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Progress re Sir Michael Pitt’s recommendations following independent report into the control of development at the Borough of Poole: The Head of Planning & Regeneration provided an up-date on the key actions taken in relation to Sir Michael Pitt recommendations at the Council Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 03/09/09.
JS said that he would include a note of the key actions taken in the Minutes – see below
1st recommendation: That senior Officers review the Council’s Risk Register and ensure that ‘the
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likelihood of the risk’, ‘the impact of the risk’ and ‘the mitigating actions’ relating to Development
Control, unlawful behaviour and damage to the reputation of the Council are given appropriate priority and that this aspect of the Council’s corporate governance is considered regularly by top management and Planning Services.
A robust risk register with clear mitigation is now in place.
2nd recommendation: Senior Members and Officers should redouble their efforts to explain Council planning policy and the reasons for their advice and decisions. This should be backed up with a rolling communications strategy developed by Officers.
· Member Hotline installed 01.04.09
· Cessation of non-availability of Planning Officers before 1430 from 07/04/09
· Customer Services and Communications Team engaged in service provision and training. Training planned for 06/08/09
· Pre-application discussions uploaded onto web at the point of an application being received 08/06/09
· Communications Strategy - Internal - Questionnaire and fact finding commenced
· Communications Strategy - External
· Head of Planning and Regeneration attended AGM of Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Resident’s Association 02/05/09 and Broadstone Resident’s Association AGM on 21/05/09
· Community Working Group that includes Resident’s Associations formed 13.05.09 Further meetings scheduled for 08/07/09, 30/09/9, 25/11/09, 20/01/2010, 10/03/2010.
· Developers and Agents Working Group formed 25/06/09. Further meetings scheduled for 07/10/09 and 03/03/2010
· Working with Resident’s Association on ‘Place checking’ and character assessment
· Ward Walks initiative commenced 13/05/09 with Autumn and Spring dates of 14/10/09 and 14/04/10 scheduled
· Planning Charter initiated and draft completed for consultation in September.
· Strategic Development Team Concept initiated 19/06/09. Service Unit Head to attend Project management Group, Asset management Group and RTC Strategy group to ensure Corporate Projects are engaged with at an early stage
· Operational Development Team concept initiated 19/06/09. Points of Contact with units to be established and monthly meetings scheduled to ensure operational projects are brought to the attention of the Planning and Regeneration Unit at an early stage.
· Pilot scheme for Planning Committee to be live on the world wide web
· Improve communication with all stakeholders by upgrading the existing Planning Applications search website. This will include application tracking, notification of applications in any pre-defined area. If early November deadline missed earliest likely date for implementation is March 2010.
· Concerns by ICT & Customer First re resource capacity/lack of integration with single log on vision and GIS mapping project and benefits analysis
· ‘Place shaping for Poole’ Seminar – Scheduled for 06/11/09 IDeA and PAS to be invited to help
3rd recommendation: The Council should accelerate the planned remodeling of the membership of its Planning Committee and/or Cabinet in order to strengthen the Planning Committee’s independence and comply fully with the advice of the Audit Commission contained within the Corporate Assessment 2008.
• Training completed 09/06/09 and all Member training organised for 11/08/09
Although it was recommended that Cabinet members should not sit on the Planning Committee, Cabinet members continue to sit as susbstitutes. At the Planning Committee meeting on 27/08/09, two of the seven members were Cabinet members.
4th recommendation: The Council should review the standing of the Planning Committee within its political structure and invite the independent Panel on Members Allowances to more fully recognise the responsibilities and workload of Chair and Members.
· The Annual Council considered nominations to Planning Committee at its Full Council meeting on 12/05/09
· At member level, the issue of Members Allowances has been considered inappropriate to pursue in an Economic Recession and will be re-visited in 2011.
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5th recommendation: The Council should review the way minutes of the Planning Committee are presented and when decisions are not unanimous, a record should be kept of Councillors abstaining and voting for and against the motion.
· The Head of Planning & Regeneration has recommended in consultation with Chair/Vice Chair Planning, Solicitor to the Council, Democratic Services and the Communities Working Group that a pilot scheme of showing a red, green or amber card at the point of vote to record whether the member is voting for, against or abstaining from the motion. Trialled 18/06/09. This has been seen by all parties to be a favourable compromise to the recommendation of a recorded vote and does not require a change to the constitution. Committee members can request a record of the votes.
• ‘The Head of Legal and Democratic Services has considered this issue and at present sees no reason as to why the style to the Minutes of the Planning Committee should be changed.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services’ decision is disappointing in view of the problems arising from the 7 Excelsior Road case which was referred to the Local Government Ombudsman.
6th recommendation: Given the challenges within the Borough, the Council should commission a comprehensive review of its arrangements for controlling development conducted by an experienced, senior and qualified Planning Officer. The terms of reference of the review should take into account the contents of this report.
• Awayday 31/03/09 with the Planning and Regeneration Unit to discuss Development Management and ‘place shaping’.
• Awayday 20/04/09 with Team Managers to discuss accommodation, personnel issues and business plan
• Regeneration Project Manager to be temporarily employed for 12 months from 07/09/09.
• Masterplan refresh to reconcile conservation/regeneration tensions of the public. The ‘narrative of the town’
• Design Forum initiative for sensitive schemes initiative commenced 12/05/09, with the aspiration of a cross boundary forum and commencement date of 01.09.09. Meeting taken place with Bournemouth Borough Council and the principle agreed.
• High quality design guidance project initiated 12/05/09 to update the design guidance
• Tour of Inspection for members initiative scheduled 16/09/09
• New software system live date 02/02/09
• Engagement of I&Dea to assist in executive/political understanding of Place Shaping as part of a tailored peer review through mixed forums and workshops. Peer Review dates 15-17/07/09. Report expected 01/09/09. Follow up visit programmed 02/09/09
• Key activities schedule commenced
• Formal presentation to Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview and Scrutiny Committee 03/09/09
7th recommendation: That the Administration seeks an urgent and permanent resolution to the on-going disagreements within the Group.
• Issue has been addressed by the Conservative Group
Both Cllrs Mrs Carole Deas and David Gillard are qualified to sit on the Planning Committee but they are now ‘Independent’ and, unless more ‘Independent’ candidates are elected in May 2011, they are not eligible to sit on the Committee because of the requirement to maintain political balance.
The Council nominated the Council Efficiency & Effectiveness Scrutiny Committee to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan following Sir Michael Pitt’s report and the Head of Planning & Regeneration up-dated Members on this at the Committee’s meeting on 03/09/09.
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