Agenda and draft minutes

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The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies of absence were received by Councillor Gingell. 

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business.  (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with under item 8 below).

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution

There were no deputations/ petitions/ presentations/ questions.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 23^rd February as a correct record.

RESOLVED  

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 23rd February were approved as a correct record. 

An update report on the work of the Planning and Building Control services from January to March 2026, providing information for the full financial year 2025-26.

The Committee received a performance overview of the Planning Service for 2025/26.

• It was reported that 3,018 applications had been received between April 2025 and March 2026, compared with 2,970 in the previous year, while the number of valid cases on hand at the end of March 2026 had reduced to 663 from 800. Members noted that 61 appeals had been determined during the year, of which 40 (66%) had been dismissed, compared with 46 (72%) in 2024/25. Cumulative performance was reported as 100% for major applications, 85% for minor applications, 94% for other applications, 97% for PS1 applications and 82% for decisions excluded from statutory figures. It was noted that performance for major applications remained at 100%, while improvements achieved in previous years for minor, other and PS1 applications had been maintained, and performance for PS Excluded applications had improved significantly. 

• The Committee noted that the Council continued to exceed all Government performance thresholds. Major applications had achieved 100% performance during the January to December 2025 monitoring period, with all 14 applications determined within time, exceeding the Government target of 50%. Minor and other applications had achieved 92% performance, with 1,302 of 1,408 applications determined within time, significantly above the 70% threshold. Members were advised that major applications overturned at appeal remained at 0% and minor and other applications overturned at appeal stood at 1%, both well below the Government threshold of 10%. 

• It was reported that, between April 2025 and March 2026, 16 major applications had been determined compared with 19 in the previous year. The average determination time for major applications had reduced from 419 to 347 days. In addition, 612 minor applications had been determined, representing a 5% increase on the previous year, with average determination times reducing from 106 to 104 days. A total of 846 other applications had been decided, with average determination times remaining stable at 79 days. Members noted that average determination periods were 347 days for major applications, 104 days for minor applications, 82 days for other applications, 44 days for PS1 applications and 128 days for excluded applications. 

• The Committee was advised that 3,018 applications had been received during 2025/26, of which 2,515 (87%) had been approved and 368 (13%) refused. Overall, 2,883 applications had been determined, representing an 11% increase on the previous year. Validation times averaged 18 days, slightly higher than the 17-day average recorded in 2024/25, and officers were considering measures to improve performance. Officer caseloads had reduced from 67 cases per officer to approximately 55 cases per officer by the end of March 2026. 

• Members noted that planning advice services remained an important income stream. Between April 2025 and March 2026, 333 pre-application meetings had taken place, generating approximately £370,869 in income. Planning Performance Agreements had generated approximately £842,000, representing a 21% increase on the previous year. Additional income had been generated through express pre-application advice, fast-track certificates of lawfulness and fast-track householder applications. 

• The Committee further noted that the Council remained below the Government threshold  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

There were no new items of urgent business.

To note the dates of future meetings:

2^nd November 2026

It was noted that the dates of the next meeting was 2^nd November.