Agenda item

The purpose of the Sub-Committee is to consider and report back annually to the Planning Committee on a random sample, previously selected by the Chair and the Deputy Chair, of up to twenty delegated planning decisions taken from the total number of those decisions determined between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, as detailed in the appendices to the covering report.

The Deputy Chief Planning Officer in presenting the covering report providing an overview of all decisions taken over the 24-month period (April 2020 – March 2022) which showed that when considered against the latest DLUHC performance data to December 2021 produced for all 330 local authorities in England, LBBD at 100% were placed joint 1^st both nationally and in London for determining major development decisions and at 98.1% placed 28^th nationally (up 296 places from June 2020) and 2^nd in London (up 29 places from June 2020) for taking and non-major development decisions ‘within time’.

The position and trends in respect of the latter development decisions indicated a positive performance improvement and links to Be First’s aspirations, working in partnership with LBBD, to accelerate development, aligning more widely to the government’s aspiration to ‘speed up’ the planning process. In this respect it was noted that when the performance data for Q4 is included to March 2022 it is expected that LBBD will by comparison be placed 1^st both nationally and in London for all ‘non-major applications.

The report included a breakdown within the date period of approvals/refusals across various application types and included commentary about householder applications, where approvals during the period April 2021-March 2022 achieved 65% against a challenging and aspirational target of 67%. Whilst this was marginally below target, the quality of decision making has remained high, and the timely determinations represents a nationally best position.

Finally in respect of certificates of lawful development and prior notifications, the performance levels of determination ‘within time’ for both were 86% and 89% respectively.

Appendix 1 contained the bundle of the randomly selected delegated planning decisions which included an overview title page, key drawings, together with the officer delegated report and Planning Decision Notice. Appendix 2 contained the randomly selected appeals each of which included the Planning Decision Notice and the Planning Inspectorate Appeal Decision.

At the meeting the Chair and Deputy Chair choose two of each of the application and appeal decisions, which the Deputy Chief Planning Officer provided a summary overview of each. The Sub-Committee were satisfied that the relevant planning policies and criteria had been applied correctly in respect of the two application cases and acknowledged the basis of the Planning Inspectorate decisions in respect to the two appeals.

An updated report to that published with the Planning Committee agenda for 25 April 2022 detailing the Sub Committee’s findings would be presented by the Deputy Chief Planning Officer for noting.

In conclusion the Chair placed on record his thanks to James Coulstock, Deputy Chief Planning Officer and his staff in the Be First Management team together with Marylyn Smith, Head of Planning Decisions and Assurance, LBBD Growth and Homes as well as the support from officers in Law and Governance, who collectively had worked hard to achieve such outstanding performance outcomes over the past year. To that end he would support the preparation of a submission for any relevant local government awards in the coming year.