Issue - meetings

The Development Management and Land Charges Manager presented the report to the Committee.

In November 2016 (updated December 2024), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government produced guidance, entitled “Improving Planning Performance”, which included guidance on speed of Planning decisions and Quality of Planning Decisions.

The measure to be used was the percentage of the total number of decisions made by the authority on applications that were then subsequently overturned at appeal.  This was set at 10%.

The latest monitoring period was January 2026 – June 2026, and the Council had received no appeals on major planning applications and 3 appeal decisions on nonmajor planning applications – 2 appeals were dismissed and 1 allowed.  However, this only equated to 1.41% of the number of non-major applications determined within this period.

A full summary of the decisions made was within the report.

The lack of appeals generally against planning decisions taken indicated that current decision making was sound and the Council’s performance in successfully defending decisions at appeal was good.

It was recommended that the appeal performance and the report be noted and that the Committee continued to be briefed on appeal decisions and performance on an ongoing 6-monthly basis to ensure the Council met and exceeded the UK Government target.

A Member noted that the Council’s performance in successfully defending decisions was the result of appropriate officer decisions, recommendations and Member determinations.

A Member thanked the officers for their care, dedication and maintaining a high level of service.

Moved by Councillor Duncan McGregor and seconded by Councillor Phil Smith

RESOLVED that: 1) the quality of decision making / appeal performance and report be noted; and,

2)    appeal decisions continue to be reported to Committee members every 6 months.