Agenda item

To consider the review of the Planning Service report.

The Chair asked the Committee to focus on how to move forward and to address and resolve problems rather than discuss what had happened in the past.

He said the report showed how difficult it was for residents to contact the department and be involved with the planning process.

Councillor Evans said that the Planning Service was a corporate function, which was vital to get right. 

He said that there were 8 recommendations directed at each of the main bodies, (Members, the Executive and paid staff).  He said the steps taken so far were shown on page 57, number 13 onwards.  He highlighted the following: -

·         Recruitment was completed or underway for: - 

a Transformation Lead Officer, Jeanette Walsh. 

a temporary Director -  there were 3 individuals being considered.

two Specialist Planning Lawyers

two Principal Planning Officers

·         Work had started on the Section 106, planning obligations.

·         Work had been undertaken regarding Idox.

·         The Planning Committee had started work on a new report format, the working party of the Planning Committee would be regularised.

·         Work continued as part of a partnership approach, to develop the model Memorandum of Understanding for landowners and developers of larger sites. 

·         Work had been undertaken with Highways England and Essex County Council.

·         Community engagement progressed including with the third tier Councils.

He said he would come back to the Committee in 6 months with a full report and  a plan to be achieved but he could not give specifics at this meeting of what recommendations would be completed or by when.

The Chief Executive said that he had received a letter from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities.  The Council had exceeded the threshold for major applications lost at appeal.  This was not disputed or unexpected.  There was already the review of planning underway, and the Government required the commitment of the Council and an action plan to get back on track.  He said the solution would require change throughout the service, and did not relate to a small section of people but was a team challenge and required a team solution.

Councillor Le Count said he was concerned about the Council’s action plan and thought a review in 6 months was too late.  Members agreed.  The Chair said he wanted to see a detailed action plan with timelines, budget, who and how it would be managed, who would be accountable, how it would be monitored and how success would be determined.

Councillor Evans said there was a skeleton action plan from page 22 onwards, actions were identified and would be implemented.

He said the Transformation Lead Officer would be reporting every fortnight to him and the Chair of Planning Committee setting out accomplishments and seeking support on any how to resolve them.

Councillor De Vries left the meeting at 8pm.

In response to a question from Councillor Sell, the Director of Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that the report was incorrect and confirmed that the base budget had increased year on year.  In response to a further question from the Chair he said that the rise was at least inflationary, including staff salaries and that the 2018 review had built in extra roles with growth over and above inflation in some years.

Councillor Lees said that the report covered the planning review in 2018 specifically on page 76 and more broadly on pages 72 to 80.

Councillor Evans reiterated that responsibility was with the body corporate and not just one aspect of the Council or the Planning Service.

Councillor Sell said there was no accountability if everyone was responsible.

Councillor Evans said he was not seeking to avoid responsibility but there was a myriad of reasons why the service had not performed as it should.  He said it was his responsibility to implement the recommendations in the report and he would be accountable for that process.

Councillor Jones suggested that this was brought back to a future Scrutiny Committee to see what progress had been made.  He said he could not scrutinise what could or may happen in the future.

Councillor Driscoll asked when there would be a full enforcement team and stressed the importance of this element of the Planning Service.

The Director of Public Services said a comprehensive report including accountability and a clear detailed programme would take time.  He said Enforcement was part of the action plan but there were competing priorities.  He recognised the importance of this aspect of the service.

In response to a question from Councillor Sell, Councillor Lees said she had spoken to Councillor Hargreaves who had confirmed that the extra money required for the implementation of the recommendations had been accounted for and would be made available. 

The Chair summarised the discussion.  He said it was important that residents received the best possible service in the future.  He said there needed to be clarity on who would take responsibility for the delivery of the service although he recognised that there was an element of corporate responsibility.  He said there also needed to be an understanding of how the recommendations would be implemented. 

Councillor Evans agreed to provide a brief implementation plan at the November Scrutiny Committee that set out levels of responsibility and included estimated timelines.  He also agreed that a more comprehensive plan would be provided for the February Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee voted unanimously in favour of remitting the report to Cabinet.

RESOLVED to consider the report, its findings and recommendations, and to offer comment to the Cabinet on its content.