The Executive Councillor for Planning and Enforcement noted that Wokingham Borough Council had submitted its comments to the government's consultation on 'Planning Committee Reform: Statutory Consultation on Draft Regulations and Guidance'. This consultation, which ran from March to April 2026, sought views on proposed changes to how planning committees operate, with the aim of accelerating the planning system and increasing housing delivery.

Planning Committee Reforms

Executive Councillor Martin Alder noted that Wokingham Borough Council had submitted its comments to the government's consultation on 'Planning Committee Reform: Statutory Consultation on Draft Regulations and Guidance'. This consultation, which ran from March to April 2026, sought views on proposed changes to how planning committees operate, with the aim of accelerating the planning system and increasing housing delivery.

The government's proposals included a national scheme of delegation for planning decisions. This would involve 'Tier A' applications, such as householder developments and minor technical consents, being automatically delegated to officers. 'Tier B' applications, which are larger or more complex, could be delegated or referred to committee based on a gateway test assessing local economic, social, or environmental significance, or significant planning matters. The consultation also addressed procedural points, including how to handle applications made by council members or officers, and a proposed cap of 13 members for committees.

Wokingham Borough Council's response, as outlined in Appendix 1 of the public reports pack¹, supported the principle of delegating smaller and technical applications. However, the council expressed concerns that the draft regulations and guidance lacked clarity on how disagreements would be resolved if a nominated officer and member did not agree on referring a 'Tier B' application to committee. The council recommended that the government establish a clear dispute resolution process and safeguards to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability. They also noted that while they supported the delegation of phased reserved matters applications, there should be an ability for nominated officers and members to agree to their referral to Planning Committee in exceptional cases. The council also highlighted that the guidance regarding significance remained vague and open to interpretation.

The decision was made by Executive Councillor for Planning and Enforcement, Martin Alder, and the action was to be taken by the Interim Director, Place and Growth, Andy Vaughan. The decision was published on 15 May 2026 and became effective on 23 May 2026, with a call-in period expiring on 22 May 2026.