Parish Councils (PC) are statutory consultees in the planning process and must be informed
of all planning applications, and any amendments to those applications, within the parish.
The PC can only comment on these planning applications in the same way as any other
member of the public. However, any comments by the PC must be agreed during a properly
called public council meeting.
Members of the public attending a meeting can comment, speak in support of or object to
any application during the ‘Open Forum’ segment of the meeting, but not during the
council’s deliberations later. However, they may be asked to provide clarity on details of the
application during the PC’s deliberations at the invitation of the person chairing the meeting.
Comments agreed in the council meeting are submitted in writing by the Parish Clerk to the
relevant planning authority. The Planning Authority for Bourton is Dorset Council.
Please remember that the PC is only a consultee and counts as one opinion. Without advice
from residents of the Parish the members of the PC will give their own opinions. The PC can
seek the views of residents of the Parish, particularly in controversial cases, and will
reflect such local feeling during the deliberation process. However, should there be
widespread objection, or support, for a proposal the PC will always urge members of the
public to send their own individually written letters or e-mails direct to the planning authority
(in your own words rather than a circular type as these are more effective).
It must be understood that the PC’s comments in response to a planning application can
only be based on planning matters. Where possible the PC can quote polices in the Local
Plan as these are the starting point for considering the merits of any application.
Objections should be clear, concise, relevant, and accurate to stand a chance of being
accepted. Whilst the local planning authority must consider the representations of the PC
this does not mean that an application will be decided in accordance with the views of the
PC. In reaching a decision, the local planning authority is required to weigh up all issues
associated with an application and comments made by the PC may have insufficient weight
to enable the application to be determined in line with the wishes of the Parish.
Any comments or objections made must have a genuine material planning consideration
and be a matter of relevance to the development.