Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Planning presented the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (2) recommendations to Members on the findings of the Planning Enforcement Review Group.

Members thanked the Members of the Task and Finish Group for their work on this matter. During discussion they proposed the following amendments and additions to the recommendations:-

·       Recommendation a) - The Executive Member to report back to Executive next month on the timeline for the Drone trial

·       Recommendation b) - Members to be updated on progress of the implementation of the recommendations via the Members Newsletter

·       The Chair of Planning Committee be asked to consider the suggestion of a Planning Enforcement matters report (Part II) on a quarterly basis

·       Business Manager - Development Management be asked to look at the viability and resourcing of virtual planning cafes for Town and Parish Councils specifically with regards to planning enforcement matters

·       The Executive Member for Planning to write to the relevant Government Minister regarding enforcement regulations

·       Officers be asked to expand on the Members enforcement notification report to state why no breach or no further action would be taken in each case.

The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 stated that the Executive Member for Planning could update the committee next week on the timelines for the implementation of the recommendations.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Planning Enforcement Task & Finish Group as set out in the report be approved with the following amendments:

a)  Recommendation 7 - Drone trial - the possible benefits of the use of drones be investigated further and consideration be given to identifying an operator to run a trial, the Executive Member for Planning to provide a verbal update at Executive’s next meeting;

b)  The following be added to Recommendation 9 – Review progress:

The Executive update the O&S2 at their next meeting following the February 2023 meeting on the progress of implementation of the recommendations and via the Members Newsletter;

c)   The Chair of Planning Committee be asked to consider the suggestion of a Planning Enforcement matters report (Part II) on a quarterly basis;

d) Business Manager - Development Management be asked to look at the viability and resourcing of virtual planning cafes for Town and Parish Councils specifically with regards to planning enforcement matters;

e)  The Executive Member for Planning to write to the relevant Government Minister regarding enforcement regulations; and

f)    Officers be asked to expand on the Members enforcement notification report to state why no breach or no further action would be taken in each case.

The vote was unanimous.

To consider the report of the Task and Finish group. Chair of the Group, Councillor Swain to present.

The Chair referred to the agenda report and thanked Councillor Swain and Members of the task and finish group, and officers for the report and recommendations for consideration.

In regards to Recommendation 7 – drone trial, it was noted that over 20 District Councils were currently using or trialling drones to aide planning enforcement.

Concern was raised regarding the safety issue of unfenced SUDS of new development sites. The Executive Member for Planning responded that he would following this up.

RECOMMENDED 

The Executive approves that the Development Management team implements the recommendations of the Review Group as set out in the report with the following amendments:

a)  Recommendation 7 - Drone trial - the possible benefits of the use of drones be investigated further and consideration be given to identifying an operator to run a trial.

b)  The following be added to Recommendation 9 – Review progress:

The Executive update the Committee at the next meeting following the February 2023 meeting on the progress of implementation of the recommendations.