Draft – Scheme of Delegation

All matters not reserved to Council, Cabinet or Committee are delegated to the Head of Planning other than:

• planning applications submitted by or on behalf of the Council for development (excluding minor applications relating to the curtilage of a property or external alterations where no significant extensions are proposed);

• planning applications submitted by a Councillor or their spouse/partner, or on behalf of a Councillor or spouse/partner;

• planning applications involving land/premises owned or controlled by a Councillor or spouse/partner;

• where a senior officer (Director/Head of Service or equivalent) of the Council has a pecuniary interest in the outcome of a planning applications;

• planning applications on which a Member of the Council has made representations in writing to the Head of Planning (HoP) within the publicity period and the HoP in consultation with the Chair is satisfied that it has been demonstrated that the application raises significant material planning issues;

• where the Head of Planning considers a planning application to raise significant planning issues such that it is in the public interest for the application to be considered by committee;

• planning applications accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement where it is intended to recommend approval;

• planning applications which are defined as a departure from the adopted development plan for which the Secretary of State must be consulted as identified in the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009 or in any successor document and where it is intended to recommend approval.

The majority of planning applications would be determined by the area based planning committee, however, it is anticipated that there will be a Strategic Committee which would determine the following:

• minerals and waste planning applications relating to new sites or significant extension to existing sites and where it is intended to recommend approval;

• Planning applications where the Head of Planning considers the application to raise significant strategic planning issues that affect more than one area committee geography and it can be demonstrated that it is in the public interest for the application to be considered by committee;

• Significant energy and physical infrastructure proposals which are accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement where it is intended to recommend approval;

• Planning applications for more than 500 houses and where it is intended to recommend approval;.

• Responses as a statutory consultee to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects for which a Development Consent Order is being sort under the Planning Act 2008 or any successor legislation.

It is recommended that all issues relating to Planning Enforcement and all other applications under planning legislation are delegated to the Head of Planning.