Alan Bell
Photo: Durham

Durham planning committee

Councillor Alan Bell

Member, County Planning Committee

Seen at planning committee from September 2025 to July 2026

  • 82%attendance
  • 7agreed, no vote against recorded
  • 25decisions at their meetings

Councillor's page on the council's website

As at 17 September 2026, according to Plota’s analysis of Durham’s published minutes, Councillor Alan Bell attended 14 of the 17 planning committee meetings whose minutes list them, from September 2025 to July 2026. On 7 other decisions the minutes record no vote against, so Bell is counted as agreeing; they are left out of the shares below.

Meetings attended
14 of 1782%
Meetings whose minutes list them as present, sending apologies or absent. Minutes that list only those present cannot show an absence.
Decisions at their meetings
25
Applications decided at the meetings they sat on, as the minutes record them.
Agreed, no vote against recorded
7
Decisions the minutes record with no vote against and no count. Counted as agreeing, and left out of the shares.
Declared interests
0
Decisions on which the minutes record them declaring an interest.

Voting record

The minutes we hold do not give each member's vote at these meetings, so no vote is counted for Bell and no voting chart is drawn.

Attendance

82%

14 of 17 meetings whose minutes list them; apologies for 3.

The typical member of this committee attended 86% (the median of 31 members listed at 5 or more meetings).

Every meeting

Each square is a meeting whose minutes list them, oldest first.

PresentApologies
20252026

County Planning Committee: 8 meetings · Area Planning Committee (North): 6 meetings

Show as a table
Every meeting
DateCommitteeAttendance
29 Jul 2026County Planning CommitteePresent
8 Jul 2026County Planning CommitteePresent
25 Jun 2026Area Planning Committee (North)Present
2 Jun 2026County Planning CommitteePresent
23 Apr 2026Area Planning Committee (North)Apologies
26 Mar 2026Area Planning Committee (North)Present
4 Mar 2026County Planning CommitteePresent
26 Feb 2026Area Planning Committee (North)Present
4 Feb 2026County Planning CommitteePresent
29 Jan 2026Area Planning Committee (North)Present
18 Dec 2025Area Planning Committee (North)Present
3 Dec 2025County Planning CommitteeApologies
5 Nov 2025County Planning CommitteeApologies
20 Oct 2025County Planning CommitteePresent
1 Oct 2025County Planning CommitteePresent
25 Sep 2025Area Planning Committee (North)Present
3 Sep 2025County Planning CommitteePresent

Decisions

Every application decided at a meeting they sat on, newest first, with their vote where the minutes give it.

Show
Their vote
Outcome

In the minutes

What the minutes record Bell moving, seconding, asking or saying on each decision, in the minutes’ own words. Passages that name more than one councillor, or a member of the public, are left out.

Subjects in what the minutes record

  • Spoke
    “Councillor A Bell commented that a consultation exercise carried out four years ago was not recent.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Land To The North Of George Pit Lane Great Lumley
  • Spoke on a site visit
    “Councillor A Bell commented that he respected Officers expertism on the width of the footpath but as seen from the site visit the path was heavily used.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Land To The North Of George Pit Lane Great Lumley
  • Asked about neighbours' amenity
    “Councillor A Bell sought clarification regarding the size of the turbine blades and noise implications on planning considerations.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Unit 1, Integra 61 West Bowburn, Durham
  • Spoke
    “Councillor A Bell agreed with Councillor M Wilkes’s comments. He applauded Amazon for wanting to be self-sufficient with their renewable energy but it had been suggested that there were other ways they could do it.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Unit 1, Integra 61 West Bowburn, Durham
  • Raised concerns
    “Councillor A Bell raised broader concerns regarding the increasing number of renewable energy applications being submitted and queried whether the future County Durham Plan would address site allocation and the cumulative impact. He thanked the Principal Planning Officer for reminding Members that the application for Seaham had been refused.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Land To The East, South And West Of Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane Blackhall Rocks
  • Raised concerns
    “Councillor A Bell expressed concern that the development would lose agricultural land and would be covered in glass for 40 years but acknowledged the challenges posed by the recent appeal decisions. He advised that he would abstain from voting on the application as he could not bring himself to vote on losing a beautiful piece of land.”
    Minutes, 29 Jul 2026, Land To The East, South And West Of Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane Blackhall Rocks
  • Asked about the green belt
    “In response to a question from Councillor Bell with regards to the landscape assessment, the Senior Landscape Officer advised that the development would result in moderate to major impacts at site level by introducing highly visible structures into an attractive open countryside setting.”
    Minutes, 8 Jul 2026, Land East Of Carrs Farm South Hetton
  • Seconded
    “Councillor Bell seconded the motion and stated that the landscape harm identified by officers would remain significant notwithstanding the proposed mitigation.”
    Minutes, 8 Jul 2026, Land East Of Carrs Farm South Hetton
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell considered the proposal wholly inappropriate in the proposed location.”
    Minutes, 8 Jul 2026, Land To The East Of Stockton Road Seaham
  • Spoke in support
    “In discussion, Councillor A Bell supported the application, noting its importance to the Club and community.”
    Minutes, 25 Jun 2026, Durham County Cricket Club Riverside Chester-le-Street
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell added that it was a difficult decision to refuse an application with such significant benefits to the County, therefore he would support a motion to defer the application.”
    Minutes, 2 Jun 2026, Land To The West Of Fenhall Lodge Greencroft Park Lanchester Durham
  • Asked a question
    “Councillor Bell queried whether there was an option to work around the badgers on site and develop elsewhere.”
    Minutes, 2 Jun 2026, Land To The West Of Fenhall Lodge Greencroft Park Lanchester Durham
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell expressed frustration at their position given the significant benefits of the scheme.”
    Minutes, 2 Jun 2026, Land To The West Of Fenhall Lodge Greencroft Park Lanchester Durham
  • Raised concerns
    “Councillor Bell raised concerns that if refused, the application would succeed on appeal.”
    Minutes, 2 Jun 2026, Land To The West Of Fenhall Lodge Greencroft Park Lanchester Durham
  • Asked about highway safety
    “Councillor Bell requested clarification with regards to the speed reduction measures which had been removed from the original submission and the location of the school.”
    Minutes, 2 Jun 2026, Land To The North Of York Hill Road Spennymoor
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell noted the support offered by DCC and the input of officers to support a clear resolution. He seconded the application for approval.”
    Minutes, 26 Mar 2026, Land To The South Of Old Lodge Hamsterley Mill
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell advised that it was not good practice for an Applicant to comment on an appeal during Committee.”
    Minutes, 4 Mar 2026, Land North And West Of 3 Westerton Road Coundon
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell referred to the area of land that was not to be used for residential purposes (outlined in blue on the plan) and enquired if there would be a landscaped buffer or planted screening between residential and commercial areas or utilised as a recreational area as this could ensure it was not targeted by anti-social behaviour. He summarised that after hearing the case presented he seconded the application.”
    Minutes, 26 Feb 2026, Land To The West Of Fulforth Way Sacriston
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell acknowledged the continued employment benefits. He queried how often dust monitoring would be reviewed and whether the application would result in more frequent traffic movements.”
    Minutes, 4 Feb 2026, Tarmac The Quarry Old Quarrington Durham
  • Spoke in support
    “Councillor Bell supported the scheme however this was an opportunity to strengthen the application, and he requested a condition be added to require a wheel wash facility, moving a motion to that regard.”
    Minutes, 4 Feb 2026, Tarmac The Quarry Old Quarrington Durham
  • Spoke
    “Councillor Bell considered the application to be a great use of a brownfield site.”
    Minutes, 4 Feb 2026, Land At Coopers Terrace Thornley
  • Asked about the conditions
    “Councillor A Bell asked as regards the condition limiting items stocked, whether it referred to those central aisle items or other items and whether it would impact the viability of the store.”
    Minutes, 18 Dec 2025, Site Of Former Go North East Bus Garage Picktree Lane Picktree
  • Asked about the conditions
    “Councillor A Bell asked if the condition would restrict Lidl in running their store and if the condition would put DCC in jeopardy as regards the condition being challenged further down the line.”
    Minutes, 18 Dec 2025, Site Of Former Go North East Bus Garage Picktree Lane Picktree
  • Spoke on highway safety
    “Councillor A Bell noted his sympathies with the local resident in objection in terms of traffic, grid-lock and the main roundabout, adding he recalled that these issues had been raised two or three years ago. He added that surveys had been done at that time and it had been accepted there was a problem and that future applications that came forward could help to address issues.”
    Minutes, 18 Dec 2025, Site Of Former Go North East Bus Garage Picktree Lane Picktree
  • Spoke
    “Councillor A Bell noted he supported the application and noted the bus depot had been demolished and that the proposals looked like a very good, modern building and would present a good entrance to the town centre. He noted that the proposals represented a tidying up of a gateway into the town, as well as providing jobs in the area.”
    Minutes, 18 Dec 2025, Site Of Former Go North East Bus Garage Picktree Lane Picktree
  • Moved refusal
    “Councillor Bell moved refusal of the application which was seconded by Councillor Wilkes.”
    Minutes, 20 Oct 2025, Land North And East Of Pelton House Farm Estate Station Lane Pelton
  • Asked a question
    “Referring to road safety, Councillor Bell queried the number of incidents at this location. He noted that the flood risk had been described as low level and he queried the location of the flooding and requested further details of the proposed mitigation.”
    Minutes, 1 Oct 2025, Land To The West Of St Michaels Rise Hawthorn
  • Asked a question
    “Councillor A Bell asked for clarification on the location of the children’s play park in proximity to the road and if there was a plan for future applications for camping and touring caravan pitches.”
    Minutes, 25 Sep 2025, Haystax Holiday Park Longedge Lane Consett
  • Spoke
    “Councillor A Bell commented that he supported the application and noted the comments of Visit County Durham in support of the development helping to meet the short fall in visitor accommodation in the area.”
    Minutes, 25 Sep 2025, Haystax Holiday Park Longedge Lane Consett
  • Spoke on affordable housing
    “Councillor A Bell noted that the affordable housing contribution was half of what was expected.”
    Minutes, 25 Sep 2025, Land West Of West Lea Syke Road Burnopfield

The 30 most recent of 31 are shown.

How this is worked out

Everything here is read from Durham’s published planning committee minutes, 34 meetings from September 2025 to September 2026. A councillor is matched across meetings by the council’s own member number where it has one, otherwise by full name.

Each vote shows how it is known. Named in the minutes: the minutes, or the council’s own recorded vote, list each member with their vote. From the count and the names: the minutes give the numbers and name the members in the minority, and every member present is known. All members present in favour: the minutes say every member voted for it and the members present are known. No vote against recorded: the minutes record the decision with no vote against, no abstention and no count, at a council whose minutes print a divided vote when there is one, so each member present is counted for. Unanimous vote: the minutes call the decision unanimous, or give a count with no one against and no one abstaining, and each member present is counted for. From the meeting recording: the vote was heard on the council’s recording of the meeting and closes exactly with the members present. Where none of these holds, the vote is left as “Not recorded” and is not counted.

Votes are on the resolution the committee passed, so a vote for is a vote with the majority. A vote is a decision on the application in front of the committee, not a statement of the councillor’s views. A percentage is shown only with five or more votes, decisions or meetings behind it.

Source: Plota analysis of the council’s minutes. The party is from the council’s own list of councillors.

Also on this committee

All Durham committee councillors