Agenda item

To request that Members consider and agree a staffing proposal in relation to the Planning Policy Team and s106 to enable the continuation of the Local Plan and s106 monitoring responsibilities following the ending of the service level agreement with Peterborough City Council.

Members considered a staffing proposal relating to the Planning Policy Team and Section 106 to enable the continuation of the Local Plan and Section 106 monitoring responsibilities following the end of the Service Level Agreement with Peterborough City Council presented by Peter Catchpole.

Peter Catchpole explained that the worst-case scenario is the two posts will cost £140,000 per year with there being a reserve of £288,000 which will cover this for two years. He made the point that planning resource is very scarce at this time but there are costs that will be needed to complete the Local Plan, which is not expected to impact on the revenue budget but if the Council cannot recruit it cannot complete the Local Plan, which is a priority of members. A Section 106 officer is also important which was covered by Peterborough shared service but was only paying £20,000 per year, with there being £1 million in the bank of Section 106 monies and planning income is on course for £1 million this year, but this does not take into account increased costs and planning fees.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Mrs Davis stated that she fully supports this plan and thanked officers for providing further information. She feels it is important to pursue the Local Plan and with Section 106 this will provide biodiversity net gain and encourage more work.

·         Councillor Benney stated he is in full support of this plan and feels a full-time S106 monitoring officer is essential to provide a good service and get the job done with it being remiss if this is not supported.

·         Councillor Mrs Davis added that Planning Committee is on show to the whole of Fenland through YouTube and the Council wants to showcase it means business.

·         Peter Catchpole thanked the committee for the support and if agreed finding the resources would be tricky, but this is the first step.

·         Councillor Gowler stated that he is in full support of this plan going forward. He is not on Planning Committee but he takes an interest and it is apparent that the resource is needed.

·         Councillor Nawaz added despite initial observation where full costings were not available, he feels it is important that planning matters are dealt with expeditiously. Delays can be costly, but he questioned whether the three FTE’s will then go on to assist other officers once the Local Plan is finished and lend services to neighbouring authorities, as whilst the report is commendable there is a risk of creating too much capacity.

·         Peter Catchpole responded this is not the case as there are vacancies in other areas of planning filled with temporary and agency staff. There is a potential to help others if they have Local Plan issues so the Council is trying to be more commercial but is under resourced and would want to help itself before forwarding capacity.

·         Councillor Nawaz added he was also intrigued by the shortage of staff and asked how this conclusion was arrived at. Peter Catchpole stated that roles have been advertised for a long time, there is a scarcity of planning staff nationally with many companies using agencies. He stated that the Council has used them because Planning vacancies cannot be filled with remote working being tried, and a planning resource paper has been submitted to CMT to look at giving the Council options.

·         Councillor Benney made the point that it has been known for a long time there has been a shortage of planning officers, it takes time to train them and to become a senior planner. Often agencies will entice council planning officers as the commercial market can offer more money which drives wages up and there is no quick fix answer.

·         Peter Catchpole agreed with Councillor Benney and added the Council is trying to keep the staff it has but is looking at other options such as apprenticeships to ‘grow our own’ to provide a top-class planning service.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Mrs Davis and AGREED to:

·         the creation of a Planning Manager and Planning Policy Officer (2 FTE) to continue the development of the Local Plan; and

·         the creation of a S106 Monitoring Officer (1 FTE) to ensure contributions from developers through planning applications are received and spent in a timely manner.