Agenda item

Vincent Lacovara (Head of Planning) presented this item and highlighted the following:

·         Engaging with this panel virtually in March 2021 provided useful feedback which fed directly into the production of a service plan for the planning service.

·         The planning service covers development management and strategic planning design. The structure has changed since March, there is an additional fixed term joint development manager who we have a successful candidate for. In the meantime, we have an interim working in the post. A planning commercial manger, fixed term 2-year contract is out to advert.

·         Progress since March has included an up to date service plan with the input of members and officers which is now in place, we will produce another for next year.

·         The department has run whole service virtual events and supported team culture and moral to avoid isolation and make sure the team is working together well. There has been a gradual return to the Civic.

·         There as been a commercial plan developed in collaboration with the commercial team. A new fixed term commercial manager role was created. This will help to optimise the income we generate and be efficient so we can invest back into the service.

·         An internal audit was held on CIL and section 106, we are now progressing on the actions which arose from this.

·         There has been a sustained improvement on performance for planning applications. Technology was upgraded a few weeks ago. Also had an audit of the enforcement function and we are progressing on these actions.

·         Plan drawing service has been set up and is ready for the launch.

·         The new challenges we face include the housing delivery test results and the implications of appeals and big public enquiries. The Environment Act could require new skills and resources within the service that we don’t currently have. We are expecting to find out soon about the governments rethink of the planning system.

·         Coming soon the service has ongoing technology improvements, a refined approach to the CIL and section 106 and new roles advertised across the service.

Questions and Comments:

·         Officers explained the planning fees do not cover the cost of full service, there is capacity to increase service to charge fees. The new government changes add costs and not a lot of income.

·          The uniform upgrade has been comprehensive, and the service is working closely with digital services. Also looking at a London wide Uniform user group to share knowledge.

·         Staff are coming into the office for meetings, committees, team building exercises and do site visits.

·         The service are continuing to work on responses, which is linked to workload. It has been encouraged to send holding responses. IT upgrades will help with this.

·         The new role will help customer service by being focused on income generated services and setting the culture for being customer focused.

·         There will be additional capacity within enforcement with the new roles and 2 apprenticeship posts to come.

·         The last year after lockdown there was a drop of planning applications, it then picked up to a level which made up for the loss. This year is stable with no significant increase.

·         It has been raised to members by residents that they are concerned about the direction of the planning service, they don’t feel its serving their purpose or interests. The planning service has had to plan for unprecedented levels of growth and housing targets have increased significantly. The core strategies are from 2010 which are out of date which causes issues. The planning service is trying to address getting a new local plan adopted.