Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, which sought approval in principle of charging fees for providing pre-application advice to prospective applicants/developers and the approval of the charging schedule attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Council had provided a free of charge pre-application advice service to applicants and developers however due to competing work pressures and a limited officer resource there had been delays in providing advice which had resulted in customer complaints and dissatisfaction.

The introduction of a charging scheme as operated by most Planning Authorities would enable reinvestment in the Development Management Service and provide an improvement upon the existing free advice service without additional costs to the public purse.

Option 1 – Not to provide a pre-application advice service.

Option 2 – To continue to provide a free advice service without any additional funding.

Option 3 – To provide a fee charging scheme for pre-application planning advice.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The implementation of a fee charging scheme for planning pre-application advice be approved.

2.    The fee charging schedule as detailed at appendix 1 be approved.