Decision details

12.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report requesting Cabinet consider and approve revised decision making arrangements for Neighbourhood Planning (originally approved 18th December 2013) to allow the Council to meet new statutory timescales for decision making.

12.2

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

all decisions involving any aspect of the executive statutory function relating to Neighbourhood Planning be delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Director of Creative Sheffield.  Such delegated authority to be exercised in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member responsible for Planning (currently the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport) PROVIDED THAT any such decision where:

•           that stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process has resulted in significant public objection and/or the decision is publicly contentious in the opinion of the Cabinet Member; or

•           the decision is considered to be a Key Decision because it is likely to be significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards in the City;

then such decision shall be delegated to the Cabinet Member responsible for Planning; and

(b)

the same scheme of delegation as agreed under part (i) shall apply to decisions relating to the making of Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders as well as Neighbourhood Plans.

1.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 and amendments to Regulations (set out in this report at section 1.8ff), reduce the time allowed to determine all decisions relating to Neighbourhood Planning.  The proposed revisions to the framework agreed in December 2013 are the speediest routes by which decisions can be made, whilst still retaining Member involvement in the decision making process.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

This report recommends revision only to those decisions that were reserved for Cabinet in December 2013 (see paragraph 1.3 of the report). 

11.4.2

If Cabinet were to continue as the decision making body for some decisions as agreed in December 2013 this would:

• make it very difficult to meet tight statutory deadlines enforced by the updated Neighbourhood Planning legislation allowing for required consultation periods within parts of the process and turnaround time for writing and signing off reports before the decision is made.

• risk intervention by the Secretary of State in the neighbourhood planning process in Sheffield. 

12.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

12.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

12.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place

12.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing.