The delegation of appropriate powers and functions by the Development Management Committee of the County Council to designated officers has long been regarded as an essential element for the delivery of an efficient planning service. Planning Officers can therefore determine planning applications under Delegated Powers if there are no existing problems, and can either accept or reject the application on behalf of the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture or the County Solicitor.

In the following circumstances, however, applications will normally be referred to the Development Management Committee for determination where:-

• there is an objection from a statutory consultee such as the District or Parish Council;
• there is a significant neighbour objection made on planning grounds that cannot be resolved by an amendment to the scheme or by planning conditions or a planning obligation;
• the applicant is the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (unless the development is considered ‘not contentious’ when it may be delegated to the County Solicitor);
• the application is considered to be a ‘departure’ from the adopted Development Plan.

The Development Management Committee meets approximately 8 times per year to consider planning applications and other matters relating to planning policy. The dates for forthcoming meetings are as follows:-

• 1 June 2011
• 20 July 2011
• 7 September 2011
• 19 October 2011
• 30 November 2011
• 25 January 2012
• 7 March 2012
• 25 April 2012

Where there are officers' reports for Committee determined applications, these will be available as soon as the Agenda is published online (this is normally 5 days before the meeting) and can be accessed by following the link below and then following the link from the corresponding Agenda:

• Development Management Committee Minutes and Agendas

The full minutes of the meeting will be available within one week of the meeting.

The elected Members of the Development Management Committee have adopted a Protocol for decision-making to ensure that the democratic process is transparent and that decisions are taken in a fair and rational manner. This Protocol, which also applies to Officers of the County Council, can be found by following the link below:

• Development Management Committee Protocol (276KB - pdf help)