Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is seek approvals to amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to ensure the Planning Committee time is utilised efficiently to deal with important, strategic or especially contentious applications as quickly as possible.

RECOMMENDED

That the Cabinet Member approves amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to increase the scale threshold of applications that are reserved for Committee approval from 6 or more dwellings to 10 or more dwellings for a period of six months.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Ian Maguire introduced this report that seeks approvals to amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to ensure the Planning Committee time is utilised efficiently to deal with important, strategic or especially contentious applications as quickly as possible.

It is in the public interest for the local planning authority to have effective delegation arrangements in place to ensure that decisions on planning applications that raise no significant planning issues are made quickly and that resources are appropriately concentrated on the applications of greatest significance to the local area.

An amendment to Paragraph 53 is considered appropriate.   By amending the threshold whereby applications must come to committee from 6+ new dwellings to 10+ new dwellings this will reduce the number of outstanding items awaiting committee consideration by nearly 10%.  It will also align the threshold with the prescribed application description of a 'Major' application, making it easier for applicants to understand the determination process.

DECISION:

The Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and City Development approved amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to increase the scale threshold of applications that are reserved for Committee approval from 6 or more dwellings to 10 or more dwellings for a period of six months.