Action plan urged to avert special measures
A COUNCILLOR is calling for a 14-day action plan to ensure an authority retains control of planning decisions.
Cllr George Robinson has written to Calderdale Council’s new leader, Cllr Jane Scullion, asking the authority to draw up a plan to demonstrate to Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister Michael Gove that improvements he requires in the council’s planning service can be met in time.
Mr Gove wrote to the council last month warning it must improve its planning service sufficiently by June, or it will be subject to special measures.
Cllr Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) says this would remove the council’s ability to make planning decisions at a crucial time when, with the council’s adoption of its Local Plan, major applications can be expected.
He wrote to Cllr Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot): “We are facing a time when planning applications, and the application of planning policy, will be of crucial importance to the future of Calderdale... so I believe it is crucial that decisions about Calderdale are made in Calderdale. Action needs to be taken with extreme urgency.
“Special measures would also result in significant reputational damage to the council and its planning system.
“In addition, the planning department is an income-generator, and much-needed revenue would be lost.”
He has also asked Clr Scullion questions on locum staff costs, fees, feedback from applicants, what income is forecasted in both scenarios and requested an update on application backlog and decision times.
Clr Robinson requests a 14-day plan, if senior councillors agree to his suggestion, be released to all stakeholders.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, wrote to Calderdale Council on April 12 warning the authority he was minded to “designate” the authority if necessary improvements were not made speedily enough.
Designation would effectively put some planning decision making in Government hands rather than the council’s. It would mean developers could submit “relevant planning applications” for consideration directly to the Planning Inspectorate.
The council said issues arose because of a combination of circumstances and investment has meant the service is “in a different place” now and it is confident it can maintain much higher performance going forward.