Issue - meetings

The Deputy Leader (Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services) to submit a report setting out a plan to improve the Planning service, covering six workstreams, including guidance to applicants, staff training and development, member training, digital transformation, customer service and procedure rules (including decision taking).

Cabinet

1)    RECOGNISED the importance of the service to the Council and residents of the Borough, and the significant demand and pressure on the service at present.

2)    NOTED the paper and the need for improvements in the planning process and approves the establishment of a Planning Productivity Plan (PPP), with a Project Oversight Board established to include the relevant Portfolio Holder and Chair of the Planning Committee to maintain effective oversight on progress (terms of reference to be agreed with the Leader, and aforementioned members).

3)    NOTED any proposed changes to procedure rules arising from workstream 6 would follow the normal process for constitutional changes.

4)    DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Interim Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services to approve a supplementary estimate of up to £150,000 to the Growth and Regeneration budget from the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve.

The Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services, Councillor Glancy, introduced the report. Glancy moved the recommendations and Allnatt seconded the motion.

During the debate the following comments were made:

·       It was noted that the money which will be drawn from reserves can be used over the course of this or the next financial year.

·       Cabinet recognised that some details can be finalised when the board is established

·       Members noted that any Constitutional changes that would need to be undertaken would have to follow the usual process before implemented.

·       Cabinet recognised that this was a big piece of work and thanked all those involved.

·       The Chair of the Planning Committee was invited to speak and thanked the efforts of officers and the Cabinet to bring forward the planning productivity plan.

RESOLVED

Cabinet

1)    RECOGNISED the importance of the service to the Council and residents of the Borough, and the significant demand and pressure on the service at present.

2)    NOTED the paper and the need for improvements in the planning process and APPROVED the establishment of a Planning Productivity Plan (PPP), with a Project Oversight Board established to include the relevant Portfolio Holder and Chair of the Planning Committee to maintain effective oversight on progress (terms of reference to be agreed with the Leader, and aforementioned members).

3)    NOTED any proposed changes to procedure rules arising from workstream 6 would follow the normal process for constitutional changes.

4)    DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Interim Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services to approve a supplementary estimate of up to £150,000 to the Growth and Regeneration budget from the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve.

(Key decision)

Reasons for recommendations

The planning service is under pressure and that is impacting on its reputation and its ability to turn applications in a timely manner.

Changes are required to overcome the issues that are causing backlogs of planning applications and damaging the reputation of the service, and council, as a result. If these issues are not resolved the planning service could fail and that would result in government intervention. If this happens, Melton Borough Council would lose the ability to both receive and determine planning applications and would not receive the income from them.

This is a standard improvement project that will require process, people and technology changes and will involve staff and members in order to improve customer service. It cannot be delivered without additional funding for project management, releasing capacity to deliver the project and the training, development and technology improvements required to improve the service.