Decision

Decision:

That the Executive approves the appointment of the Portfolio Holder for Planning to the Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board and the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment as deputy appointee until the next review of appointments to external organisations in 2027.

Reason(s):

It is important that the council has an appointee to the JSP to represent the borough. Every ward overlaps with one or more of the following: the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (“the SPA”), the SPA 400m exclusion zone, the SPA 4-5km zone (where the impact of new homes must be mitigated), and 7km zone (where the impact of larger residential schemes may need mitigation).

The Portfolio Holder for Planning is the correct councillor to appoint to the JSP for reasons of relevance, and seniority to work with partner agencies to maintain the long-term protection of the SPA.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

To appoint a member other than the Portfolio Holder for Planning or not to appoint a councillor to the JSP at all.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.