Delegation Panel

The purpose of the Council's Delegation Panel is to advise decisions of the Head of Planning regarding whether or not planning applications should be reported to Planning Committee. The scheme will operate under the Council's Constitution and Scheme of Delegation to Officers and shall cover applications for Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent and Prior Notifications for developments that are:

• Householder
• Advertisements
• Change of Use
• Minor Residential (Less than 10 dwellings or, if not known, site area less than 0.5 hectares)
• Minor Commercial (new floor space less than 1000m2 or site area less than 1 hectare)
• Variation of Conditions
• Hazardous Substances
• Prior Notifications (agricultural and telecommunications)

Any such application for which:

• The intended decision of the Head of Planning would conflict with, or would not substantially satisfy, the written representation of the Parish or Town Council
• A District Councillor (being a Member of the Council s Planning Committee or representing the ward in which the application site is located) has requested (in writing) consideration by Committee

will be reported to the Delegation Panel.

Any proposal judged by the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chairman and/or Vice-chairman of Planning Committee, to be of district-wide significance, or so contentious that it ought to be considered by Planning Committee in the public interest, and any application proposing major development in respect of which:

• The intended decision of the Head of Planning would conflict with, or would not substantially satisfy, the written representation of the Parish or Town Council
• A District Councillor (being a Member of the Council s Planning Committee or representing the ward in which the application site is located) has requested (in writing) consideration by Committee

shall fall outside this scheme and will automatically be considered by Planning Committee.

The scheme protocol shall be:

The Delegation Panel will normally meet fortnightly

A list of applications to be considered at the Panel will be circulated to all Members. A written briefing report on each case will be prepared and circulated to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Planning Committee and to any local member(s) who expressed an interest in writing. This will happen at least 4 clear working days in advance of the meeting, with the provision for emergency items at the discretion of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and the ward Member(s)

The local member(s) may attend the Panel or submit representations in writing in order to make sure the Panel is clearly aware of their views and reasoning

The application Case Officers will present individual applications for discussion and decision, including all representations received and photographs of the site

The decision as to whether to refer the application to Planning Committee will be made by the Head of Planning or the Development Control Manager in consultation with the Chairman or Vice Chairman of Planning Committee and any interested local member(s). In the absence of a consensus between the said Officers and the Chairman and/or Vice Chairman the application will be reported to the Planning Committee

The Parish Council will be informed of the decision verbally by the Case Officer within 2 days of the Meeting. The reasoning will be fully explained in writing within 10 days, with copies sent to the Chairman, Vice Chairman and local member(s)

This description of the Delegation Panel Scheme is written to aid understanding of its functions. Its full provisions are to be found in Part 3 of the Council s Constitution (Page 15).