A SMOOTHER and more consistent planning process which will move decision making out of Potters Bar is being championed by a former executive member at Hertsmere Borough Council.

It is hoped a new unified planning committee, which will be introduced in January, will provide better transparency and value for money as all meetings will now be held in the council chambers at the civic offices in Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

Councillor Hannah David has temporarily left her role as portfolio holder for housing and planning to take charge of the new system as chairman, although this will need to be ratified by members at the first meeting in the new year.

Councillor David said: “I would not have seconded my portfolio if I did not believe in it.

“It is a way forward that should provide better representation for residents, consistency in training for councillors, better transparency and hopefully better service.”

Allaying fears that decision making is more remote by moving away from the area based system, which currently operates three separate panels throughout the borough, Councillor David noted the importance of interaction between residents and councillors as community advocates.

Under the new system it is hoped that councillors who do not sit on the committee will make themselves available to residents as representatives who can talk on their behalf at meetings. Councillor David urged people to keep in touch with their councillors, saying “tell them if there is any issue you want to raise, lets increase the interaction”.

She added: “Before we had people scared to speak, community advocacy is a much better process as a lot of councillors felt stifled by the old process where they could not say what they wanted.

“We're gaining rather than losing anything by adopting this new system.”

Responding to claims that the new programme will allow members with little in-depth knowledge of an area to take important decisions, Councillor David pointed out the necessity of training.

All members of the committee will undergo compulsory training, which the council hopes will enable members to make decisions solely on the basis of planning law, with representations by community advocates playing an important role.

Councillor David said: “We're going to have consistency in the training that the whole committee has, rather than three different sets of people.

“I think consistency is very important because people know where they stand.”

Councillor David also said there will now be “proactive” site visits on significant cases before hearings, which should stop decisions being deferred.

By moving the meetings to Borehamwood it is hoped the quality of presentations will improve as the venues in the area based system struggled to meet technology demands.

The new committee is to be made up of 13 members including chairman and vice-chairs, with five substitutes in case of illness or absence.

The different wards are said to be represented as best as possible, taking into account that some councillors are unavailable to make 6pm meetings because of employment.

It is hoped the new earlier meeting time will also save money on overtime costs for council officers and staff members. It is proposed the committee meets every three to four weeks.

For more information on changes to the planning committee system, see the minutes from the full council meeting at the Hertsmere website.