Agenda item - Procedural Business

(a)  Declaration of Substitutes: Where Councillors are unable to attend a meeting, a substitute Member from the same Political Group may attend, speak and vote in their place for that meeting.

(b)  Declarations of Interest or Lobbying

(a)      Disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)      Any other interests required to be registered under the local code;

(c)      Any other general interest as a result of which a decision on the matter might reasonably be regarded as affecting you or a partner more than a majority of other people or businesses in the ward/s affected by the decision.

In each case, you need to declare

(i)        the item on the agenda the interest relates to;

(ii)      the nature of the interest; and

(iii)     whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest or some other interest.

If unsure, Members should seek advice from the committee lawyer or administrator preferably before the meeting.

      (d)       All Members present to declare any instances of lobbying they have encountered regarding items on the agenda.

(c)  Exclusion of Press and Public: To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.

NOTE:  Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.

A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.

(d)  Use of mobile phones and tablets: Would Members please ensure that their mobile phones are switched off. Where Members are using tablets to access agenda papers electronically please ensure that these are switched to ‘aeroplane mode’.

a            Declarations of substitutes

65.1       Councillor Daniel was present in substitution for Councillor Morris.

65.2       Councillor Robins was present in substitution for Councillor Russell-Moyle.

b            Declarations of interests

65.3       The Chair declared a direct personal interest in relation to Item K BH2017/02176 - 1 Furzedene, Furze Hill, Hove, because her close friends were neighbours who had objected to the application. The Chair explained that she would vacate the Chair which would be taken by the Deputy Chair, Councillor Gilbey, would leave the meeting during consideration of this application and would take no part in the discussion or voting thereon. The Chair also declared a non-pecuniary interested in respect of Item A BH2017/01108 - Site Of Sackville Hotel, Kingsway, Hove and explained that she was the agent on a historic planning application for the Sackville Hotel; however, had not acted on the current application. She noted that she remained of a neutral mind and would take part in the consideration and vote on the application.

65.4       Councillor Hyde declared a non-pecuniary interested in respect of Item J BH2016/06421 - 9 Baywood Gardens, Brighton, as her daughter currently lived on Baywood Gardens, Brighton. She noted that she remained of a neutral mind and would take part in the consideration and vote on the application.

65.5       Councillor Miller declared a non-pecuniary interested in respect of Item B BH2017/02583 Victoria Gardens North And South, Grand Parade, St Peter's Church, York Place (Valley Gardens), Brighton and noted that he was present as a substitute at the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee when the highways element of the application was agreed. He explained that it was not part of the current planning application and remained of a neutral mind and would take part in the consideration and vote on the application.

65.6       Councillor Daniel declared a non-pecuniary interested in respect of Item B BH2017/02583 Victoria Gardens North And South, Grand Parade, St Peter's Church, York Place (Valley Gardens), Brighton and explained that she was a Member on the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee and had considered a very early version on the scheme. She explained that it was not the same application and remained of a neutral mind and would take part in the consideration and vote on the application.

65.7       Councillors Littman and Robins explained that they had been on the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 27 June 2017 and had considered and voted on the Valley Gardens Proposed Green Space Design report. The Senior Solicitor explained that the report was similar to the current planning application and, therefore; Councillors Littman and Robins would have pre-determined the application. It was agreed that Councillors Littman and Robins would leave the meeting during consideration and vote of the application.

c            Exclusion of the press and public

65.8       In accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Planning Committee considered whether the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item of business on the grounds that it is likely in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during it, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act.

65.9       RESOLVED - That the public are not excluded from any item of business on the agenda.

d            Use of mobile phones and tablets

65.10    The Chair requested Members ensure that their mobile phones were switched off, and where Members were using tablets to access agenda papers electronically ensure that these were switched to ‘aeroplane mode’.