Member

There is a special reason why this is of significance now: the Government’s proposal for a national scheme of delegation, which will depend on the individual officer who holds this central role. A decision on whether a planning application will go before the planning committee, or whether it will be dealt with by officers alone, will depend on two people: the elected member who chairs the planning committee and the chief planner. This key responsibility necessitates a special status for the planning officer at the helm.