Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection / Development Control Manager (copy enclosed) to identify emerging trends or pressures that will affect the delivery of the council’s corporate priorities in relation to ensuring access to good quality housing and developing the local economy.

11.15 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.

The Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, presented a report (previously circulated) to identify emerging trends or pressures that would affect the delivery of the Council’s corporate priorities in relation to ensuring access to good quality housing and developing the local economy.

The report had been requested by Members following the discussion on the Annual Performance Report at the Performance Scrutiny meeting in September 2013.

Comparison figures had been requested for 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 (to date) as they had felt clarification was required as to why Denbighshire was not performing in the top quartile in Wales in relation to the speed of determining householder applications within 8 weeks.

Officers explained that performance varied year on year, dependent on a number of variables such as staff resources, sickness, complexity of applications etc.

The Head of Planning and Public Protection clarified that planning applications were broken down into different categories.  As well as the speed of dealing with the applications received, the quality of the decision being made was important.  The speed of which a householder application was dealt with could be affected e.g. if it had to go to Planning Committee, or if a large commercial application was pending this could slow down the process for householder applications due to resources being diverted to deal with the large application.

Planning Officers worked with developers and agents within a forum which had been set up with a view of enhancing and streamlining the planning application process for all concerned. 

Planning Officers checked through applications and if there was a need e.g. for an amended plan, rather than reject the application, the officer would contact the applicant for an amended plan to enable the application to be granted rather than reject and take time to re-apply.   This process could take longer than the original 8 weeks but it would take less time than having to submit a new application. This could contribute to the issue of the time taken to complete applications.  However, the general feeling was that this equated to a better quality service for all in the long run.

The 8 week time scale was statutory for benchmarking purposes in comparison with other local authorities.

Another side to planning was the public service of asking for an informal discussion prior to the submission of a planning application.  Historically, informal discussions had taken place free of charge.  Over recent years, charging schemes had been introduced for pre-application advice. Occasionally, if pre-application advice had not been sought then applications received could require a lot of work.  If pre-application advice had been obtained, the application could be dealt with in a speedier manner. 

The free planning surgeries which were held every two weeks would continue.

Within the Developer and Agent Forum, the charging mechanism had been discussed and they were agreeable to pay for the council’s services.

It was confirmed that people had the right to apply for retrospective planning permission.  The charges for this were set by the Welsh Government and there was no penalty for a retrospective planning application.  The Welsh Government was due to review this in the future.

The Planning Department did not have a policy or a requirement to be cost neutral.  The Department had a budget and an income stream.  Planning Service provided services over and above services of planning applications, e.g. the Local Development Plan (LDP) and Development Control function.  It also had a crucial role to play in developing and delivering the Council’s Economic Ambition priority and strategy.

RESOLVED that subject to above, the Performance Scrutiny Committee note the information contained within the report.