The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on how the Planning Service had performed over the second quarter of 2021/22 in terms of meeting government set targets for dealing with planning applications and success at planning appeals.  Details of the types of applications handled and appeal decisions for Quarter 2 (the period 1 July – 30 September 2021) were provided with comparison data from the previous year.

The report also noted that the Planning Service were about to launch a new pre-app service, modelled on the current service but with a simplified menu of service options made available as a webform on the Council’s website.  The Service had also been reviewing and consulting on the Planning Application Validation checklist and the new 2021 edition was about to be added to the website. The checklist guided applicants on what information was needed for their applications with reference to Local Plan policies and other relevant guidance, thus speeding up the validation of applications and improving the quality of many submissions.  A copy of the final version would be circulated to the Committee when ready.

Resolved -    That the report be noted.