New protocol for planners

A NEW protocol, governing site visits by planning chiefs at Warrington is to be adopted by the borough council.
In future, only ward councillors will be able to request site visits – and they will be urged to do so at least 14 days before the meeting at which a planning application is considered.
Parish councils will no longer be able to ask for site visits – although ward councillors will be recommended to consult with parish councils.
The changes are being made because under the existing system, where councillors often request site visits at meetings, some 31 per cent of planning applications are deferred.
This has some negative impact on planning application performance and can lead to frustration among members of the public who attend meeting of the planning committee or the development management committee only to discover that no decision will be made because a site visit is planned, according to a report by executive director of environment and regeneration Andy Farrall (pictured).
He accepts there are often good reasons for deferring decisions pending site visits. But he says it willo be better if site visits take place before meetings so that fewer deferrals take place.
This in turn will mean that applicants and other members of the public have to attend fewer meetings and that more decisions are made within the statutory 8-13 week timescale.
Mr Farrall says: “There have been a number of occasions where members of the public have spent time attending committee meetings to then find out that decisions will not be made as a site visit is planned.
“This has at times led to some frustration. Deferring for a site visit adds additional time and expense when considering a planning application in terms of the preparation of further agenda reports and officer attendance at committees
“The proposed protocol not only makes good business sense but will also lead to an improved public experience when attending planning meetings.”
Under the new protocol, councillors will be asked to request site visits at least 14 days before the committee meeting – earlier if possible.
A list of sites to be visit will be sent to all members of the planning and development management committees on the Monday before the visit takes place on the Friday before the mee.
But councillors will, in exceptional circumstances, still be able to ask for a site visit at meetings, leading to a deferment.