Meeting documents

WDC Info Sheets - Planning Committee
Thursday, 2nd April, 2009

Info Sheets - Planning Committee 2009, 1-2009 (02 Apr 2009) Revised Planning Application Consultation Arrangements

 

 

 

     INFORMATION SHEET

 

Planning Committee

Issue No: 01/2009

Date Issued: 2nd April  2009

Revised Planning Application Consultation Arrangements

Officer contact:  Alastair Nicholson (Development Control Manager) Tel: 01494 421510 (ext; 3510).

 

Introduction

From 1st April 2009 there will be a small change to the process used by Members to make comments on planning applications, and if appropriate call “applications” to Planning Committee.  These changes are effectively “on trial” and are subject to review after a period of 3 months.

 

The changes to the scheme of delegation were approved by Full Council on 26th February 2009, and their objective is to reduce the number of applications referred to what will now be known as the Planning Committee (was Development Control Committee).  This will allow the “Committee” to focus on issues of more strategic significance, reduce cost and increase involvement in spatial planning and performance review.

 

Consultation arrangements
 

·

Members will continue to be consulted by means of the Members Weekly List.  This provides details of all applications received and the deadline by which responses are required.

 

·

Members can view application details through the Councils web site using “Public Access”.

 

·

Please make comments through “Public Access” on the Council web-site, or alternatively e-mail your comments to planning@wycombe.gov.uk

 

·

Any comments, e-mails, etc received are public documents and will be published on the web site

 

You could also send in comments by letter, or using the standard Member “consultation pad”, but this incurs the Council in additional cost as the response has to be scanned and indexed so that it is available to view on the web site.

Changes to the procedure

For “Minor” development, householder planning permission, Listed Building Consent & Conservation Area Consent it is proposed to alter the call up procedure to Planning Committee (as part of a 3 month pilot).  Full details of the application types are appended.

 

For these cases, where a Member has made comments within the consultation period (as set out on the Members Weekly List), which are contrary to the officer recommendation they will be emailed the delegated report setting out the issues and how they have been considered.  The Member will have a period of 14 days to either:

 

·

Contact the case officer and agree that the decision should be made under delegated powers; or,

 

·

Request a meeting or discuss the issues with the case officer or appropriate Development Control Team Leader.  If after this meeting/discussion the Member is still concerned, then they can request that the Chairman of Planning Committee be consulted.

 

The Head of Planning & Sustainability, following consultation with the Chairman, will then reach a decision as to whether to allow the application to proceed under delegated powers, or whether it raises issues of such local significance that it should be considered by the Planning Committee.

 

As the Council’s performance on the determination of applications is closely monitored, if for whatever reason the Member has not responded within 14 days then the application will proceed to determination under delegated powers.

 

Members should also bear in mind that one of this Council’s formal performance indicators is to maintain a high level of delegated decisions.  Therefore Members should avoid calling applications to Planning Committee simply because they have become aware of a neighbour or other objection – in all cases it is recommended that a discussion is had with the case officer first to be made aware of all the circumstances and the likely officer recommendation.

 

The revised provisions will be initially reviewed after a period of 3 months.

 

Conclusion

If you have any queries, or wish to have training in any aspects of this process please do not hesitate to contact Alastair Nicholson, the Development Control Manager, on 01494 421510 or at alastair_nicholson@wycombe.gov.uk.   Alternatively you may contact one of the Development Control Team Leaders as follows:

 

Ray Martin

01494  421524

ray_martin@wycombe.gov.uk

 

David Gibbon

01494  421512

david_gibbon@wycombe.gov.uk

 

Chris Steuart

01494  421543

chris_steuart@wycombe.gov.uk

 

Charles Power

01494  421513

charles_power@wycombe.gov.uk

Appendix A:  Detailed Scheme of Delegation

 
 

Types of Application

Previous  Arrangement

New

Arrangement

Planning Permission  (including full, outline, reserved matters, applications for time limited permissions, renewals , and for the variation & removal of conditions (including applications under section 73 of Town and Country Planning Act 1990).

 

 

·

Major planning applications:

10 dwellings and above, or floorspace built is greater than 1,000 square metres, or site area is greater than 1 HA (offices, retail, general industry, etc), or greater than 10 gypsy and traveller pitches.

 

Can be “called up”

No change

·

Minor planning applications:

Between 1 and 9 dwellings or floorspace built is less than 1,000 square metres, or site area is less than 1 HA (offices, retail, general industry, etc), or less than 10 gypsy and traveller pitches.

 

Can be “called up”

 

If Member does not agree to the use of delegated powers, Head of Planning &Sustainability to be requested to consider taking to the full Committee, following consultation with the Chairman

·

Other:

 

 

Planning applications for Householder Development.

Can be “called up”

 

If Member does not agree to the use of delegated powers, Head of Planning &Sustainability to be requested to consider taking to the full Committee, following consultation with the Chairman

Listed Building Consent.

Can be “called up”

If Member does not agree to the use of delegated powers, Head of Planning &Sustainability to be requested to consider taking to the full Committee, following consultation with the Chairman

Conservation Area Consent.

Can be “called up”

If Member does not agree to the use of delegated powers,Head of Planning &Sustainability to be requested to consider taking to the full Committee, following consultation with the Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Contact Name is shown above and Members are asked to contact that person
if they have any queries etc.

The Press is reminded that the Council’s procedure is for ALL Press enquiries to be routed via the Communications Office on High Wycombe 421215/421207.