Agenda item

Review of planning application town and parish trigger arrangements for decision making

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic – attached.

Minutes:

Council considered the report of the head of legal and democratic inviting Council to review the town and parish trigger arrangements in the scheme of delegation to the head of planning.

 

Notwithstanding the officer recommendation, to make permanent the current temporary town and parish trigger arrangements, Councillor Barker moved, and Councillor Bretherton seconded, the following motion:

 

“That Council:

1.    recognises that many important points have been raised by officers in the report of the head of legal and democratic on town and parish trigger arrangements;

 

2.    acknowledges that it remains critically important to meet statutory planning decision deadlines, both to protect the council from undesirable consequences and to provide a high quality and efficient planning service to our residents, and to continue the improved engagement with town and parish councils;

 

3.    notwithstanding the above, does not accept the recommendation that the temporary change to town and parish trigger arrangements should be made permanent as parish and town councils have a vital role in the democratic legitimacy of the planning process;

 

4.    agrees that the temporary arrangement set out in paragraph 7 of the report will lapse with effect from the date of this meeting;

 

5.    asks the head of legal and democratic and the head of planning to meet with group leaders to discuss proposals for improving the system and to report back to Council as part of the next Constitution review”.

 

 

In supporting the motion, a number of councillors expressed the view that they recognised the importance of the risks identified in the officer report of not making the temporary arrangements permanent, including not meeting statutory deadlines, a higher number of appeals for non-determination, and pressure on staff arising from more meetings.  However, councillors supported the view that it was important to reinstate the ability of parish and town councils to call in minor applications themselves without them needing to secure the support of the local district council ward member to do so.

 

A number of councillors expressed concern regarding, what they perceived as, the lack of balance in the officer report which provided strong one-sided arguments for retaining the current temporary arrangements which, whilst necessary during the height of the pandemic, should now be allowed to lapse.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council:

1.    recognises that many important points have been raised by officers in the report of the head of legal and democratic on town and parish trigger arrangements;

 

2.    acknowledges that it remains critically important to meet statutory planning decision deadlines, both to protect the council from undesirable consequences and to provide a high quality and efficient planning service to our residents, and to continue the improved engagement with town and parish councils;

 

3.    notwithstanding the above, does not accept the recommendation that the temporary change to town and parish trigger arrangements should be made permanent as parish and town councils have a vital role in the democratic legitimacy of the planning process;

 

4.    agrees that the temporary arrangement, set out in paragraph 7 of the report of the head of legal and democratic to the Council meeting on 15 July 2021, will lapse with effect from 15 July 2021;

 

5.    asks the head of legal and democratic and the head of planning to meet with group leaders to discuss proposals for improving the system and to report back to Council as part of the next Constitution review.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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