Agenda item - Review of Planning Performance Agreement charges

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)            That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy Environment & Culture to agree the fast track fee for Planning Performance Agreements based on the hourly cost of additional agency/consultancy planning, transport and other specialist staff support.

28.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment, Economy & Culture that sought agreement to introduce a fast track fee option for Planning Performance Arrangements (PPA’s) necessary to cover the costs of bringing in additional planning, transport and other specialist staff support at short notice.

28.2      Councillor Druitt asked for confirmation that the fast track fee option would not supersede the existing non-paid service.

28.3      The Planning Manager confirmed that it would not supersede existing services and would relate to a small number of significant schemes with specific time requirements.

28.4      Councillor Cattell welcomed the report as a step forward in managing the planning process. Councillor Cattell added that local authorities to some extent subsidised major projects as the fee did not cover the entirety of resource put in and this new fee would ensure applications were properly costed and paid for.

28.5      Councillor Nemeth stated that he did feel there would be an inevitable impact upon the regular service, however it would mean that the authority could charge the correct fee for its services.

28.6      The Planning Manager explained that the fee would cover the cost of bringing in additional resource and would only apply to major developments.

28.7      RESOLVED- That the Committee grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Economy Environment & Culture to agree the fast track fee for Planning Performance Agreements based on the hourly cost of additional agency/consultancy planning, transport and other specialist staff support.