Row over move to change timings of key meetings
members of the committee it’s quite right that we should and most importantly members be learning from that and as of the public.” a result moving this meeting
The comments came duringanextraordinaryfullcouncil back to a 5.30pm time slot, especially as there are so many meeting which was held key developments in the east remotely due to the coronavirus area covered by that committee pandemic. that we’re likely to see in
Liberal Democrat group the next year or two.” leader, Coun Niall Hodson, also Several UKIP councillors opposed the time slot and criticisedthemove,withCoun noted a previous council decisiontoholdplanningmeeting Steven Bewick saying that the 2pm time slot could have an onacontroversialWashington impactonpublicengagement ‘gasificationplant’intheafternoon. and confidence in the planning department.
CounHodsonsaid:“Ithink Meanwhile, Conservative councillorMichaelDixonadded the issue wasn’t party political but about the residents of the city.
“I think there’s a vibrancy for planning meetings when the public do attend, we’ve had quite a few controversial issues down at Seaburn over the last council year and I thought it was absolutely fantastic to see so many speakers and members of the public in the council chamber gallery,” he said.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Graeme
Miller, said one of the main reasons for the 2pm start for Planning and Highways (East) was the expectation of “substantial agendas.” He also stressed that “both committees [east and west] are differentwithdifferentworkloads.” An amendment to change the meeting time of Planning and Highways(East)to5.30pmwas defeated by a vote.
Original proposals for a 2pm start time were later approvedwith44votesinfavour, 20 votes against and three abstentions.