That the Cabinet resolved to ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government calling for the Government to scrap its Planning White Paper and instead

·         Undertake a wholesale review of Permitted Development Rights;

·         Make the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate more accountable to local people; and

·         Implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected either financially or personally with the developers or related parties to the application.

To support the motion in respect of the Government’s proposed Planning Reforms set out in the Planning White Paper.

None.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 26 July 2021 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The Cabinet considered a motion in relation to the Government’s proposed Planning Reforms, notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded a motion, as set out below which was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet:

Cabinet notes:

The significant public concerns over the Government’s Planning Reforms, in particular concerns about their reduced ability to object to building works under Permitted Development Rights which have been extended under this Government.

Widespread concerns and condemnation of the Planning White Paper proposals have also been expressed across Local Government, The Planning and Architecture Sector, and organisations concerned with protecting green spaces and heritage.

Cabinet is concerned that:

·         Government proposals to deregulate planning will remove the rights of residents to influence or object to inappropriate development where they live.

·         The Government's proposals will decimate the character of Torbay and give carte blanche to developers to build what they please without needing planning permission.

Cabinet believes that residents have the right to a say over development that will change the area they live in.  Local councils, in consultation with their businesses and residents are best placed to understand the issues in their area and respond with a spatial strategy tailored to that area.

Cabinet therefore requests the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government calling for the Government to scrap its Planning White Paper and instead

·         Undertake a wholesale review of Permitted Development Rights

·         Make the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate more accountable to local people

·         Implement stronger controls to ensure Ministers making decisions on planning applications are not connected either financially or personally with the developers or related parties to the application.

None.