1 To oversee the
division of the Council’s Development Management functions
and workload in order to ensure timely and consistent decision
making at the most appropriate level, and to that end:
1.1 monitor the volume and type of
applications determined; assessing the
performance of the Development Management service, and, if
appropriate
1.2 vary the division of functions
and delegations between the Board, the Planning Committees and the
Head of Planning
1.3 adopt working protocols and
procedures: e.g. protocols governing the direction of applications
between the Planning Committees, public speaking rights, referral
procedure and others.
2 To exercise the
Council's functions relating to town and country planning and
development control, protection of important hedgerows,
preservation of trees, regulation of high hedges, and any relevant
applications pursuant to Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail Acts. Most of these functions are
delegated to the Planning Committees and then onwards to the Head
of Planning, but the following are reserved to the Board:
2.1 Applications for Large Scale
Major Development as defined by the Strategic Planning Board from
time to time. Currently this includes:
2.1.1 residential developments of 200 dwellings or more,
or 4 ha. or more
2.1.2 10,000 square metres or more, or 4ha. or more of
retail, commercial or industrial or other floor space.
2.2 This does not include
re-applications for extant schemes or detailed applications where
outline consent has been given or removal/variation of
conditions.
2.3 Applications for major minerals
or waste development other than small scale works which are
ancillary to an existing mineral working or waste disposal
facility.
2.4 Applications involving a
significant departure from policy which has been referred to SPB
which a Planning Committee is minded to
approve. [Any such departure will be indicated on the Officer
report or by the Lead Officer at the committee meeting]
2.5 Any other matters which have
strategic implications by reason of their scale, nature or
location.
2.6 Any other matters referred up to
it at the discretion of the Head of Planning, including major
development of less than the thresholds set out in paragraph 2.1
above which have wider strategic implications.
2.7 To exercise a consultation and
advisory role, commenting upon the content of proposed planning
policy, any document which forms part of or linked to the Local
Plan and upon the effectiveness of existing policies employed in
development control decisions.
2.8 To determine any relevant
Schedule 17 applications as deemed appropriate by the Head of
Planning.
2.9 To determine applications made in relation to the
public rights of way network and the registers of Commons and Town
and Village Greens that are ‘referred’ for
determination in accordance with the Planning Committee
Members’ Referral Procedure, which are unable to be presented
the Area Committee (in accordance with Northern and Southern
Planning Committee Functions Paragraph 3). [with effect from 13 May
2026]
3 Where the
application is to vary or remove a condition that was imposed by
the Planning Committee it will not be delegated.
4 However, there will
be a presumption that a referral request by a local ward Member
will be agreed where applications are for the renewal (or extension
of time) of extant unimplemented permissions.