Planning Committee

The Planning Committee consists of at least four Councillors and usually meets twice every month throughout the year.

The committee examines all planning applications applicable to North Mymms parish and responds to the Planning Authority (which is Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Planning department) within the prescribed consultation timetable.

NMPC are consultees and therefore able to make “Major Objection, Objection, Support, Conditional Response, Comment” or “No Comment” responses as considered appropriate.

The decision to grant or refuse any application lies with the Planning Authority.

When it is considered necessary, because of a Planning issue such as height, proximity, over dominance, out of keeping with the streetscene or a number of other concerns, the committee will make Comments to WHBC. Most applications are decided by the Planning Officer assigned to the case and this is known as a “Delegated decision”.

Submitting a Major Objection is more serious and reserved for matters of great concern. When NMPC make a Major Objection the application has to be determined by the Development Management Committee consisting of Borough Ward Councillors. The Borough Councillors decide at their meeting whether to approve or refuse the application having considered the concerns raised. A NMPC Councillor will attend this meeting to speak about the issues raised in the objection.

NMPC cannot object on a Parishioner’s behalf.

On occasion NMPC will attend and speak if required at an Appeal hearing where an application has been refused, particularly when this Council has objected to the original planning application.

In assessing the Planning issues the character of the Parish is of major importance but times change and move on and whilst it is good to retain a sense of what is good about this place, Councillors also aim to take into account the wider needs and demands of today and endeavour to take a sound planning view of applications which impact on us all.