25/01/2024
The Members’ Planning Code of Good Practice was first published in 2003 to provide a common national approach amongst local authorities, alongside their ethical framework. Its aim then, as now, was to ensure that in the planning process, there are no grounds for suggesting that a decision made at planning committee has been biased, partial or not well founded in any way. In 2017 it received endorsement from the Supreme Court in their stating that it “offers sound practical advice”.
Bevan Brittan provided assistance with the earlier version and now, working in partnership with Lawyers in Local Government, we have launched a refresh of the Code. This important document, will already be embedded within many constitutional documents and the revised version will provide clarification on areas including consistency and reasoning in decision making. It also reflects the impact of social media interactions upon proceedings.
“After having led the drafting of the original Model Members’ Planning Code, and its later incarnation, I am delighted to have been able to do the same with this update.
“The original Code came about as a response to the scandals of the nineties and the lengthy and discursive documents put out by others, but quickly proved itself as straightforward do’s and don’ts guide. It has since cemented itself within local authorities as a set of adopted clear rules to enable their members and others to see through the maze of decision making for planning committees, where decisions are often made under intense public scrutiny, where decisions affect neighbourhoods and individual’s and companies’ significant financial investments and thus where a legal challenge is around every corner.”
Phil McCourt, Legal Director, Bevan Brittan
LLG members can access the guidance via this link
