Committee details

Terms of Reference:

1.        To consider what changes are practical and desirable to Council policies concerning the reuse of redundant and other buildings in the Metropolitan Green Belt; in particular, are further restrictions necessary (changes in policy required) to ensure that such developments are truly sustainable.

2.        New Local development Scheme and East of England Plan – EFDC Response to Final Version. Final version of the East of England Plan – issued in May 2008.

3.        To consider matters which arise through the process that the Government is driving to bring in an East Of England Plan; these may range from arrangements concerning the Examination in Public, how to respond to the initiatives or views of those who support or oppose us, and how we may support or oppose the views taken by others.  In particular, this is to allow the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development to remain tuned in to local views, and supersedes previous advisory group arrangements.

4.        To consider in detail the provision of Value For Money within the Development Control (Planning Services) function, focusing specifically on:

(a)    The success of the ‘hit squad’ established to focus on the backlog of planning applications;

(b)    How and to what extent performance in relation to the determination of planning applications has improved as a result of the ‘hit squad’ and other additional resources such as the new integrated computer system, the restructure of Planning Services and the application of Planning Delivery Grant; and

(c)    How unit cost and other benchmarking information in relation to the Development Control function can be obtained to increase the effectiveness of the Value For Money Analysis for 2006/07 and future years.

5.         To report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Council and the Cabinet with  recommendations on matters allocated to the Panel as appropriate.