Agenda item - Chair's Communications

43.1    The Chair addressed the committee and thanked Liz Hobden (Head of Planning) as follows: Liz has decided to move on to pastures new after providing sterling services to the Council’s planning team since 1995.

Liz joined Brighton Borough Council in 1995. She has seen through significant change at the Council including the transition of the Council to Brighton & Hove City Council when she then became a Manager of an Area Development Control team. In 2001 she became Planning Policy Team Manager.

In 2017 she was appointed Chief Planning Officer. This was at a time when there was a lot of change required to the way in which planning departments work combined with significant changes to policy frameworks.

In this leadership role Liz immeasurably improved the efficiency and delivery of the planning service thus ensuring that 90% of all major and minor applications are determined within the Government’s recommended timeframe. As quality improved so have appeal numbers fallen significantly. The number of enforcement cases requiring intervention has also fallen due to a the more proactive change in their management.   

With the help of the new City Plan the average number of new homes being permitted since 2017 has increased with a step change. This is a significant achievement which we wish to continue going forward. In these roles she has sought to ensure that the Council successfully works with residents, developers and a range of stakeholders.

Liz is very hard working, and she leaves on a high note with an accomplished record of achievement. One of those latest achievements has been responsibility for the training and education of Cllrs to the newly formed Planning Committee under this Labour Council. As Chair of Planning Committee, I can confirm that her dedication and level of commitment on a range of complex technical and managerial issues has benefited from her full attention. She must get the accolade for being one of the most long standing and dedicated officers not just in the planning department but also in the Council.

Thanks were also received from Councillors Cattell and Theobald.