HL Deb 28 July 1947 vol 151 cc585-6

Sub-Committees.

1. The planning committee of a local planning authority may, subject to any restrictions imposed by that authority, and shall if so required by that authority

  1. (a) establish such sub-committees as the committee or the local planning authority may determine; and
  2. (b) authorise any such sub-committee to exercise on their behalf any functions of the planning committee,
and any such sub-committee shall be constituted in such manner as may be determined (subject to any such restrictions as aforesaid) by the planning committee or by the local planning authority, but not less than three-fourths of the members of any such sub-committee shall be members of the local planning authority or of a local authority for any area forming part of the district of the local planning authority.

THE EARL OF AIRLIE moved in paragraph 1 of Part V, after "such sub-committee" where those words occur the third time, to insert "which consists of more than three persons." The noble Earl said: This allows for committees to be made up of fewer than four persons. It is convenient at times to have a subcommittee of fewer than four people. Often we are forced to have four persons where fewer would do. We are not very clever in Scotland, perhaps, but so far we have never been able to achieve making three-quarters of two or three-quarters of three in the human form. Where it is necessary we should like to be able to have a sub-committee of fewer than four. I beg to move.

Amendment moved— Page 130, line 4, at end insert the said new words.—(The Earl of Airlie.)

LORD MORRISON

I have no great objection to this Amendment, but it seems to me to be somewhat finical (that is a good Scottish word). I am sure the noble Lord has no desire to make unnecessary work.

THE EARL OF AIRLIE

We wanted to bring in the principle of fewer than four persons. You might wish to send the chairman and one co-opted engineer or doctor, or whoever it is.

LORD MORRISON

I was going to add that, subject to the noble Lord agreeing that it may be necessary somewhat to alter the wording, I am quite prepared to accept the Amendment.

THE EARL OF AIRLIE

I think it is worth accepting. I think the correct expression for me to use now, after a long evening, would be to say "Whoopee! lie has at last accepted one of my Amendments."

THE MARQUESS OF ABERDEEN AND TEMAIR

Is there any reason at all why a local authority should not be allowed to decide who shall be on the sub-committees and how many there shall be? Why should they be dictated to as to how many there should be on a sub-committee?

LORD MORRISON

I have already accepted the noble Lord's Amendment. First Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Second Schedule [Excepted Enactments for the Purposes of S. 11]:

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

This is al-other Amendment which was accepted in the English Bill in the course of its discussion in this House, and I am mentioning it because I think the circumstances are parallel. The purpose of this Amendment is to limit modification of enactments, as I understand it, to local enactments, and not apply it to general enactments. I appreciate that the noble Lord has not had time to examine this very closely and I will mention it formally now so that he will have an opportunity of seeing it before the Report stage.

Amendment moved— Page 130, line 27, after ("enactment") insert ("contained in a local Act").—(The Earl of Selkirk.)

LORD MORRISON

I appreciate the noble Earl's attitude on this. I have not had an opportunity of considering it. If the noble Earl will withdraw it, it will come up again on Report stage.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Second Schedule agreed to.

Third Schedule:

Excepted Classes of Development.

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