South Tyneside Council's planning committee to lose three members under new rules

Changes to the way planning applications are decided in South Tyneside will be considered by councillors ahead of new national rules coming into force.

A report to the full council next week will recommend that South Tyneside Council’s constitution is amended to reflect the government’s new regulations.

The new National Scheme of Delegation aims to standardise the rules across all local authorities to ensure consistency.

The regulations determine which planning applications can be referred to planning committee rather than a decision being made by officers.

New national rules

In South Tyneside, 96% of applications are already dealt with under delegated powers, with the remaining major or contentious applications considered by the planning committee.

However, from October 31 when the new rules come into force, there will be changes including that all small-scale developments must be delegated to officers.

These could include residential developments of up to nine homes and smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

Such applications would no longer be able to be ‘called-in’ for consideration by planning committee by elected members, MPs or neighbourhood forums.

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No changes to planning policies or application assessment

Cllr Dave Royal, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Investment, said: “These changes are being introduced nationally and all councils have to make sure they comply with the new rules from the end of October.

“South Tyneside already delegates the vast majority of planning applications to professional officers.

“However, there will be some important changes, including that councillors and others will no longer be able to request that certain applications are considered by planning committee.

“The new rules will only affect who makes the final decision on an application; they don’t change planning policies or how an application is assessed.

“If we don’t comply with the regulations, decisions could be open to legal challenge.”

Reducing members on the planning committee

Applications for larger or more complex developments could still come to planning committee if they raise significant planning issues.

The new regulations will also limit planning committees nationally to a maximum of 13 councillors. South Tyneside’s committee currently has 16 members meaning a reduction of three.

Full council will be asked to approve the necessary changes ahead of the new rules taking effect.

The government says the changes will make planning decisions more consistent, speed up the process and reduce appeals.