Committee details

1        To exercise the Council’s functions relating to town and country planning and development control, the 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. Some applications have been reserved to the Strategic Planning Board: others are delegated on to the Head of Planning: the following are retained for the Planning Committees:

1.1          Applications for Small Scale Major Development for:

1.1.1   residential developments of 20 to 199 dwellings or between 1 and 4ha.

1.1.2   retail or commercial/industrial or other floor space of between 5,000 and 9,999 square metres or 2-4 ha.

This does not include re-applications for extant schemes or detailed applications where outline consent has been given or removal/variation of conditions.

2        To determine any other planning and development control matters:

2.1      advertised as a departure from policy, which the Head of Planning is minded to approve (except those matters identified in paragraph 5 below);

2.2      submitted (as applicant or agent of or)by a Councillor, senior Council officer (Grade 12 or above) or a member of staff employed within the Development Management and Planning Policy service area or by an immediate family member or partner where objections have been received.  Where objections have been received, applications recommended for refusal can be dealt with by officers under delegated powers;

2.3      considered to be significant applications by the Council either as applicant or land owner. This category will not normally include minor developments which accord with planning policy and to which no objection has been made;

2.4      referred up to the Committee by a Councillor in accordance with the Committees` referral procedure. However, any request must be received within 15 working days of the issue of the electronic notification of the application, and set out the material planning consideration(s) which warrant the application going before committee (except for a request to review a Schedule 17 application, where a 7 day time frame will apply);

2.5      any other matters referred up to them at the discretion of the Head of Planning;

2.6      any relevant Schedule 17 applications as deemed appropriate by the Head of Planning.

3.       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.  If an associated planning application was determined by the area committee, then the matter shall be referred to the alternative area committee or Strategic Planning Board. If an associated planning application was determined by the Strategic Planning Board, then the matter shall be referred to an area Committee. [with effect from 13 May 2026]

4        Applications for householder development, listed building consents to alter/extend and conservation area consents will normally be dealt with under delegated powers.

5        Applications for permission in principle, advertisements, tree work, prior approvals, Certificates of Lawfulness and notifications will be dealt with under powers delegated to officers.

6        Where the application is to vary or remove a condition that was imposed by the Planning Committee it will not be delegated.

7.       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.

8        Each Committee will refer up to the Strategic Planning Board matters involving a significant departure from policy which it is minded to approve contrary to recommendation by the Head of Planning.