Agenda item

The Committee considered a report setting out details of a review of and changes to the Council’s pre-application planning advice services to align with priorities set out in the Corporate Plan and Development Management Improvement Plan and new proposed charges for Building Control services.

Officers advised of an amendment to recommendation 2.2 within the report to reflect the need to revisit the proposed charges levied by Building Control for exhibition licences. The recommendation would now read ‘to recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the Building Control charges set out in paragraph 5.10 and table 7 of this report……’

The scope, quality and value of the pre-application advice service had been reviewed in conjunction with application of the new Government Planning Practice Guidance. It was intended to introduce a more tailored, customer focussed service approach including the provision of advice at earlier feasibility stage and improvements in the information and signposting provided on the Council website. The new service offer aimed to reduce the costs associated with ‘failure demand’, improve the quality of planning applications coming forward and their likelihood of success for both householders and commercial businesses. Proposals had been developed for a new charging regime for the redesigned pre-application service following a benchmarking exercise with other authorities. New charges aimed to achieve full cost recovery across the service, with an exemption for micro businesses and a discount to small to medium businesses. Subject to Cabinet approval, the new charges would come into effect on 1 April.

Reconfiguration was proposed of the current Design Review Panel to introduce a Quality Review Panel, with a new independent chair and panel of development experts offering a range of review options with refreshed charges set. Arrangements were currently being finalised with a view to the new Panel becoming operational in the near future.

The Committee questioned whether advice under the new service offer would be available to community groups or residents wishing to respond to applications. Officers confirmed that this could be considered but would be dependent on a review of service capacity.

Members expressed concern that the exemption for micro businesses could potentially result in additional bureaucracy and confusion and that if applied, a clear definition of micro business would be needed from the outset. Officers outlined that the intention behind the exemption was to contribute to the delivery of the Corporate Plan commitment of supporting enterprise and new employment in the borough and that it was not anticipated that demand in this area would be onerous.

The Committee requested that consideration be given to including a link on the pre-application planning pages on the website providing guidance to customers on choosing an architect.

RESOLVED

·         To recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the “Supporting high quality development in Haringey – our pre-application advice services” set out at Appendix 1 for use by the Planning Service with effect from 1 April 2015;

·         To recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the Building Control charges set out in Table 7 of the report for use by the Building Control Service with effect from 1 April 2015; and

·         To recommend to Cabinet that it reviews annually the fees and charges set out therein.