Concern as council restricts public say on planning decisions in Sheffield
Only two members of the public will be allowed to speak on planning proposals while Sheffield Council holds its meetings virtually.
Just one person will be allowed to speak against plans and one for - despite there often being many written representations from different groups or individuals for any one application.
Brian Holmshaw, who often raises heritage concerns about proposals, said: “I was pretty shocked.
“You've always got a range of opinion that comes out at a planning meeting, particularly if it's a controversial one like the Deepcar one next week and it's impossible to get that range across to councillors without those voices from local people and specialist groups."
The council said where more than one person wants to speak, a nominated person should be chosen and where an agreement on a spokesman is not reached, speakers will be chosen on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
However, often there are many written representations on applications each expressing different views or issues.
For example on the agenda for the council's first virtual planning meeting next week is an application for 430 homes which has received written comments from 14 different people and groups, including MP Miriam Cates, Stocksbridge Town Council, the Upper Don Trail Trust, South Yorkshire Bat Group, the Don Valley Railway Group and the Woodland Trust.
Coun Douglas Johnson, a substitute member of the planning committee, wrote to officers to complain and asked how these changes were decided.
In an email sent to the council, he said: “It is obvious this will have a stifling effect on members of the public who might be concerned at a property development that will seriously affect them.
“It has the effect of disabling people from taking part in a meeting.
“I have to say it is also highly disrespectful of individual members of the public by treating ‘the public’ as a single organisation with a leader or spokesman.
“This person would be required to speak on behalf of other members of the public to whom they have no accountability.
“They would not share the same views and might indeed have opposing views and there is no reason to think they would even know each other.
“Furthermore, the requirement to file a detailed written statement of material planning considerations three days in advance – and only two or three days after the committee papers are published - will have the effect of disenfranchising many members of the public who are not professionally involved in the planning process.
“I understand committee chairs may be apprehensive about managing a committee meeting by Zoom but this is really not the way to do it.”
The council's first virtual planning meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 12, from 2pm.
To register interest in speaking at the meeting, email [email protected] by 2pm on Friday, May 8.