Issue - meetings

To consider the Scrutiny Committee’s review of Planning Obligations.

RESOLVED to approve the following recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee:

·         The creation of an Uttlesford Developers Contribution Document

·         A more formalised, procedural and earlier approach for Town and Parish Councils to input into Planning Obligations

·         Clearer and consistent reporting of Planning Obligations as part of recommending major planning applications to Planning Committee

·         Prioritise the population of the EXACOM database, to allow enhanced reporting and public self-service requests

·         Reflect on cases and projects upon their completion to maintain and facilitate improvement in delivery

Councillor Gregory left the meeting at 7.10pm.

Councillor Evans introduced the item relating to the Scrutiny Committee’s review into Planning Obligations. He thanked Councillors Jones and Criscione for their work on the review. He said one area which would benefit from further investigation from the legal and planning departments was SUDs in the context of planning obligations. He commended the report.

Councillor Criscione said he felt that developers had been getting the upper hand in terms of their planning obligations and this needed to be addressed. He said the report recommended that local councils and communities were involved and informed of developer negotiations in respect of planning obligations, which complemented the Administration’s position on development control. The review had carried out a survey with councillors and local councils and it was clear that people felt uninvolved and not suitably trained to add value to the process. Furthermore, there needed to be a transparent and easily accessible system to hold developers to account and to ensure planning obligations were being honoured by developers.

Members discussed the practicalities of implementing the report’s recommendations and agreed that something needed to be done to hold developers to account in regard to planning obligations. There was general commendation for the report.

In response to a question, Councillor Evans said officers would produce a template for how the recommendations would be carried forward. He said an update on implementing the recommendations would be considered by both Scrutiny and Cabinet in September.

RESOLVED to approve the following recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee:

a)    The creation of an Uttlesford Developers Contribution Document

b)    A more formalised, procedural and earlier approach for Town and Parish Councils to input into Planning Obligations

c)     Clearer and consistent reporting of Planning Obligations as part of recommending major planning applications to Planning Committee

d)    Prioritise the population of the EXACOM database, to allow enhanced reporting and public self-service requests

e)    Reflect on cases and projects upon their completion to maintain and facilitate improvement in delivery