Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on current planning application performance and ongoing initiatives underway to re-shape the BCP planning service in order to support delivery of the Big Plan and other corporate priorities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)          noted and endorsed the measures underway to improve and transform the planning service as part of a programme approach governed by the Planning Improvement Board; and

(b)         agreed the spend profile for the £250,000 2021/21 budget allocation to provide interim support to deal with current demand in the system.

Voting: Nem. Con (2 abstentions)

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

Reason

To support the ongoing demands on the BCP Planning service.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided an update on current planning application performance and ongoing initiatives underway to re-shape the BCP planning service in order to support delivery of the Big Plan and other corporate priorities.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised that at present the service remains in transition post-local government reorganisation and still operates as three legacy departments, and that it was anticipated that by summertime there would be one planning service in place.

Further to this the Portfolio Holder highlighted the areas which were being worked on to make improvements, including the formation of the Planning Improvement Board chaired by the Chief Executive with the intention that this would assist with addressing the barriers to optimum performance within the service and to continue to drive innovation and enhancement.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Committee highlighting the robust discussions which had taken place regarding this item at the recent meeting of the Board. In relation to this the Chairman of Board advised that the Board were appreciative of the improvements which had already been made, and that further to this the Board have requested to review the progress in six months’ time.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)          noted and endorsed the measures underway to improve and transform the planning service as part of a programme approach governed by the Planning Improvement Board; and

(b)         agreed the spend profile for the £250,000 2021/21 budget allocation to provide interim support to deal with current demand in the system.

Voting: Nem. Con (2 abstentions)

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

Councillors Mike Greene Nicola Greene declared disclosable pecuniary interests in this item and refrained from participating in the discussion and voting thereon.

To consider the following Planning related reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 14 April 2021:

·       Future of Planning in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise the reports and make recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Philip Broadhead, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning.

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

The Future of Planning in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Portfolio Holder outlined the key issues within the report. The Portfolio Holder and Head of Planning responded to comments and requests for clarification, details included:

• Significant work had been undertaken to make changes to processes within the planning department and, in particular, the implementation of one IT system would make a huge difference to the team as a whole. This would then avoid the unintentional siloing of the team and build resiliency which was not currently possible with three different IT systems.
• Significant time and effort was going into ensuring the provision of real-time data that would measure the performance of the planning team, and this would be made readily available when it could be presented most effectively.
• A priority service for major applications was being explored, however, there would most likely be restrictions and it was imperative that the core service was robust before introducing a fast-tracking system.
• There were ambitions to improve the pre-applications process through a major projects forum.
• In terms of recruitment to the panning service, there was a national shortage of planners so it was therefore important to ensure that salaries were competitive in order to attract the best.
• The Planning department were going to be one of the first areas of the Council to undertake the ‘Smarter Structures’ programme which would review how each department, (in this case including development management, planning policy and enforcement etc.), worked as a whole.
• The council was currently undertaking its local plan process, which would bring together the existing planning policies into one updated document that would be utilised across the conurbation, including issues such as affordable housing, height and scale of developments etc – a large piece of work was being undertaken by the local plan working group to look at the emerging issues and being fed back into the plan’s development. It was important to look at what other local authorities were doing as there were already some innovative ideas being used that BCP Council could adopt or adapt.
• The definitions of the different types of applications were set out:
  • Major Applications were any development of 10 units or above in terms of residential use, 1000sq meters of commercial space/non-residential floor space or a site over 1 hectare;
  • Minor Applications were small scale developments (under 10 units;
  • Other Applications were householder extensions or advertisements.
• Obtaining planning permission could be a complicated procedure, particularly in the case of large scale applications where a great deal of consultation was required, and this would often mean that delays were inevitable, which the required the use of time extensions to be agreed.
• The council often challenged figures provided by the District Valuer on large scale developments and this could sometimes this can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 178