In some cases, the sub committee will make a site visit, usually before the meeting, so members:
- can see the site
- its relationship with the adjoining properties
- its context in the locality
Council officers in consultation with the Chair of the sub committee, will decide which cases require a site visit.
Examples where a site visit would not normally be required, include:
- those applications raising purely policy matters or issues of principle
- where the report, together with drawings, photographs and other material is sufficient to provide the context
- where councillors have already visited the site within the last 12 months
If a member is unable to attend the site visit, this does not disqualify them from taking part in the decision-making. The member will, however, listen very carefully to the views of those who benefited from the visit. In some cases, the member may decide it would be better not to take part in making the final decision.
The purpose of such site visits is for the members of the sub committee to see the site to reach an informed decision. It is not intended to provide a separate opportunity for objectors, supporters, applicants or others to lobby the members, to argue their case or discuss the merits of the application.
Where individual members of the committee wish to undertake their own site inspection, before the committee meeting, this should be conducted unannounced and from a public vantage point. Members of the committee should not arrange to meet applicants, agents or third parties for the purpose of a site inspection.