Somerset residents will get more time to speak at planning meetings following a partial U-turn by councillors.

Somerset County Council and the four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton and South Somerset – will officially cease to exist on April 1, with the new unitary Somerset Council taking over the running of the county's public services.

New rules were drawn up in late-January for the five planning committees which will determine major planning applications for every corner of Somerset – including one which limited all public speakers objecting to a planning application to sharing three minutes.

But following a backlash by both councillors and local residents, the rules have been relaxed to allow up to 15 minutes of public speaking per application.

The rules form part of the new council's constitution, which was debated by the constitution and governance committee in Taunton on February 14 before being ratified by the full council in Bridgwater on Wednesday (February 22).

Under the proposed new system, there will be five planning committees on the new unitary authority:

• Strategic planning committee (covering strategic issues such as quarries, schools, public rights of way and other such matters)
• Somerset East committee (covering the former Mendip area – including Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells)
• Somerset North committee (covering the former Sedgemoor area – including Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Cheddar and Highbridge)
• Somerset South committee (covering the former South Somerset area – including Chard, Ilminster, Wincanton and Yeovil)
• Somerset West committee (covering the former Somerset West and Taunton area – including Minehead, Taunton and Wellington)

Under the amended rules, members of the public will share 15 minutes for each application discussed by each committee – equating to five speakers having three minutes each.

Each parish or town council representative will also get three minutes, as well as the agent or applicant and any councillor who is not a member of the committee (e.g. the division member for the area being discussed).

Councillor Theo Butt Philip, chairman of the constitution and governance committee, stated after the full council meeting: "I am pleased with the constitution we have created for the new Somerset Council.

"When we set out to write this document, I said that I thought we needed to ensure the new council was as accessible, transparent and responsive as possible, and that every member of the council, every community in Somerset and every citizen was able to have their voice heard by the council and influence the decisions which impact upon their lives. I believe this new constitution does that.

"A focus has been placed on ensuring public participation and scrutiny throughout the decision making process within the council.

"I am confident that this provides a solid foundation from which the new Council can operate.

"This has been a concerted, cross-party effort and I would like to thank all members of the public who have participated in helping to shape this new constitution."

Councillor Ros Wyke, portfolio holder for assets and development, added: "This is a safe, transparent and robust set of proposals. These will be kept under review as we go forward.

"There is a balance to be struck as good decision making does benefit from clear and succinct evidence. The committee debate shows we are willing to listen."

Once the new council officially takes charge, a review will begin of all existing Local Plans and mineral strategies, combining the existing plans into one set of documents to allocate Somerset's future housing and employment sites.

Further details of this review, including how the public can participate, will be published in the coming months.