Agenda item

The Assistant Director of Planning & Planning Policy presented the report to the Committee to inform on the outcome of the 4 week public consultation exercise on the proposed introduction of a Pre-Application (Planning) Charging Schedule / Service.

The report presented at the Committee’s meeting in April 2025 had sought approval to open a public consultation exercise on the proposed introduction of a Pre-Application (Planning) Charging Schedule / Service.  Accompanying that report (and the public consultation that subsequently followed) had been a draft schedule of charges.  This draft was attached at Appendix 1.

The public consultation exercise had run from 22^nd April 2025 to the 21^st May 2025 (4 weeks) – 11 representations had been received in that time, summarised at Table 1 of the report.

While engagement was low, the comments received had produced balanced opinions to the proposal.

In analysing the comments received, the most outstanding contributed theme was the opposition to the introduction of a fee for householder / domestic types of planning enquiry.

Furthermore, the themes raised related to challenges levying a fee for areas affected by Article 4’s (which would be predominantly householder / domestic types properties), properties that were listed buildings, and smaller scale commercial / single properties.

Three neutral contributors were noted in the report, along with two overall supporting contributors.

In a challenging economic climate, the Council had to explore alternatives to maintain the current level of services offered – cost recovery of discretionary services was one of those avenues.

The Planning Team was fully resourced and able to offer a discretionary service without any detriment to delivery of statutory planning services.  However, it was well known that there was a national resourcing crisis that could affect the service in the future.

On that basis, future proofing the service should be considered.

A balanced recommendation arising from the initial market research and outcome of the public consultation exercise was that a charge be introduced for the Pre-Application (Planning) service, but that charge exclude the development types affecting householder / domestic properties.

The revised draft of the Pre-Application (Planning) Charging Schedule / Service

guidance note had been prepared and was attached at Appendix 2.

A question was raised on the previous quoted incomes in the April 2025 report (from charging for all services being £20,000 per annum) and the June 2025 report (for charging only for larger applications / complex case services being £30,000 per annum).  The Assistant Director of Planning & Planning Policy informed in the April 2025 report the quoted income had been a rough estimate.  However, on closer inspection charging for larger applications / complex cases only would bring in the higher quoted figure in the report (based on the number of applications received in the previous year).

To a question on the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for assisting officers in their work and providing answers to enquiring applicants, the Assistant Director of Planning & Planning Policy informed the use of AI had been trialled in consultation but proved it was still in the development stage – while a possible option in the future, it was not yet ready for providing quality assistance / advice.

The Committee was informed AI could successfully answer basic enquiries, but for complex case advice / support, the use of AI was not (currently) a viable option.

A Member stated, with the recent changes to apprenticeship funding, Pre-Application (Planning) Charging could help support the Council with regards continued inhouse training and officer development.

A Member added it appeared to be common practice for other local authorities to charge for such services.  The Council’s Planning Team were also known outside the organisation to provide high quality services – Pre-Application (Planning) Charging would ensure this continued.

Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro

RESOLVED that the Committee: 1) note the outcome of the public consultation exercise undertaken on the proposed introduction of a pre-application (planning) advice charging schedule;

1)    agree to the proposed amendment to the draft pre-application (planning) advice charging schedule / service to exclude householder / domestic developments; and,

2)    recommend to Full Council that the draft pre-application (planning) advice charging schedule / service be accepted, with targeted implementation on the 1^st September 2025.

In favour of the recommendation: 7

Against the recommendation: 1