Approval Process - This Needs Full Council Scrutiny (Approval should not be made under special delegation)
Summary: Palm Beach residents have demonstrated interest in similar height proposals and are highly motivated to engage in discussions about how city growth is managed. Any decision should be made by the full Planning and Regulation Committee to recognise the level of local interest.
To ensure public confidence that the impacts have been considered, community objections listened to, and the City Plan respected, the City should refrain from making a decision under special delegation comprising only the Mayor, Chair of the Planning and Regulation Committee and an unelected council officer.
Conclusion: To ensure councillors fulfil their responsibility to participate in decision-making for the benefit of the local government area, and remain accountable to the community for the local government’s performance, the application should be decided by the elected Council, rather than passed under delegated authority for administrative convenience.