Issue - meetings

Meeting: 13/10/2020 - Cabinet (Item 5)

Question Time

The following questions have been received and will either be responded to during the meeting or a written response will be included in the minutes:

 

Cllr Robin Stuchbury

 

I’m seeking reassurance from the Cabinet member in regards to processing planning applications particularly within the Buckingham/rural area.  A few of the North Bucks area planning committee meetings have been cancelled with the suggestion that there is no business which needs processing.  However, there are a number of applications, some dating back to 2018, and many of them are for major developments within a community with an agreed neighbourhood development plan which was agreed by the latter-day planning authority through public referendum within Buckingham.   I, therefore, seek a better understanding of why the committee has only met once this year.  Is there some issue which we are not privy to regarding staffing or the ability to process applications or is there a procedural operational change in determining applications which could explain why there are not sufficient planning applications to be determined?  I’ve been thinking of asking the question for some time, but the latest cancellation of the meeting of 30th September this was the catalyst necessitating presenting this question to seek clarity of the above concern.

 

Cllr Robin Stuchbury

 

In light of the written response and verbal response at the Cabinet meeting on 8 September 2020, has the Cabinet now come to the conclusion of their view on the proposals in the Planning White Paper and the environmental and economic impact this could have for Buckinghamshire, as well as the implications for local democratic accountability in the planning process?

 

Cllr Alan Bacon

 

The Long Shadow of Deprivation is a very recent report from a government agency, the Social Mobility Commission. This report identifies social mobility in Chiltern as amongst the very worst in the country. Will the portfolio holder please report on how the council will seek to address this situation?

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Stuchbury’s question

 

I’m seeking reassurance from the Cabinet member in regards to processing planning applications particularly within the Buckingham/rural area.  A few of the North Bucks area planning committee meetings have been cancelled with the suggestion that there is no business which needs processing.  However, there are a number of applications, some dating back to 2018, and many of them are for major developments within a community with an agreed neighbourhood development plan which was agreed by the latter-day planning authority through public referendum within Buckingham.   I, therefore, seek a better understanding of why the committee has only met once this year.  Is there some issue which we are not privy to regarding staffing or the ability to process applications or is there a procedural operational change in determining applications which could explain why there are not sufficient planning applications to be determined?  I’ve been thinking of asking the question for some time, but the latest cancellation of the meeting of 30th September this was the catalyst necessitating presenting this question to seek clarity of the above concern.

 

Response provided by Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement.

 

It was recognised that there are a number of legacy issues within the former Development Management teams, which were now with the new council to resolve. As such, the Planning and Environment Service was one of the first areas of the Council to be reviewed as part of Buckinghamshire Council’s Review and Revive Programme. In addition the Council had started implementing immediate actions in Development Management, with a view to bringing about improvements to expedite the determination of applications ahead of the wider service programme.

 

In total since April 2020 the Council had received 951 applications within the North area, of those 425 fell within the categories defined in the council’s constitution that could be called into committee (full, outline or reserved matters). The North Area Committee had only been held once, with 4 committee dates being cancelled. This was because the majority of applications were being determined using delegated powers. The council had determined 964 applications in the North area under delegated powers since April 2020 and 1 application had been determined by the North Area Planning committee. It should be noted that in accordance with national best practice over 96% of applications were usually determined by councils under delegated authority.

 

He had asked Officers to review the sites listed by Councillor Stuchbury. Out of the 42 listed, 10 of the applications did not fall within the category that could be called into committee. Of those pending the majority were being actively worked on and awaiting further information or subject to negotiation. Very few were subject to call in request by a Member, albeit comments had been made. The Council were actively programming applications to forthcoming committees but this would be dependent on the stage that was reached on negotiations on the application at the time of the closing of agendas.

 

The service would also carry out an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5