Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and make the following resolutions:

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The creation of a further Senior Planning Officer post in the Major Applications and Business Team at a cost of £45,000 per annum as a result of the demand for Planning Performance Agreements (PPA) with developers on some of the Council’s Strategic Development Sites, to be directly funded from an agreement with Graylingwell LLP in the first year and anticipated to be funded through further PPA’s in subsequent years;

2.    The creation of a further Planning Assistant Post at a cost of £28,000 per annum to deal with the increased workload of the Development Management Service to be funded from reserves for the remainder of the financial year 2021/22 and incorporated into the 2022/23 base budget thereafter.

3.    The release of £20,000 from reserves to cover the cost of temporary agency staff to address the current backlog of applications.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The creation of a further Senior Planning Officer post in the Major Applications and Business Team at a cost of £53,419 per annum as a result of the demand for Planning Performance Agreements (PPA) with developers on some of the Council’s Strategic Development Sites, to be directly funded from an agreement with Graylingwell LLP in the first year and anticipated to be funded through further PPA’s in subsequent years;

2.    The creation of a further Planning Assistant Post at a cost of £33,861 per annum to deal with the increased workload of the Development Management Service to be funded from reserves for the remainder of the financial year 2021/22 and incorporated into the 2022/23 base budget thereafter.

Cllr Taylor introduced the item.

Cllr Lintill invited Cllr Moss to speak. Cllr Moss spoke in favour of supporting the development management service.

Mr Whitty in response to members comments clarified that the council receives no fees for work on appeals and small applications do not cover their costs.

In a vote the following resolutions were agreed:

RESOLVED

1.    The creation of a further Senior Planning Officer post in the Major Applications and Business Team at a cost of £53,419 per annum as a result of the demand for Planning Performance Agreements (PPA) with developers on some of the Council’s Strategic Development Sites, to be directly funded from an agreement with Graylingwell LLP in the first year and anticipated to be funded through further PPA’s in subsequent years;

2.    The creation of a further Planning Assistant Post at a cost of £33,861 per annum to deal with the increased workload of the Development Management Service to be funded from reserves for the remainder of the financial year 2021/22 and incorporated into the 2022/23 base budget thereafter.