Decision details

Matter for Decision

The report summarised the performance of the 3Cs Building Control Shared Services and the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service during 2019/20.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy Open Spaces

      i.         Noted the contents of the 3Cs Building Control Shared Services report.

    ii.         Noted the contents of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received reports from the Strategic Lead 3C Building Control and the Strategic Director, Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

      i.         In relation to Building Control, congratulated the service on their awards and noted the customer feedback was good and the service was exceeding targets. Noted in the past that a confidential appendix would be provided detailing fee generating income; exempt from publication as the service competed with the private sector. Asked how the council was doing in terms of the market share.

    ii.         In relation to the Planning Service, thought the tide was turning. Noted complaints stemmed from a backlog of validating applications. Asked what the position was in relation to the backlog and how long it would be until it was resolved.

   iii.         In relation to the Planning Service asked what could be done for more public engagement particularly for residents who were not part of a Residents Association. Noted that SCDC had Parish Forums, questioned if Area Committees could take on this role. 

The Strategic Lead 3C Building Control and the Strategic Director, Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Was happy to provide the committee with a brief summary of how the Building Control Department was performing in terms of the market share but did not want to discuss this in a public meeting as this information would disclose commercially sensitive information.

    ii.         The backlog of application validating and determination had been impacted by the effects of the service wide restructure and the introduction of the new joint software on which all future planning applications would be processed.  The backlog of validating applications was reducing and, there were 21 householder applications, 21 outline applications and 6 listed building consent applications awaiting validation in the City as of 29 June.

   iii.         The Technical Support Team were prioritising householder and business applications. An update would be provided on the backlog position to the Committee following the meeting. 

  iv.         The Planning Application Service had been restructured so that they were now organised into 3 x area planning teams with dedicated officers for each area.  The service was exploring how these new teams could be ‘introduced’ to the public.  Each Team had already run a virtual introductory meeting for Parish Councils and they were looking to see how else they could promote the service within the community. 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations and congratulated the teams on their achievements.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.