Issue - meetings

Purpose of the report

To seek authority to adopt the “Revisions and Amendments to Planning Applications and Extensions of Time” procedure.

Decision

That Cabinet adopts the proposed “Revisions and Amendments to Planning Applications and Extensions of Time” procedure.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Council could have chosen not to adopt the process and continue with the current arrangements. However, this approach was unlikely to reduce the use of Extensions of Time and would prolong the decision-making process for applicants. This could have also led to inconsistencies when processing amendments. This approach was therefore discounted.

Reasons for the decision

The adoption of an approach to accepting revisions and amendments to planning applications and the use of extensions of time would provide clarity for applicants and officers. It would create consistency across the planning team about processing amendments and would improve case management which, in turn, would speed up decision-making. In the event of any complaints about refusal to accept amendments to an application, applicants could be referred to the procedure which would be published on the Council’s website.

Encouraging the use of the pre-application advice service would provide applicants with guidance which should improve the quality of planning applications. At the pre-application stage, concerns with any proposal would be identified along with guidance on which other stakeholders to consult and the documents required to be submitted with an application. It would also generate income to support the resourcing of the planning team.

National government wished to accelerate the delivery of house building and associated infrastructure. The Council had the ability to negotiate extensions of time to the statutory time limits which are set out in existing legislation.

South Kesteven were far more reliant on extensions of time than other Lincolnshire authorities. The planning team were reliant on these extensions for a range of reasons, including the negotiation of amendments to applications and section 106 agreements. The Council had no obligation to accept amendments to planning applications. They could be requested by officers or submitted by applicants.

Case management of planning applications was to be improved to speed up decision making.