North Lincolnshire Council, the decision-making planning authority, has given notice it intends to stop sending local councils like Brigg printed copies of all applications for them to consider as the first stage in the planning process. Instead, it wants town and parish councils to visit the planning portal (website) to view the applications, supporting documentation, reports and comments.
But Brigg Town Council does not see why its staff, rather than North Lincolnshire's, should now spent time and money printing copies for members to study. It points out that not everyone has access to computer technology and that some people find it more difficult to access and study complicated diagrams online. Nor is providing a computer to study online material part of the requirement of becoming a town councillor.
Town Mayor Coun Ben Nobbs told colleagues, meeting in the Angel Suite, that he had raised concerns on the issue at a Town and Parish Council Liaison Meeting with North Lincolnshire Council, suggesting the "electronic means only" system was unworkable and impractical.
Coun Nobbs said the chairman of the meeting, from North Lincolnshire Council, had then "referred back" the change in the planning system for further consideration within his authority.
Although some planning applications do not generate much paperwork, some more elaborate ones, like new supermarkets, can result in a cardboard box full of material for councils like Brigg to consider.
It has been suggested that parish and town councils could use laptop computers to project the relevant documentation and plans on to large screens at their meetings.
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING AN EXCITING NEW WEBSITE?
brigg people
“YOURS TRULY” IS THE COMMUNITY PUBLISHER. YOU CAN REGISTER WITH THE SITE AND THEN UPLOAD YOUR OWN NEWS, SPORT AND VIEWS.
Why does everyone make it so complicated, Scribs....?
ReplyDeleteSaving reams of paperwork is easy....just cancel the planning bit...piece of cake!!