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
(a) to
monitor the volume and type of applications determined; assessing
the performance of the Development Management service, and, if
appropriate
(b) to
vary the division of functions and delegations between the Board,
the Planning Committees and the Director of Planning and
Sustainable Development;
(c) to
adopt working protocols and procedures: eg: protocols governing the direction of
applications between the Planning Committees, public speaking
rights, call-in procedure and others.
2. To
exercise the Council's functions relating to town & country
planning & development control, the protection of important
hedgerows, the preservation of trees and the regulation of high
hedges set out in the Local Authorities (Functions &
Responsibilities)(England) Regulations 2000. Most of these
functions are delegated to the Planning Committees and then onwards
to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, but the
following are reserved to the Board:
(a)
applications for Large Scale Major Development. Currently this
includes
-
residential developments of 200 dwellings or more, or 4 ha or
more;
-
10,000 square metres or more, or 4ha. or more of retail, commercial
or industrial or other floor space.
This
does not include re-applications for extant schemes or detailed
applications where outline consent has been given or
removal/variation of conditions.
Where
the application is to vary or remove a condition that was imposed
by the Planning Committee it will not be delegated.
However, there will be a presumption that a call in request by a
local ward member will be agreed where applications are for the
renewal (or extension of time) of extant unimplemented
permissions.
(b)
applications for major minerals or waste development other than
small scale works which are ancillary to an existing mineral
working or waste disposal facility.
(c)
applications involving a significant departure from policy which a
Planning Committee is recommended to approve.
(d) any other matters which have strategic
implications by reason of their scale, nature or
location.
(e) any other matters referred up to it at the
discretion of the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development,
including major development of less than the thresholds set out in
(a) above which have wider strategic implications.
3.
To exercise a consultation and
advisory role, commenting upon the content of proposed planning
policy and upon the effectiveness of existing policies employed in
development control decisions.
4.
To exercise on behalf of the
Council the function of final approval of the Area Action Plans,
and any other document including a Site Allocation Policy, which
form part of the Local Plan.