Councillor briefing An introduction to planning

1. Councillor briefingAn introduction to planning Date April 2015 www.pas.gov.uk

2. What is PAS ? • PAS is a DCLG grant-funded programme but part of the Local Government Association • Governed by a ‘sector led’ board • 10 staff – commissioners, generalists, support “PAS exists to provide support to local planning authorities to provide efficient and effective planning services, to drive improvement in those services and to respond to and deliver changes in the planning system”

3. Scope of this Presentation • To provide an introduction planning • To help councillors understand their role • To help councillors get the most from the system

4. Introduction to planning • What is planning? • Planning legislation and policy • Development management • Decision making • Appeals and Enforcement

5. Planning is topical

7. Planning… • sets out a long term vision for places • provides a decision making framework to manage competing uses for space • balances economic, social and environmental needs. • provides legitimacy through consultation and testing of evidence • delivers change on the ground

8. Planning involves balancing issues climate change economic recession environmental issues meeting housing needs localism long term strategies today’s pressures brownfield development town cramming retail “market forces” viability of town centres individual interest public interest

9. Councillors have an important role • Strategic leadership:– setting the vision and direction • Plan making: councillors try to reflect local values and priorities in the policies • Ward level: representing local views • Neighbourhood planning – link between community and the council, involved in local decisions on spending

10. Councillors have an important role • Development Management • involvement with the community and developers at an early stage • Raising areas of concern • Informed debate • Wide range of issues and material considerations to balance • Making the right decision (not always the easiest)

11. Standards in planning are important • Planning manages the right to develop land • It involves balancing private and public interests • Getting it wrong is costly (time, money, reputation and long lasting impacts) • Need to demonstrate, at all times: • Fairness • Openness • Impartiality

12. Legislation, Policy and guidance • The Planning Acts and Statutory Instruments • The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) • Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) • The Development Plan - Local Plans and other development plan documents - Neighbourhood Plans

13. national policy National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) National Policy Statements G&T policy Planning Practice Guidance local policy development plan neighbourhood policies neighbourhood plans Planning in England is policy-led

14. NPPF: purpose of the planning system • the NPPF emphasises the positive, rather than the controlling or regulatory, side of planning, to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development • Plans and decisions should be based on the real world e.g. a sound “evidence base”, an understanding of economic viability etc. • 3 mutually dependent elements: - economic, social, environmental

15. NPPF, plan-making and delivery Local plan must show how objectively assessed development needs can be met in a (locally) sustainable way Take into account local circumstances and market signals… to inform judgements about demand Only where there would be significant and demonstrable adverse affects which outweigh the benefits when assessed against the framework as a whole – should a development need not be met

16. Strategic Planning and the Duty to Co-operate • Many planning issues stretch across boundaries and need a ‘larger than local’ response • The duty to co-operate was introduced to address these issues via the local plan and to ensure that councils work with neighboring areas on these issues • Local Plans will be tested against the Duty

17. Local plans are : • The key to delivering sustainable development • Based on evidence • Aspirational but realistic (deliverable) • A reflection of a collective vision developed through engagement with local communities • Clear on the strategic priorities for the area • Positive plans for development and infrastructure required over a 15 year horizon

18. Neighbourhood plans • Gives communities power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood • Prepared by town/parish councils or neighbourhood forums and will have statutory status • Must be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan • Should not promote less development than set out in the Local Plan

19. The development plan is crucial • “If regard is to be had to the development plan for the purpose of any determination to be made under the Planning Acts, the determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise”. • Section 38, Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 • The “primacy” of the Development Plan depends on it being: • up to date • in accord with national planning policies • This is not changed by the Localism Act or the NPPF!

20. Development Management • Pre-application discussions, considering and determining actual apps, monitoring and enforcement • Concentrate on delivery – not control • Puts plans into action • Councillor’s role – understanding the policies, understanding the applications, getting engaged, liaising with the community, considering, deciding, reviewing

21. What is development? Town and Country Planning Act 1990 s55 except where the context otherwise requires- “the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, OR the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land”

22. Development? • Is there a material change to the external appearance of the building, or a material change of use? • If yes, then it is development needing planning permission • But some things are ‘permitted development’ and don’t need planning permission from you • Granted nationally by General Permitted Development Order or Use Classes Order

23. Examples of Permitted development some house extensions, walls and fences, garages etc. temporary buildings and use agricultural buildings and operations some changes of use minor works by statutory undertakers

24. Change of use a few specific changes are defined in the Act as always “material”, eg the subdivision of a single dwelling house otherwise there is no statutory definition; extensive decisions of the courts have established various tests and principles secondary legislation has established broad “use classes”; changes of use within these classes are not development and so do not need planning permission NB: a change betweenclasses does not automatically mean there will be a material change of use

25. Development Management - taking decisions

26. Delegated and committee decisions • Delegation procedures aim to ensure that the Planning Committee only considers the most significant or contentious applications • Aim for at least 90% of decisions delegated • Time and resources • Costs of committee decisions • Local democracy

27. NPPF and decision making Local planning authorities should: approve development proposals that accord with statutory plans without delay; and grant permission where the plan is absent, silent, indeterminate or where relevant policies are out of date…………………..unless ….adverse impacts of allowing development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole

28. Making a decision • Start with the development plan policies • Take into account other material considerations, including: • National policy • Other council strategies • Context and merits of the particular application • Technical consideration • Consultees views on planning aspects • Other material planning matters • Come to a view

29. Material considerations include… Effect on listed building and conservation area Layout and density of building Design, appearance and materials Disabled person’s access Nature conservation Previous planning decisions • Financial considerations • Overlooking/loss of privacy • Loss of light or overshadowing • Parking, highway safety and traffic • Noise

30. Non material considerations Matters that should not be taken into account in deciding planning applications include: • Loss of view • Negative effect on the value of properties • Land ownership or restrictive covenants • Applicant’s personal circumstances (unless exceptional such as relating to a physical disability) • Business competition • Matters controlled under building regulations or other non-planning legislation

31. The Development Plan Section 38 of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004: ‘If regard is to be had to the development plan for the purpose of any determination to be made under the planning Acts, the determination is to be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.’

32. The Development Plan again • Policies can be interpreted differently • Some policies conflict with each other • And decisions can seem to conflict the with plan • You can make these decisions provided that it is based on the merits of the case, in the light of all other material considerations

33. The decision • Grant planning permission - subject to conditions - subject to planning obligations • Special types of approval or consent e.g. prior approval, listed building consent, • Refuse planning permission (or prior approval, LBC, etc.)

34. Refusals must be lawful must be justified by reasons, based on the Plan and any other relevant material considerations may be subject to appeal unreasonable or invalid refusals may result in cost awards against the council; but considered decisions properly defended will not, even if lost at appeal

35. Conditions “Planning conditions should only be imposed where they are: • necessary; • relevant to planning and; • to the development to be permitted; • enforceable; • precise and; • reasonable in all other respects.” Para. 206 of the NPPF

36. Appeals • against a refusal • against a condition on permission • against an enforcement notice • against failure to determine within the statutory period

37. Assessing an appeal written representations public hearings public inquiries much-simplified process for householder cases Councillors can be involved, but take guidance from officers

38. Award of costs one of the parties must seek an award or an inspector has the discretion to award. it can be for full or partial costs (you can actually “win” the appeal and still have costs against you) the other party must have behaved unreasonably, causing unnecessary expense or delay

39. Developer contributions: S106 and Community Infrastructure Levy • S106 obligations – site specific, includes affordable housing, negotiated and agreed • CIL is set out, and fixed, in a charging schedule • The aim of CIL is to help pay for infrastructure needed to support new development but not to remedy existing deficiencies unless the new scheme will make it worse. • Councils must spend the income on infrastructure – but you can decide what (and that can change over time). • Rates can vary by geographic area, use, and size • CIL applies to all permitted development above 100 sqm • Self build projects are CIL exempt

40. Enforcement 1 • Discretionary • Act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control • Publish an Enforcement Plan • Works without permission not an offence • Legal notices • Other action

41. Enforcement 2 Options available: • Submit a retrospective application • Submit a Certificate of Lawfulness application • Negotiations between the alleged offender and Council officers • Enforcement appeal

42. Behaviour - Rules and Codes • Nolan Report (Standards in public life) 1997 • Local Government Act 2000 • Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (England) Order 2007 • Local codes for planning • Killian & Pretty – role of councillors • Localism Act 2011 • Probity in Planning 2013

43. Councillor conduct and role • As a Ward Councillor… …you can support or oppose an application and represent the views of your constituents • As a Planning Committee Member… …you still can, but you must still retain an open minded disposition; if not it could compromise your (impartial) role on the committee. ‘Avoid favouring a person, company, group or locality or putting yourself in a position where you appear to do so’ • Applies to policy making as well

44. What’s changed? Localism Act – section 25 • Makes it clear that councillors are entitled to campaign on issues, express views etc. without disqualifying themselves from decision-making PROVIDED you can demonstrate absence of "bias" or "predetermination”.

45. Being effective at Committee • Be prepared • Be focused: focus on the precise points where you agree or disagree with officer assessment • Know your policies • Stick to policies and material considerations • Ensure your points are valid in planning law (take advice in advance if necessary) • be aware of the need for probity and the public perception of your actions

47. Contact PASemail pas@local.gov.uk web www.pas.gov.uk phone 020 7664 3000