themselves given notice to speak under 3(b) above.

(4) Public speaking will take place after the introduction of the item by the Chair/officers but before discussion of the item by the Committee.

(5) Public speakers who have given notice will speak first and together will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to address the Committee (unless the Chair of the Committee using his/her discretion, allows a longer period for public speaking), regardless of the number of public speakers, and whether they are objecting or supporting the application.

(6) The Committee may then ask questions of individual public speakers to clarify any points made by them.

(7) The applicant/agent of the application will then be allowed a maximum of five minutes to address the Committee.

(8) The Committee may then ask questions of the applicant/agent to clarify any points made by them.

(9) No members of the public will be allowed to address the Committee unless they have given notice to speak under (2) above or the Chair of the Committee uses his/her discretion to give such permission to speak.

(10) Members of Committee will then debate the proposal and make their decision.

(11) Public speaking may not take place on the same application more than once in any six month period, unless the Chair of the Committee, using his/her discretion, considers it is appropriate to do so, for example in cases where there has been a significant “material change in circumstances” within the preceding six months.