New national rules that came into force on 31 October shift which planning applications are decided by council officers and which can still go before a public committee.
Residents in Tonbridge and Malling who want a say on local planning applications will find things work rather differently from 31 October. National changes have set a firm framework for local planning authorities across England — Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council included — determining which applications must be decided by planning officers alone and which can still go before a Planning Committee, the group of elected councillors who meet in public to vote on certain applications.
The right to comment hasn’t gone anywhere. Anything submitted during consultation will still be considered when an application is determined, and if a proposal does reach the Planning Committee, residents can still speak for up to three minutes at the meeting.
What’s changed is the route an application takes to reach a decision. Under the new national scheme of delegation — the framework introduced by the Government setting out who decides what — some types of planning application must now be decided by planning officers, while others may still be considered by a Planning Committee if they meet specific criteria set out in the national scheme. The council has confirmed these are national changes applying to local planning authorities across England.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council says it will publish details of applications referred to its Planning Committee, along with the reasons for referral, so residents can follow how decisions are being made under the new arrangements.
Cllr Mike Taylor, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “Residents will still be able to have their say on planning applications. These are national changes to how many applications will now be decided by planning officers, but relevant comments submitted as part of the planning process are still very important and will continue to be taken into account.”
The council is encouraging residents to get to grips with how the changes work. Further information will be published on its planning webpages at www.tmbc.gov.uk/planning.
Key information
- Changes came into force: 31 October
- Residents can still comment on any planning application during consultation
- Speaking time at Planning Committee meetings: up to three minutes
- Details of applications referred to committee, and the reasons why, will be published by the council
The council’s planning webpages at www.tmbc.gov.uk/planning will be updated with further guidance on the new arrangements.
Planning decision rules change for Tonbridge and Malling residents Quiz
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