Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)     notes the contents of the report and the impact of the Government’s National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions and the requirements to amend the Council’s Constitution to ensure compliance with the new legislation coming into force with effect from 31st October 2026; and

(b)     formally RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL that:

(i)       Part 3 (Scheme of Delegated Powers – Planning Committee) of the Council’s Constitution be amended to reflect the proposed changes, as set out in Appendix A attached hereto this report;

(ii)   Part 6 (Codes and Protocols) of the Council’s Constitution be amended to incorporate the new “Protocol for the Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions”, as set out in Appendix B attached hereto this report, together with the consequential deletion of the Members’ Referral Scheme for Planning Applications;

(iii)    these changes come into effect on 31st October 2026; and

(iv)    authority to amend the Protocol, as set out in Appendix B, be delegated to the Corporate Director (Planning and Community), in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee and the Monitoring Officer, to reflect any minor alterations considered necessary through the implementation of the new national scheme and best practice.