XN000022-1991-04-10 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1991

- 1

APPEAL BOARD PROPOSED IN TOWN PLANNING BILL

*

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THAT THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 BE INTRODUCED то THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 8, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TO

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT APPEAL BOARD WHICH SUBSTITUTES THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WITH REGARD APPEALS AGAINST THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD'S DECISION ON PLANNING APPLICATIONS UNDER SECTION 17(7) OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE.

IT FOLLOWED THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE LAST TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 WHERE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THE EXISTING PROCEDURES FOR APPEALS AGAINST THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD'8 DECISIONS.

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER EXPLAINED: 'THE BILL ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A PANEL OF PERSONS WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE APPEAL BOARD.

"WHILE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE PANEL IS NOT

BE

FIXED SO AS APPOINTED ΤΟ

TO PROVIDE FOR FLEXIBILITY, AN ADEQUATE NUMBER WILL ENSURE THAT NO MEMBER WHO MAY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE APPEAL CASK WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE APPEAL BOARD HEARING THE CASE.

"ON RECEIPT OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL, THE CHAIRMAN, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WILL NOMINATE AN APPEAL BOARD WHICH WILL CONSTITUTE THE CHAIRMAN HIMSELF AND FOUR OTHER MEMBERS FROM THE PANEL, TO HEAR THE APPEAL.

WILL CONFIRM,

"ON COMPLETION OF A HEARING, THE APPEAL BOARD REVERSE OR VARY THE DECISION APPEALED AGAINST AND MAY MAKE AN ORDER FOR COSTS INCURRED IN RELATION TO THE APPEAL."

THE DECISION OF THE APPEAL BOARD ON ANY APPEAL SHALL BE FINAL.

VOTERS TO RECEIVE POLL CARDS FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS

*

*

ELECTORS WILL BE RECEIVING THEIR POLL CARD IN THE COMING WEEK FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MAY 5.

Fr

"A TOTAL OF 1.7 MILLION POLL CARDS WILL BE SENT OUT IN BATCHES BETWEEN TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AND APRIL 18, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"EACH POLL CARD INDICATES WHERE AND WHEN AND IS DISPATCHED TO ONLY THOSE ELECTORS CONSTITUENCIES."

A POLL TAKES PLACE IN THE CONTESTED

/THE SPOKESMAN