Agenda item

To consider proposed changes to the Planning Committee Scheme of Delegation and Planning Committees.

Contact: Mathias Franklin, Head of Planning and Development

1.    That the wording in the report be approved subject to the following amendments:

(i)             3.1 1 (v) in the main body of the report and Appendix F – Changes to the Scheme of Delegation (Strategic Director Environment and Climate Change) part A,(1) v to include the wording “taking into account I to IV above” in relation to applications for the modification of the Definitive Map and Statement under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (or any legislation revoking or re-enacting that Act with or without modification)

(ii)            That Section 11 (57.) of the Protocol for Planning Committees, as set out at Appendix E, be updated by the removal of the wording “i.e. 3 weeks after receipt of the application”.

2.    That subject to the amendments set out in (1) above, this Committee recommends Council:

a)    Approve the Scheme of Delegation to the Strategic Director Growth and Regeneration set out at Appendix A to take affect from Friday 10 November 2023.

b)    Approve the Scheme of Delegation to Strategic Director Environment and Climate Change set out at Appendix F to take affect from Friday 10 November 2023

c)    Approve the renaming of Strategic Planning committee as Strategic Planning Committee (Major Planning Applications), and revised Terms of Reference for the Strategic Planning committee set out in Appendix B from Friday 10 November 2023.

d)    Notes that the membership and composition of the renamed Strategic Planning Committee remains the same (namely 7 including Chairperson).

d)   Approve a revised Terms of Reference for the existing two planning sub-planning committees (Heavy Woollen and Huddersfield) from Friday 10 November 2023 to Friday 9 February 2024 as set out in Appendix C

e)    Approve the disestablishment both Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-committee and Huddersfield Planning Sub-Committee from Friday 9 February 2024

f)      Approve the establishment a new planning committee and their Terms of Reference at Appendix D - namely the District Wide Planning Committee (Minor & other planning applications). To be implemented on Friday 9 February 2024

g)    Approve the composition of the District Wide Planning Committee (Minor and Other Planning Applications) set out at Appendix B of this report to come into effect from 9 February 2024. Namely:

o   District Wide Planning Committee - 9 members of the Council including Chairperson (5:3:1)

h)    A delegation to Group Business Managers to nominate membership of the District Wide Planning Committee (Minor and Other Planning Applications) which comes into effect 9 February 2024.

i)      A delegation to the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to make consequential changes to the Constitution (including Scheme of Delegation at Appendix A and Appendix F(subject to amendment (1)(i) above), Strategic Planning Committee (Major planning applications) Terms of Reference at Appendix B, and revised Terms of Reference for Heavy Woollen and Huddersfield Planning Sub-Committees at Appendix C) as set out in this report to implement the recommendations to this committee and full Council in relation to this report. To come into effect 10 November 2023.

j)      A delegation to the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to make consequential changes to the Constitution (including Dis-establishment of the Heavy Woollen and Huddersfield Sub-Planning Committees, establishment of the District-Wide Planning Committee (Minor and Other planning applications) at Appendix A, D and F, and Protocols for Planning Committee at Appendix E (subject to amendment (1)(ii) above) as set out in this report to implement the recommendations to this committee and full Council in relation to this report. To come into effect from 9 February 2024.

3.    That, subject to Council approval, an update on the workings of the new arrangements be submitted to Corporate Governance and Audit Committee following 12 to 18 months of full implementation.

(Note: Councillor K Pinnock requested that her vote against this decision be recorded).