MEMBERS of the public who choose to speak at planning meetings of Craven District Council are to reminded of council protocol.

After applicants behind refused plans for a restaurant cruise boat on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, Malcolm Weaving and Thomas Randell, repeatedly interrupted councillors while they were discussing the plans, the public are be reminded how to behave and when they are allowed to speak.

Although Mr Weaving, owner of the Rendezvous Hotel, had used the allocated five minutes to talk in favour of his scheme, he continued to attempt to interject during the debate between councillors and had to be asked to return to the public seating.

Mr Randell also attempted to speak, and was ordered back to his seat by the committee’s planning solicitor, Alex Strickland who told him his behaviour would not be tolerated.

“It is highly unprecedented for people for people attending this committee to abuse the privilege they are given. Members of the public have no right to disrupt the proceedings. This will not be tolerated,” he said.

At the end of the meeting agenda, the committee’s vice chairman Linda Brockbank said an apology would have been nice.

She said she understood feelings ran high, but that correct procedures needed to be followed and that a lot of time and effort had been put in by council officers to help with the application by Mr Weaving and Mr Randell.

“It was unfortunate that we had that response, I don’t know how we can stop that happening again. Its just not the way we have planning meetings, “ she said.

Committee chairman Alan Sutcliffe said unlike larger planning authorities Craven did not have security officers it could call on if meetings were disrupted, and it was also pointed out that procedure of meetings was included on the council website for members of public.

Mr Strickland added it was worth remembering that such incidents were very rare at Craven council meetings.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said councillors were not ‘shrinking violets’ while Cllr Richard Pringle thought applicants could be invited to clarify points.

But Cllr Sutcliffe said the committee had a code of conduct and members were not there to have an open debate with the public.

In future, members of the public will be reminded of council procedure before the start of meetings, including the latest possible time for additional information to be received.