If you are thinking of speaking at the committee meeting, please utilise the following guidance.
Who can speak
Applicants/agents and members of the public who are for or against an application can address the committee. The points must relate to a previously submitted written representation made on the planning application.
How many people can speak
In circumstances where more than one person wishes to speak either for or against an application, you must nominate one spokesperson or divide the time between yourselves.
Speaking time
A total of three minutes is allowed for objectors and supporters. This does not include time spent answering the committee's questions.
Questions from the committee
Yes, but only questions of clarification.
Registering to speak
You must submit your request in writing by 12pm the day before the meeting to Democratic Services, Department of Corporate Resources, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, PO Box 21, Archway Road, Huyton, L36 9YU. You can email planning.speaking@knowsley.gov.uk and include the following information:
- Your name, address and telephone number
- Application number and details of the relevant application
- Whether you support or oppose the application
- If you are happy for your details to be shared with others who register the same request to speak. This will enable you to arrange who speaks and for how long
- Whether you are nominating anybody to speak on your behalf. If so, you need to provide their name and contact details.
Only provide the details listed above. Please do not seek to use this as an opportunity to restate or add to your representations already made to Planning Services.
You can contact Democratic Services on 0151 443 3582 before the 12pm deadline to make sure they have received your request. You should allow enough time to comply with the procedure in the event that they have not received your request.
Speaking on your behalf
Yes, as long as you registered the request to speak.
Arrival time
You should arrive by 5.45pm and report to the democratic services officer.
Committee procedure
- Introduction by the Chairperson
- Presentation of report by planning officer
- Objectors speak for three minutes
- Committee asks questions of clarification
- Supporters speak for three minutes
- Committee asks questions of clarification
- Planning officer comments on any factual matters raised by the speakers
- Committee debates the applications and asks questions to officers and reaches a decision
- Chairperson informs the meeting of the decision and the procedure for formal notification of the decision
Deferred applications
You will need to register your request to speak again.
Matters considered by the committee
The committee must consider all applications in the light of the Development Plan and any other material considerations such as:
- Loss of light
- Effect on listed buildings and conservation areas
- Overshadowing
- Landscaping
- Overlooking and/or loss of privacy
- Road access
- Adequacy of parking/loading/turning areas
- Highway safety
- Overbearing nature of proposal
- Traffic regeneration
- Loss of trees
- Noise and disturbance resulting from use
- Layout and density of buildings
- Smells
- Design, appearance and materials
- Disabled persons access
- Safety aspects of hazardous materials
- Archaeology
- Nature conservation
- Visual amenity (but loss of private view is not material)
Issues which the committee cannot normally take into account include matters controlled under the Building Regulations and other legislation, issues between neighbours/properties and construction issues.
Meeting agendas
You can view agendas and reports on our website.
You can request a hard copy of an item before the meeting by calling 0151 443 3582, charges may apply.