Decision details

To approve new staffing and structures for Strategic Planning and Development Management.

The Development and Growth Manager submitted a report recommending for approval new staffing structures for the Council’s Strategic Planning and Key Sites Team and Development Management Team.

The report outlined the key areas of work and the objectives of the Strategic Planning and Key Sites team (formerly Forward Planning). The previous structure of the team was detailed in the report. It was proposed that two new posts, including a Principal Planning Officer and a Community Infrastructure Officer, be created to enable the team to respond to the challenges faced in delivering the Government’s growth agenda and the Council’s own aspirations for growth and regeneration. This would also allow a greater focus on housing development and an enhancement of the work on the production of the Local Plan and working with Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The challenges facing the Development Management Team in dealing with an increasing number and complexity of planning applications, including pre-application discussions, and in delivering the enforcement function were explained in the report. It was proposed that two new posts, including an Enforcement Technician and an additional Planning Case Officer, be created to react to the increasing volumes of workload.

Consultation with affected staff and their trade unions had commenced.

The report outlined the human resources and the financial implications, along with the potential risks and proposed actions to mitigate these. The job descriptions and the person specifications for the new posts were attached as Appendices to the report.

*RESOLVED –

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

To ensure that the Strategic Planning and Key Sites Team and the Development Management Team were properly structured and resourced to deliver the statutory and local functions in support of sustainable economic and housing growth in the Borough.