Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered the response of the Overview and Scrutiny Board’s Planning Policy Task Group to the Cabinet’s Interim Response in respect of Recommendations 1(a), 3 and 6 of the Task Group Report.

RESOLVED  that the response to each of the amended recommendations of the Planning Policy Task Group be as set out below:  

Recommendation 1(a)

That a mechanism be put in place to ensure that where conditions have been attached to a planning application and monitoring is required then the Planning and Enforcement Team should allow for this to be discharged fully to the required level of detail that the condition(s) specify within their work. This should be carried out irrespective of the cost, to ensure that the conditions are met and where appropriate, enforced.

(N.B. The lack of resources to enforce a condition on a planning application would not be sufficient to either refuse the application or not to include the condition if it was deemed a necessary part of the planning permission. It may be prudent to estimate the cost of monitoring or enforcement before a decision on an application is made, in order that a decision as to who meets that cost can be determined and to ensure that any monitoring is carried out effectively.) 

Cabinet Response

The recommendation as amended was noted. It was still felt however that there should be a mechanism whereby Planning officers would consult in advance with the Finance Department regarding the likely costs of enforcing particular conditions and the availability of a budget to meet these. In addition it was queried whether financial constraints on the Authority or the applicant would be a valid consideration when determining a planning application.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning undertook to discuss this further with the relevant officers.

Recommendation 3

It is recognised that on occasion there will be a need for some form of community engagement for example a public meeting(s). This will act as a forum to improve lines of communication and is to be developed between senior officers and residents in respect of larger more complex planning applications. This would be a recommendation from the Planning Committee and reviewed periodically by that Committee.

Cabinet Response

This was agreed 

Recommendation 6

That a mechanism be put in place to ensure that enforcement cases are recorded and regularly up dated with an audit trail of actions and documents and correspondence on the electronic system available via the Council’s “Orb”.

Cabinet Response

This was agreed.