Purpose

The purpose of this guide is to set out our approach to delivering a clear, target-driven process for determining all non-major types of planning application. This approach reflects the changing Government approach to performance targets and the move to reduce the time period of the Planning Guarantee to 16 weeks and the potential ending of the reliance on Extensions of Time to statutory decision-making periods as a measure of performance, as well as enabling the Development Management service to reach a sustainable position where the full re-introduction of a pre-application advice service can be implemented. 

Our intention is to provide a set of reasonable expectations for both officers and customers of the service which will pave the way for more consistent and timely decision-making in the future. This will require a clear understanding of the service offer and how this will be achieved through the co-operation of applicants/agents, consultees and officers to operate an efficient development management system with the aim to deliver the good quality and sustainable development needed to support economic growth in a timely fashion.

It is understood that this may represent a change in the way some non-major applications have been treated by the Council in recent years and a transition period will be applied for cases that have been with the Council for some time. Case officers and managers will consider each of these individually but with the objective of reaching a decision as soon as reasonably practical.

For the avoidance of doubt, schemes affected by nutrient neutrality requirements related to Stodmarsh will continue to be held for a decision unless unacceptable for other reasons.

This Good Practice Guide is linked to the use of the Council's planning software system – Arcus Global – that has now been in place for 12 months. Officers will utilize the system to assist with maintaining good case management and Team Leaders/Deputy Team Leaders with maintaining good performance management.

All new cases are triaged on a weekly basis by the senior managers in the Service to ensure that case officers' attention can be focused at the earliest stage on those applications that may raise more difficult or complex issues. This may also involve flagging the need for a service-wide 'case review' to ensure that there is an agreed approach amongst officers on the key issues which may determine the eventual recommendation. This should build greater consistency into our decision-making as we go forward.