Can a parish councillor be guilty of predetermination on a planning matter

Question

If the chairman of a parish councilor states on Facebook "I will object with others" when discussing a new planning application within the parish and some days later votes with all other councilor's to recommend refusal for the application to the local planning authority can this be classed as predetermination.

The chairman did not inform the meeting of his earlier Facebook comment during or prior to the vote being taken.

Answer 1

It's perhaps borderline, but I'd be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. What appears to have been said is that he intended to raise an objection to the planning application in a personal capacity. It didn't say how he would vote when the PC considered the matter. It doesn't automatically follow that he would fail to consider the arguments made in the council meeting, even if it suggests that he might.

Answer 2

No because Town and Parish Councils cannot by law determine Planning Applications.