Issue - meetings

The Overview and Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme was considered by Members.

A request was made to add to the work programme an item to review the consultation platform that was being used for the current Draft Development Strategy (Local Plan) consultation. Concerns were raised by Members in regard to the quality and ease of use of the platform and it was requested that information on the costs of obtaining the platform, details of testing done prior to release for public consultation, information about the functionality of the platform and the lessons learned from the implementation of the platform should be provided in a report to Overview and Scrutiny. It was requested that this be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Board at its next meeting.

Members commented that, given the circumstances and importance of the Draft Strategic Development Plan Consultation, an urgent decision should be made to extend the consultation period. In this context, Members proposed that this item should be considered as urgent business at the Cabinet meeting due to take place on 10^th September. It was noted that the consultation was currently due to finish on 22^nd September and it was imperative that time was allowed for a decision to take place prior to the end of consultation.

The Board received advice from the Monitoring Officer on how urgent business could be reviewed by Cabinet and still comply with access to information rules. Members deliberated on the wording of the recommendation and the Board formulated the proposal that the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board submit a request on behalf of the Board asking that Cabinet discuss as an item of urgent business whether to extend the current public consultation period for the Draft Development Strategy Consultation. This recommendation was proposed, seconded and on being put to the vote agreed.

RECOMMENDED that the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board submit a request on behalf of the Board that Cabinet consider, as an item of urgent business, whether to extend the current public consultation period for the Local Plan.