design review panels
I am being tasked with setting up a Design Review Panel. ONe question has arisen in my mind that I'd appreciate views on. The reports of these panels would be public information and also fed back to developers to inform their schemes. hilst useful to support a Coujncil decision, what happens if the Council's decision goes contrary to the design panel's advice? I can see the design panel's support being quoted against us on appeal. Worse where the real reasons for refusal are not always for the most defensible on planning grounds! Alternatively, the panel may recommend refusal but the Council may chose to permits. Aggreived residents may then go to the Ombudsman. Anyone had any experience of this and any views?
Design Review Panels
On the question of what happens when a Council decides not to take the advice of the Panel. At Merton we are in the process of setting up such a Panel. The advice that I have received from our Legal Services is that the Council are quite at liberty to go against the advice given to them by a Panel (for example on a planning application). In that eventuality individual members of the Panel can, if they wish, make publicly known their views on the application, and may even give evidence against the Council's position in an appeal situation.
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Kingston has its first panel tomorrow 1-5pm. If you'd like to come and observe you are more than welcome. Just let me know. I'll feedback what happens with the panel advice, after committees nxt year. 0208 547 5311 patrick.whelan@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Pat Whelan
