How to Register to Speak
If you want to attend a planning committee to speak either in favour of, or against, a planning application you will need to telephone us at 020 8207 7550 between 10am and 4pm on the day of the meeting.
When phoning, you will need to tell us:
- your name, address and telephone number;
- details of the application on which you wish to comment;
- whether you support or object to the application;
- whether you are speaking on your own behalf or also representing the views of others; and
- whether or not you will allow the information you give to be passed to others who have an interest in the application, before the meeting starts.
All requests will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis and only apply to planning applications, enforcement action or tree preservation orders. Therefore, the earlier you call after lines open, the more likely you are to successfully register to speak on an application.
Applicants who wish to speak on their own applications at Planning Committee still have to register through this process. According to our Constitution, Applicants may override others who have already called to speak in favour their application if they call to register to do so.
Information for Registered Speakers
- At each meeting, only one person can speak in favour of an application and one against an application. Each person has three minutes to speak.
- If you are speaking on behalf of others, (e.g. neighbours) you will need to prove evidence of this in writing before the meeting starts, otherwise such claims will be ignored.
- The order in which the planning applications are heard at Committee can be varied on the night by the Chair. Therefore, timing or order of specific items cannot be guaranteed despite the order in which they are presented in the published agenda papers.
- The Chair will call upon you to speak when it is your turn to do so. After speaking, you will be invited to join the members of the committee to address the chairman with your comments. You are not allowed to ask questions of the committee, but councillors may ask you questions.
- Please note, our planning meetings are filmed and broadcast live on the internet. These are then kept on our website for six months after the meeting.
- With the exception of your telephone number or any other information requested to be withheld under the Data Protection Act, the information you give will be available at the meeting and given to any members of the press and/or public who are there.
- If you do not wish to provide the required information, then officers can turn down your request.
- For further details of exceptions, specific rules and requirements, see part 4.1 (section 26) of our constitution.
Attendance & Accessibility
Seating at Committee can only be guaranteed for registered speakers, of which maximum 2 public speakers (one for, one against) can register per application. Otherwise, seating is provided on a first come, first served basis.
Those attending the meeting who are not registered to speak through the process above are reminded that they will not be allowed to speak or otherwise make representations at Committee. You may be asked to leave the meeting if you try to do so.
Planning meetings are filmed and broadcast live on the internet. These are then kept on our website for six months after the meeting.
If you wish to attend a Planning Committee meeting and you have specific accessibility requirements, please email democratic.services@hertsmere.gov.uk in advance of the meeting date and we will try our best to accommodate you.
*Please Note: Further information needed regarding speaking at Planning is also available on page 3 of all published Planning agendas.*
