Planning & Highways Committee

The Kessingland Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed by clicking HERE.

The Planning & Highways committee is one of the council’s longest-established committees.  It was previously the Planning Committee but has now also taken on responsibility for the former Highways and Footpaths Working Party.

The committee considers planning applications within the village, except for major developments, which are considered by the full parish council. 

Because planning applications often have strict deadlines, the committee meets every two weeks.  While Kessingland Parish Council does not make planning decisions, it is a statutory consultee and provides comments to East Suffolk Council, which is responsible for determining applications.  Other consultees may include utility companies, the fire service, police, environmental health officers and local residents.  Members of the public can submit comments to both the Parish Council and East Suffolk Council during the planning process.

When considering applications, councillors must base their recommendations on planning law, national guidance, local planning policies and public feedback.  Two  key local documents are East Suffolk Council’s Local Plan and Kessingland’s Neighbourhood Plan, both of which were subject to extensive public consultation.  The Neighbourhood Plan was approved by a referendum of parish residents.

In addition to planning matters the committee meets four times a year to discuss highways and footpaths.  These meetings are attended by the Suffolk County Council councillors for Kessingland, Cllrs Ashley Lever & Chris Cox and a representative from SCC Highways.  The committee monitors local issues and is also responsible for developing a Cycle Strategy and an Assessibilty Audit for the parish.

The current members of the Planning & Highways Committee are:   Cllr Alan Green (Chair), Cllr Neil Glendinning , Cllr Ian Graham, Cllr Dannielle Pope-Brannon (Deputy) & Cllr Bob Saunders.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference for the committee can be read by clicking HERE.

Agenda and minutes for the Planning and Highways  committee meetings can be found in the box to the left and in the council archive.  Only the Agenda for the next meeting is displayed.  Clicking on a meeting date will open the relevant agenda or minutes.

For security reasons, copies of minutes published on this website do not include the Chair’s signature.  Signed copies are available to view at the Council office.

Planning applications can be viewed on the East Suffolk Council website via the Planning section or by clicking HERE.  The website also provides information on  building control, planning advise and guidance, Tree Preservation Orders, major planning applications, conservation matters, and street naming and numbering, including applications to change a property name.

The committee also considers consultations on planning, development and other matters that may affect the parish.