News

WHY REFER HEALTH CENTRE PLANS TO PLANNING COMMITTEE?

Dear Ed,

Is there something I am missing, has there been a change to Shepway`s planning procedures that o­nly the Chairman of Hawkinge Parish Council knows about?

I refer of course to your article about our Parish Council`s objection to the Health Centre plans.

Why does Cllr. David Callaghan want these plans referred at all to the Development Control Committee when his own Parish Council has recommended refusal of this application?

Such a recommendation from a Parish Council means that the o­nly decision that can be made by Planning Officers under delegated powers is refusal.

So why take that scenario away, by `calling in` this application?

I believe a District Councillor like Mr.Callaghan would normally o­nly do this if they want a different outcome to that which can only be reached by this process. 

VERITAS