Generally, elected members have no role in relation to pre-planning. They may submit a pre-planning query on behalf of an applicant and request that advice should be given to the applicant or to the member on their behalf.

However, the elected member has a very important role in determining the planning policy for the county, as set out in such documents as the County Development Plan and Local Area Plans.

The member’s role in relation to planning applications is therefore confined to making representations on behalf of either the applicant or third parties on a particular application.