On this page
Introduction
The majority of Council and committee meetings are held in person.
All agendas and minutes for meetings will be published and the list of upcoming meetings can be found on the Corporate Calendar.
Live streaming
All public Council and Committee meetings are live streamed. You can view the live stream by following the links to the agenda page for the meeting you are interested in and clicking on ‘View meeting here’ near the top of the page.
View recordings of past meetings
Speaking at meetings
If you are registered to speak at a meeting, you can do this within the Council Chamber or remotely. If participating remotely, you will be provided with the meeting details to enable you to login to participate in the meeting. You will be able to speak on your item only and you are able to leave the meeting once you have spoken. All participants' microphones will be muted when they are not speaking to minimise background noise. Guidelines on how to join a meeting will be sent to participants prior to the meeting.
Full Council meetings
Residents and business rate payers are invited to put forward questions at Full Council meetings.
If you would like to ask a question at the Council meeting on Wednesday 22 January, please email democratic.services@merton.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday 10 January 2025.
Your question will not be accepted if it is more than 50 words or substantially the same as a question which has been put to a meeting of council in the past six months. Public questions asked at the previous two council meetings can be found here:
- Agenda for Council on Wednesday 18 September 2024, 7.15 pm - Merton Council
- Agenda for Council on Wednesday 20 November 2024, 7.15 pm - Merton Council
You must provide your name and address when submitting your question.
The full rules on asking a question at council are set out in the council's constitution (Part 4A, section 11).
These questions will be reproduced, along with the answers, and published on our website on the day of the meeting. If, having seen the written answer to your question, you wish to ask a supplementary question, please contact democratic.services@merton.gov.uk and we will advise you of the process.
Planning Applications Committee
Development and Planning Applications Committee Procedure
Speakers list
Once the agenda has been published, the speakers list will be open for registration. All speakers must register in advance by contacting the Planning Department no later than 12 noon 72 hours before the meeting by phone (020-8545-3445/3448) or email planning@merton.gov.uk. Where this falls on a weekend the deadline will be the previous Friday. The Chair will review requests to speak based on qualifications and considerations in Table 1.0.
Following the Chair’s review, officers will notify residents of the decision as to who may speak at the committee. This should be no later than 12pm on the day before the committee.
Table 1.0: Qualifications for speakers
| Type | Max number | Time to speak | Qualifications | Considerations for allocation of speaking slots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident supporters or objectors | Two | Three minutes each. Max six minutes |
|
|
| Statutory stakeholders | N/A | Max six minutes | A statutory stakeholder consultee on a planning application e.g. utilities | Can provide the committee with new insight into the impact development would bring |
| Ward Councillors | Three | Two minutes each. Max six minutes | Councillor in the ward of the development | Where an application borders two wards or more at the discretion of the Chair ward speakers can be drawn from more than one ward |
| Members of Parliament | 1 | Two minutes | Elected Member of Parliament for the constituency the application is in. | Ibid... |
| Cabinet Member | 1 | Two minutes | Cabinet member for an area of material consideration for the purposes of identifying factual information to support a | Where pre-existing council policy exists or development is of strategic importance pre-engagement with the committee at technical briefing and 1:1 conversations will identify gaps in understanding to facilitate most appropriate cabinet member to support committees understanding |
| Agent and Applicant | N/A | Max three minutes |
| N/A |
The Chair retains discretion to tailor proceedings to facilitate appropriate information for the committee.
All presentations from residents and applicants shall be verbal. The distribution of any documents either electronically or in person by the public during the meeting will not normally be permitted. Those wishing to distribute anything should seek permission from the Chair. Speakers can address the committee remotely or within the Council Chamber. If within the Council Chamber, a traffic light and timer system will be operated and will show on screen. Remote speakers will be verbally advised when they have one minute remaining.
As part of the joining arrangements officers will make speakers aware they do not have legal privilege when speaking before the Committee. It’s important any statements are supported by facts or reasoned opinion.
Ability to clarify comments made by applicant or speaker or to seek expert third party advice
To make informed decisions the Committee may ask a speaker question for the purpose of seeking factual information to better inform decision making. Such questions will be subject to the direction of the Chair if necessary. They are not a means to provide speakers with additional time to make speeches.
If information cannot be verified through publicly available sources there may be a need to secure additional expert witness statements to support deliberations.
Agenda item order
Planning items will be taken in the order decided by the Chair and announced at the start of the meeting. This may differ from the Chair’s standing order in Appendix 1. It is not possible to give the exact time items will be heard. Whilst the Committee will endeavour to consider all items on the agenda, if it is not possible to hear an item, every effort will be made to take it at the next meeting of the Committee.
Licensing Sub-Committee meetings
You are only able to speak at a Licensing Sub-Committee if you are a registered party to the hearing. For further information please contact 020 8545 3357.
Current list of licence applications
Speaking at all other meetings
The procedures for speaking will remain the same as previously – please contact the Democratic Services Team if you wish to speak at another meeting not listed above by emailing democratic.services@merton.gov.uk or telephoning 020 8545 3616/3357.
Technical issues
If you experience any technical issues prior to or during the meeting you can contact a member of the Democratic Services Team on the number given on the front page of the agenda.
Meeting etiquette
Information on meeting etiquette will be sent to participants prior to attending a meeting. For any further queries regarding virtual meetings please email us at democratic.services@merton.gov.uk or telephone: 020 8545 3616/3357.