National Scheme of Delegation

The government’s reform of planning committees, the National Scheme of Delegation, comes

Planning Committee

into force on 31 October. It is designed to enable planning committees to focus more on the larger development sites by reducing the number of smaller, routine or technical applications being considered by the committees.

There are already outcries from councillors that this erodes democracy. They will no longer have the option to ‘call-in’ some applications which are causing residents concern, or for an application to go to committee when a set number of objections have been received.

The government has set out a clear framework. Applications will categorised in two ways:

• Schedule 1 applications must be delegated to officers, unless they are own-interest applications, and would include, for example, small applications (up to nine dwellings), household applications, reserved matters (up to 500 dwellings) and discharge of conditions.
• Schedule 2 applications can still be referred to committee if the nominated officer (usually the director of planning or similar) and the nominated member (usually the chair of the planning committee) agree the application should be referred to a planning committee. These include larger, strategic and controversial applications such as major applications (over 10 dwellings and over) and reserved matters applications for over 500 dwellings.

Referral to committee is only when both the nominated officer and nominated member are in agreement and at least one of two criteria are met:

1. the application raises an economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area, such as an application for a large residential development allocated within the local plan
2. the application raises a significant planning matter, having regard to the development plan and other material considerations, such as a large residential application which is not within the local plan or where there are statutory consultee objections.

Although this does erode democracy, it will streamline decision making for planning committees, removing the need to consider smaller and technical applications which are more effectively dealt with by officers. This allows the committees to focus on the larger, more important and controversial applications which matter more to local communities. But that greater focus will mean a greater attention to detail, and to ensure that applicants have properly consulted with local communities.