Issue - meetings

RESOLVED that a chargeable Neighbourhood Planning Service (Teignplanning Consultancy) for non-statutory neighbourhood planning support be established.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented the report to agree to set up an in-house neighbourhood planning consultancy service, to provide additional neighbourhood planning support for local communities.  This would be over and above the statutory support currently provided, which would continue to be available for free.

The Principal Policy Planner clarified that over the last few months, the team (namely Teignplanning) had been piloting an approach to offer additional support for community plans with initial success and commissions to date amounted to an income of £8220.  When a statutory assessment was required by the Council on elements of the plan which had been prepared by Teignplanning these would be undertaken by an officer independent of the consultancy service. Initially it was envisaged that Teignplanning would have a limited impact on the team’s capacity although this would need to be considered further if there was future expansion of the programme.

Members supported the chargeable Neighbourhood Planning Service and commented that they had received positive feedback from Town and Parish Councils with regards to the ‘Planning Café’s and advice given on neighbourhood plans.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Waste Management & Environmental Health.

RESOLVED that a chargeable Neighbourhood Planning Service (Teignplanning Consultancy) for non-statutory neighbourhood planning support be established.