Committee details

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.