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Public Participation at Meetings

Public Participation at Meetings

On this page you will find information about:

  • Public Participation at Planning Committee Meetings
  • Public Participation at full Authority and Policy and Resources Committee Meetings

Agendas for all meetings of the SDNPA which are to be held in public are confirmed and published  5 working days before a meeting. Requests to speak are accepted after the agendas are published and items on the agenda confirmed. 

Public Participation at Planning Committee Meetings

In the interests of achieving fairness, applicants, agents, Parish Councils, members of the public and representatives of organisations have the opportunity to participate at Planning Committee meetings. To speak at a Planning Committee meeting you should normally have made written representations on the planning matter in question.

A maximum of six people are able to speak on each planning application, or related matter. This includes up to three speakers in support and up to three speakers against a particular application. Speakers are able to address the meeting for up to three minutes without any questions, discussions or debate.

Anyone wishing to speak at a Planning Committee meeting should register their request, by emailing the following information to public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk  no later than 12 noon, 3 working days before the meeting. For example, if the meeting is to be held on a Thursday, you should register by 12 noon on the previous Monday:

  • Name:
  • Address:
  • Phone Number:
  • Email:
  • Planning Application Number:
  • Address of Proposed Development:
  • Strategy and Policy item title (if appropriate):
  • Are you speaking in support or against the application?:
  • Are you representing yourself, someone else or an organisation?:

In the event that more than 3 people request to speak in support or against an item it may be necessary for them to agree amongst themselves who should speak at the meeting. In order to facilitate this process we would ask you to confirm that you are happy for us to share your name and e-mail address with other potential speakers. We will not share any other personal details with any other third parties.

  • YES, I am happy for my details to be shared / NO, Please do not share my details (please delete as appropriate)

Confirmation that you have registered to speak: You will receive an automatic email notifying you that your email has been received. Formal confirmation that you are registered to speak at Committee will be sent after 12 noon deadline, 3 days before Committee. If you do not receive a confirmation email by the end of the day 3 days before Committee, please contact public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk or call 01730 814810 and ask to speak to the Committee Officer.

More detailed information relating to Public Speaking at Planning Committee meetings is available in Appendix 3 of the South Downs National Park Standing Orders

Public Participation at Authority and Policy and Resources Committee Meetings

Parish Councils, members of the public and representatives of organisations have the opportunity to participate at meetings of the South Downs National Park Authority, including their Policy and Resources Committee.

Anyone who wishes to register to speak at an Authority or Policy and Resources Committee meeting should notify the Committee Officer at least 24 hours before the commencement of the meeting by emailing public.speaking@southdowns.gov.uk or, if you are not able to email, by calling 01730 819357.

When you email or call please be ready to provide:

  • Name:
  • Address:
  • Phone Number:
  • Email:
  • Address:
  • A brief summary of the matter/s about which you wish to speak
  • Confirmation of whether you are representing yourself, someone else, or a group

Speakers are able to address the meeting for up to three minutes, with any statements, questions or petitions being heard and received without debate.

More detailed information relating to Public Speaking at Authority and Policy and Resources Committee meetings is available in Appendix 3 of the South Downs National Park Authority Standing Orders.

Webcasting

All Authority meetings are currently being held online due to the covid-19 pandemic. Members of the public area able to watch Authority meetings and committee meeting live online, or for up to 6 months after each meeting.

  • From January to March 2021 meetings can be viewed  live via our YouTube Channel.
  •  Watch meetings on-demand for up to 6 month after the meeting through our webcasting portal.

Webcasting is undertaken in the public interest and in the exercise of our official authority, any public speaker attending the virtual meeting room are consenting to being filmed, recorded and photographed. At the start of the meeting the Chair will make an announcement that the meeting may be filmed, recorded or photographed.

If you have any queries regarding this please contact committee.officer@southdowns.gov.uk

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"The Downs...too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness."