Somerset County Council’s Full Council considered the new planning procedures for the new Somerset Council on Wednesday 22nd February, after the Constitution and Governance Committee had debated initial proposals on 30th January (see item 8) and revisions on 14th February (see here).

The Planning Committees terms of reference are in Part D8 of the documents here.

Some of the key features of the new system are:

• Local councillors will continue to determine larger or more contentious planning applications that are referred to area-based Planning Committees in each former district area (Planning East, West, North and South).
• Mendip District Council’s current Planning Board will be effectively renamed the Planning East Committee, with 13 members (down from the current 15) and will continue to meet in the council offices in Shepton Mallet.
• The existing Mendip District Local Plan will continue until a new county-wide Somerset Local Plan is agreed in 2028.
• The existing SCC Regulation Committee is effectively renamed the Strategic Planning Committee, and will determine highways development, village green, and rights of way applications, and some minerals planning applications*, and oversight of phosphate nutrient mitigation schemes affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site.
• * Minerals planning applications will be heard at the local planning committee first, before going to Strategic Planning Committee under certain circumstances (to help ensure that decisions are consistent under the county-wide Minerals and Waste Local Plan).
• Parish/town/city councils and the local ward councillors can refer major** developments to Planning Committee for a decision where they disagree with the case officer recommendation. Currently parish/town councils cannot do this in Mendip. **Major development is defined below.
• Parish councils and ward councillors can also request that minor applications are referred to committee subject to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee agreeing.
• There will be up to 15 minutes public speaking time (up to 5 speakers with up to 3 minutes each) at committee meetings. This was subject to lengthy debates at at the CGC meetings.
• The previous proposal for any decisions on major planning applications by the local planning committees that are contrary to officer recommendations would be automatically referred up to Strategic Planning Committee for a final decision, has been removed. This part of the original proposals was a major bone of contention for many councillors of all parties at the CGC meeting on 30th January (including me via message to the committee Chair from hospital after an operation on my broken wrist) so I am happy it has been addressed,

Overall the review process at C&G Committee has worked really well. The new arrangements start on 1st April 2023 and will be reviewed in six months time. So do get in touch with any comments and suggestions.

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