A Planning Service Motion, presented by Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, Leader of the Opposition, has been unanimously backed, cross party, by Somerset Council’s Climate and Place Scrutiny Committee. The motion will now return to Full Council on 17th December for consideration.
The motion itself calls for a 'Planning Service Recovery Plan' to be published with clear performance targets, regular reporting to councillors, a plan to tackle planning enforcement and staffing issues, and engagement with parishes, councillors, agents, and applicants to agree a “good practice charter” for the future operation of the planning service.
During the debate, councillors from all parties recognised the work being done and shared practical ideas to support the next stage of recovery. Some of the things discussed included setting clear targets to reduce the planning and enforcement backlog, strengthening leadership and staffing within the service, improving coordination between departments such as highways and ecology, and providing greater flexibility for parish councils when responding to planning applications.
After the meeting Cllr Diogo Rodrigues said, “This was a constructive, cross-party discussion and I’m grateful to all members who contributed. Collectively, councillors have a vast amount of knowledge and experience of the planning system, and our input into how the service recovers from the 'emergency planning measures' period, and improves, is vital. By feeding that experience into the process we can help shape a planning service that works better for our council, our parishes, and the residents we serve.”
