Issue - meetings

Item PE 16/4 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 12 January 2016

(Item PE 16/4 referred from Planning and Transformation Advisory Board minutes of 12 January 2016)

Consideration of recommendations to the Cabinet from the Planning and Transformation Advisory Board of 12 January 2016.

The Cabinet resolved that:

The recommendations of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board be approved as follows:

The following proposals be approved with effect from 1 April 2016:

(1)          the Protocol for providing Pre-application advice be adopted, as attached at Annex 2 to the report; and

(2)          the Pre-application Charging Schedule 2016/17 be introduced as attached at Annex 3 to the report.

Item PE 16/4 referred from Planning and Transformation Advisory Board minutes of 12 January 2016

Decision Notice D160018CAB

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health presented a review of the procedures and practice adopted in providing advice and guidance in respect of planning matters, in particular assistance provided to those intending to submit planning applications.  Importantly, the report also reviewed the charges made for the service and recommended a new regime to reflect the costs and value of the advice provided.

Members recognised that there were significant costs involved in providing good quality pre-application advice and although this was highly beneficial to the planning application process and local communities it was now appropriate to critically review charges in the context of increasing focus on service efficiency.

A summary of the different charging regimens for all the local planning authorities in Kent was provided in Annex 1 to the report. Details of the proposed new pre-application protocol, together with the fee structure and pre-application form were set out in Annexes 2 and 3 respectively.

The financial and value for money considerations set out in the report were noted by Members.

RECOMMENDED:  That the following proposals be approved by Cabinet with effect from 1 April 2016:

(1)             the Protocol for providing Pre-application advice be adopted, as attached at Annex 2 to the report; and

(2)             the Pre-application Charging Schedule 2016/17 be introduced as attached at Annex 3 to the report

*Referred to Cabinet