Planning Services Parish Charter

1. The Parish Council/Parish Meeting will be consulted upon all applications for planning permission, for Listed Building Consent and Advertisement Consent but not for 'prior notification determinations'
   
   For notifications of telecommunication apparatus and 'agricultural notifications' the Council only has 28 days in which to respond. These developments have 'deemed consent' and therefore do not require planning permission.
   
   
2. A copy of the submitted application will be sent to the Parish Council / Parish Meeting
   
   The Parish Council/Parish Meeting will receive all the information submitted in respect of each planning application with the exception of bulky technical reports for example ground contamination or traffic impact assessments. In this instance a non-technical summary or the conclusions from the report will be sent with an explanatory note explaining what we have done.
   
   
3. The Parish Council / Parish Meeting will be given 21 days in which to reply
   
   The speed and efficiency of dealing with planning applications is scrutinised and at least 80% of all applications need to be determined within eight weeks. The Parish Council/Parish Meeting can help Planning Services achieve this target by responding promptly to consultations. Responses received after the 21 day consultation period will be taken into account except where the application has already been determined.
   
   
4. An extension of the Parish Council/Parish Meeting consultation period can be agreed by the Case Officer
   
   The Case Officer may be able to offer the Parish Council/Parish Meeting an extended period in which to respond. The consultation letter we send has the contact details for the Case Officer and the Parish Clerk is encouraged to use this facility in order to maintain contact between ourselves.
   
   
5. If during the consultation period the Parish Council/Parish Meeting require further information or advice, the Case Officer will liaise with the Parish Council Clerk
   
   The Case Officer is available to offer the Parish Council/Parish Meeting further information or advice. It is preferable if requests can be put in writing by emailing the Case Officer at planning.services@eden.gov.uk. It is also helpful if the Parish has one contact point for the Case Officer.
   
   
6. Where the Parish Council/Parish Meeting raises issues that are not regarded as material to the consideration of the planning application, an explanatory letter will be sent.
   
   Planning applications can only be determined on material planning considerations and this specifically excludes such things as loss of value or loss of view. A guidance note on matters which can and cannot be considered 'material' is available from Planning Services. The delegated powers of the Director of Technical Services allow him to determine whether a comment or objection upon a particular application is a 'material' planning matter or not.
   
   
7. Where the view of the Director of Planning Services upon a particular application differs from that of the Parish Council/Parish Meeting, the application will be referred to the Council's Planning Committee for a decision
   
   This provision is specifically included in the schedule of delegated powers given to the Director of Technical Services, to ensure that the views of the Parish Council/Parish Meeting are heard by Committee in all cases where they may be contrary to his own. The Parish view is reported in full to Committee.
   
   
8. The Parish Council/Parish Meeting will be sent a copy of the report appearing on the Planning Committee Agenda.
   
   A copy of the Committee report will be sent to the Parish Council/Parish Meeting to ensure that they are fully aware of the recommendation made to Committee by the Director of Planning Services and the justification for this recommendation. The Committee Agenda is also available on the Council's website at least 5 days before the meeting.
   
9. A representative of the Parish Council/Parish Meeting is able to attend Planning Committee to explain their views upon a particular application and will be invited to attend any Site visit undertaken by the Planning Committee within their Parish.
   
   The Parish Council/Meeting is able to attend the Planning Committee to make representation directly to the Committee. In addition, where the Planning Committee undertakes a site visit before reaching a decision on a particular application the Parish Council will be invited to attend. The decision on whether to hold a site visit rests with the Committee.
   
   
10. Where a decision is made by the Council against the view of the Parish Council/Parish Meeting, a written explanation will be given.
    
    Where a decision is contrary to the Parish view ie, approval when the Parish object or refusal when there is support from the Parish, an explanation in addition to the Committee will be provided.
    

October 2005