The Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language is scheduled to consider a proposal to introduce a fee for change of use enquiries. The meeting will also review the decision record from a previous meeting.

Introduction of a Fee for Change of Use Enquiries

A key item scheduled for discussion is the potential introduction of a £92 fee for change of use enquiries. This proposal stems from a review of the Planning Service's chargeable services, aiming to bring Carmarthenshire Council more in line with other local authorities that charge for discretionary change of use advice.

Currently, the Planning Department provides advice on proposed changes of use free of charge. These enquiries typically seek confirmation on whether planning permission is required, if a proposal constitutes a material change of use, and the most appropriate planning route to follow. The report pack indicates that the demand for this service places pressure on officer resources, and that planning services are not fully cost-recoverable, meaning they are subsidised by the council.

Introducing a charge is presented as a way to support the Service's ambition to move towards a full cost recovery model. The income generated from this fee would be ringfenced to support the ongoing delivery and development of the service. The report pack notes that the proposed fee is based on a review of officer time and benchmarking against other Welsh Local Authorities, and is intended to be a fair and proportionate contribution towards the cost of delivering the service. It is also highlighted that this discretionary service would not replace the statutory pre-application process, which is a more detailed and costly assessment.

The report pack includes a business case for introducing the fee, outlining the current position, the proposal, and the benefits of implementation. It also provides benchmarking data from other Welsh local authorities, such as Bridgend, which has introduced a specific discretionary fee for change of use enquiries. The projected income from the proposed £92 fee is estimated at approximately £5,060 per annum, based on the number of queries received over the past year. The report pack also details an implementation plan, including seeking approval, communicating the change, staff training, and updating systems.

The report pack also includes an appendix with costings, detailing the estimated officer time and associated costs for reviewing and responding to typical change of use enquiries.

Review of Previous Meeting Minutes

The meeting is also scheduled to review and sign as a correct record the decision record of the meeting held on 2 October 2026.