Planning minutes "not true reflection" (From Western Telegraph)

Pembrokeshire County Council planning minutes "not true reflection" says councillor

1:20pm Saturday 16th February 2013 in County News

The minutes of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee were criticised by one of its members last week, after a three-hour meeting was recorded in just 100 lines of text.

Councillor Phil Baker raised his concerns after Cllr Brian Hall had moved the minutes of the committee’s January 8th meeting as a true and accurate reflection, seconded by Cllr Peter Morgan.

Cllr Baker noted that the ministerial board had been “quite critical” of the council’s minutes and said it concerned him that the three hour January meeting was recorded in just three and a half pages.

He said: “I feel for a three hour meeting this isn’t a true reflection, I do not think they are full or accurate.”

Cllr Baker outlined that the points raised by two objectors to a Pembroke Dock application were not mentioned in the minutes, one of which came from the local county councillor, Alison Lee.

He added: “I found it difficult to recall one month later what Cllr Lee said in her representation.

“I don’t think it’s right that to get that detail we have to look at publications in the public domain.”

He also noted a lack of detail for an application for 40 yurts near Redberth, which had sparked a 30 minute discussion, and said Cllr Viv Stoddart had not objected to a solar array application at Liddeston, contrary to the minutes.

The council’s director of development Dr Steven Jones said the minutes followed the pattern implemented in 1996.

He added: “If the mood of the meeting is you want us to look again at the threads of discussion, I’m happy to talk to my colleagues in the services section.”