To consider the findings of the Planning Service Scrutiny Review Group following the review.

The Committee considered the findings of the Planning Service Scrutiny Review Group following the review.

The Committee on 9th June 2008 considered a report highlighting that while the Planning Service had enjoyed wide ranging success in recent years the challenge for the future was to respond to the national Planning Reform agenda.  At its meeting the Committee decided to set up a scrutiny review group and agreed the terms of reference for the review which included how best the planning function could deliver the growth required to 2026 and how the Local Development function could best be integrated with the Growth Point agenda.  The Review Groups report setting out its approach to its task, its findings, and recommendations was included in the agenda.

The Chairman of the Review Group, Councillor PA Andrews, presented the findings of the Review Group and thanked the Review Group for their work, the people who had presented verbal or written evidence, the town and parish councils for responding to the questionnaire and officers of the Council who had supported the review.

On considering the report the following principal points were noted:

• The Committee appreciated the clarity and comprehensive approach to the report.
• Responding to Recommendation 4.A - levels of consultation - the Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) commented that a great deal of consultation had already been undertaken. There were major differences between the former Unitary Development Plan and the Local Development Framework (LDF) and therefore a new approach was needed.  Initial work on the LDF included the identification of areas of land that had the potential to be developed.  More detailed work on specific sites was likely to commence in approximately 2 years time.
• The Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) commented that the change from a ‘policing’ role  to that of ‘enabling’ (para 6.1) had already started with a number of job title changes to underline the new emphasis.
• Responding to comments concerning the budget for the planning service the Director of Regeneration reported that the down turn in the economy, and resultant reduced levels of fee income needed to be managed.  It was for Council as a whole to direct any budget changes.  The Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) commented that a number of staff had already been temporarily redeployed or seconded to other areas.
• That Agents be included in Recommendation 8.b .
• Responding to comments about the response to letters (para 10.7 & Rec 10.I) the Head of Planning and Transportation confirmed that general letters were responded to. Unfortunately specific queries contained in letters of objection were not responded to, usually due to the high numbers involved.
• The Committee noted that the Audit Commission report ‘Planning Services Review’ – March 2009, also made reference to the Council’s planning committee structure.  A number of views were expressed by Members of the Committee concerning the advantages or disadvantages of the current structure. The Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) reported that he had set up a Working Group to examine the Audit Commission report and anticipated that the committee structure would be debated at Council. 

The Chairman thanked the Review Group for their work in undertaking the review.

RESOLVED: That:

a)        The report of the Planning Service Review Group be approved and referred to the Executive for consideration;

b)        The Executives response to the findings and recommendations, including an action plan, be reported to the first available meeting of the Committee after the Executive has approved its response; and

c)        It be noted in the committee work programme that a further report on progress in response to the Review be made  after six months with consideration then being given to the need for any further reports to be made.