Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introducing the newly appointed Chief Planning Officer.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report at the Board’s request, introducing the newly appointed Chief Planning Officer, Mr Phil Crabtree, who commenced his duties on 2nd January 2007.

The Chair welcomed Phil Crabtree to the meeting. Mr Crabtree was accompanied by the Director of Development, Jean Dent.

Mr Crabtree stated that he had been meeting with Members, Officers and Plans Panels and acquainting himself with the city.  Major issues he had identified as priorities were the successful implementation and resourcing of the strategic review, improving performance in the processing of the particularly high volume of planning applications received in Leeds, pushing up the standards of design and improving customer satisfaction with the service.

Members were then invited to ask questions and raise issues with the Chief Planning Officer for which he was responsible.

Issues raised by Members were in summary:

·  The benefits of online planning applications.

·  The involvement of Councillors and Parish Councils at an earlier stage in the planning application process.

·  Enforcement and communication difficulties between departments and some Councillors.  The need to provide a better enforcement service.

·   Notification to Councillors of planning applications received in neighbouring Wards.

·  Support for community groups creating design statements for their Wards.  Members were advised of the possible assistance with funding from Area Committee budgets for this.

·  The development pressure in particular areas of Leeds and the need for development plans to be drawn up for many villages and the suburbs.

The Chair thanked the Officers for attending the meeting and advised the Board that a paper would be included on the February agenda of the Board from the Chief Planning Officer on Planning a Better Future - Planning and Development Services, which should address many of the issues and concerns raised by Members.

RESOLVED – That the above discussion and issues identified for further scrutiny be noted.