Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 107/09 of the Head of Planning (attached). 

(Time: 3.11pm to 3.14pm)

The Executive received and considered report 107/09 of the Head of Planning that sought approval to introducing charging for pre-application planning advice on planning applications from 1 April 2010. 

The portfolio holder for planning reported that the council provided pre-application advice; this was often time consuming and did not always lead to a planning application for which fees were charged.  The cost of giving advice was not included in the application fees.  It was noted that charging was becoming common practice amongst planning authorities.  Most councils charged a fee for major developments of ten or more dwellings or 1,000m² of floor space, and for minor developments of up to nine dwellings or 1,000m².  It was suggested that the council should do likewise and allow 30 minutes free advice to householders also.  

It was estimated that that charging for advice could generate £20,000 annual income for the council.  The revised scheme of delegation gave authority to directors and heads of service to determine the fees and charges to be levied for all council services, excluding car parking charges.  The council had been recommended to adopt fixed rather than variable fees.  It was likely that the fees would be set at a similar level to that at South Oxfordshire District Council. 

The Executive agreed with the principle of charging for pre-application planning advice, believing it to be an appropriate way for the council to recover its costs for this service. 

RESOLVED

that approval be given for charging for providing pre-application planning advice on major and minor planning applications from 1 April 2010.