Issue - meetings

This report seeks formal approval to confirm to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) that the Authority will invest the proposed increase the National Planning Application Fee rates in the City of York, by 20% from July 2017 into the planning service.

Resolved: (i) That the CLG offer to the 20% increase in planning fees be accepted and it take effect in July 2017, with any additional income reinvested in the Development Management function.

                (ii) The principles of reinvesting £128k into the planning service as set out in Paragraph 10 of the Officer’s report be approved.

Reason: The increase in planning fees relates to the Council’s corporate priorities by enhancing frontline services to help to ensure acceptable planning proposals are delivered on site more expediently.    

The Executive Member received a report which asked him to confirm to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) that the Authority will invest the proposed increase in the National Planning Application Fee rates in the City of York, by 20% from July 2017 into the planning service.

Officers reported that fees had not increased since 2012 and were set at a national level of 20%. It was noted that all Local Authorities were increasing their Planning Application Fee rates. The increase in monies would allow for more investment in back office functions, specialist services such as conservation and highways.

The Executive Member commented that York as a city had particular challenges with heritage in regards to planning applications and the timeframe for determination of applications. If further investment could help overcome this, some of the issues could be corrected at the beginning of the process.

Resolved: (i) That the CLG offer to the 20% increase in planning fees be accepted and it take effect in July 2017, with any additional income reinvested in the Development Management function.

                (ii) The principles of reinvesting £128k into the planning service as set out in Paragraph 10 of the Officer’s report be approved.

Reason: The increase in planning fees relates to the Council’s corporate priorities by enhancing frontline services to help to ensure acceptable planning proposals are delivered on site more expediently.