The Chairman and Cabinet thanked the departing Head of Development Services, Jim Kehoe, for the work that he had done for the District Council over the past three years.  The Cabinet extended their best wishes for the future to Mr Kehoe.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Improvement introduced a report outlining proposed increases in charges for pre-application enquiries and to extend the scope of pre-application enquiries that are offered and charged for.  Members noted there was a small typing error on page 26 of the report – the current Sevenoaks District Council charge for minor applications was £100 (and not £250 as stated in the report).

Charges for pre-application enquiries had been introduced in June 2008 and had remained unchanged since then.  Charging had been introduced to cover the, sometimes significant, costs associated with dealing with these types of enquiry, but the Planning Service as a whole did not make a profit.  It was expected that the rise in charges should result in increased income and would contribute to covering the service’s overall costs.  Members noted that the proposals outlined in the report widened the scope of the services provided by the Council.

The Chairman suggested that it may be helpful if a signed record was produced following pre-application enquiries as this may prevent future disputes surrounding any advice given as part of a pre-application enquiry.  The Head of Development Services reported that the current practice was to send a letter following any meetings however, officers would review how the practice could be further improved.

            Resolved: that

(a)    the increased charges for Planning pre-application enquiries and extended scope for pre-application enquiries that are charged for, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be approved until further notice; and

(b)    the Director of Community and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, be authorised to apply and publicise the Council’s approved charges; to agree individual charges, in particular where Appendix A to the report indicates that these are ‘negotiable’; and to prepare or revise procedures and guidance to ensure that the charges are applied effectively.