Decision

Recommendation to Council:

1. 1.1       That Cabinet recommends that Council:

a)  Notes the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation for planning applications from 31 October 2026,

b)  Approves the amendments to the powers delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment within the Council’s constitution including the Gateway Test procedure, as set out in paragraphs 2.4 - 2.7 and Appendix 2 as amended, to take effect from 31 October 2026,

c)  Delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to make any consequential, administrative or minor amendments necessary to give effect to the National Scheme of Delegation,

d)  Notes and endorses the programme of work underway to support the implementation of the National Scheme of Delegation, and

e)  Approves the withdrawal of the Red Card Protocol and delegates authority to the Divisional Manager for Development Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning to prepare a new protocol to enable members to ‘flag’ an application of local significance, as set out in paragraphs 2.8 and 2.9 of this report.