Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 4, 2026

Purpose: Establishing a formal framework for how BCP Council will manage, process and charge for written highway search enquiries.

Content: RESOLVED that Cabinet approved and noted the recommendations described in Section 1, specifically: (a)           The Highway Searches Charging Policy and schedule of fees (Appendix 1); (b)          The introduction of a full cost?recovery model for the provision of written highway search enquiries, in accordance with the Local Authorities (England) (Charges for Property Searches) Regulations 2008;   (c)           Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Transport, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy (Cllr Andy Hadley);   (d)          Agree that the Charging Policy be reviewed annually;  (e)           Authorise publication of the Policy, fee schedule, guidance materials and updated web content, and instruct officers to implement the required communications and operational changes to enable the charging framework to go live; and (f)            Note that the Policy will be delivered within existing staffing resources, with no requirement for additional posts and that the income generated will support service sustainability and statutory data maintenance.  Voting: Unanimous Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy Reason This policy aligns BCP with neighbouring authorities and most local authorities in England, who charge for this service.