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Last updated Monday August 25, 2008

Planning and Development Control

The majority of planning applications are decided under delegated powers by the planning officers.  The first appeal process in this system is the ability for Ward Councillors to “call in” any application within their ward to the Development Control Committee.  Any three Development Control Committee members can also call in any application that they see fit.

 At the Development Control Committee the members listen to the reasoning for the officers decision followed by a review of the call in reasons by the relevant councillor ('s).  The committee then debate the application.  It is possible for a ward member to ask for a site visit but the majority of the committee needs to support this action.

In very special circumstances three members of the Development Control Committee can send an application to full council, which then works as a final appeal committee.

At this stage the applicant has a final stage of appeal to the planning inspectorate if the application is refused.  This does not apply however if the application is approved (objectors can't appeal in this way).  

Until very recently (2008) councillors were not permitted to meet with developers under any circumstances and so even where there were things that could be changed to stop the application being needed to be called in this could not happen.  The rules now allow for councillors to meet with developers as long as an officer from the council is present at the meeting.  Any developer who contacts a ward councillor will have to use this system.  The only exception is where the applicant is a resident and the application is for a single dwelling or less (such as an extension).  Under these circumstances a ward councillor may represent the applicant and call in an item to committee as in the aforementioned call in process.

I would respectfully request that any developer who is looking at the Eccleshall Ward area would contact me via e-mail as apposed to any other medium.  My e-mail address is ivanjenningscouk@yahoo.co.uk . When developing in the Eccleshall Ward area it is important to ensure that policies within the new Local Development Framework (see below) and the Local Plan 1998 - 2001 are given due regard. Also that town plans/designs for areas such as Eccleshall itself should also be considered even though they are not actual Borough policy.

My Current Record on planning issues is: 

Though we are still working under the Local Plan within the Borough we are currently going through a transition period where we are working on the new LDF (Local Development Framework), which will replace the Local Plan when it come into force.  We are currently going through consultation on this and the policies that will be held within it.  For further information please click here.  My preferred option for the initial spread of development under this plan is option c.  This splits the 10,300 houses that the Borough has to build under government plans between six main areas.  The majority would be within the Stafford (about 7,000 of the total) and Stone areas with some further development within Eccleshall, Gnosall and Hixon.  Click here for further information on how I see development in my ward.

May 2008 - May 2009

May 2007 - May 2008

Other planning matters looked at within this time period.

May 2006 - May 2007

*NB This application has now gone before the Planning Inspectorate.  In a separate move the flood assessment went before the civil courts in Chester, looking at the need for a onsite pool to compensate for just three houses, where the applicant lost.  If you wish to print off a copy of the petition (please try and sign one currently in circulation where possible) then please click here.

Call in items May 2005 – May 2006

 This year one of the new committees I sit on is the Development Control Committee. (please see the Council Bodies page). I sit on this committee as a Borough Councillor rather than a ward member.  Due to this any requests to call in an item from within the ward should first be addressed to Henry Butter. 

(Click Here to see the letter of thanks)

Call in items May 2004 – May 2005

Applications I have called into committee, on behalf of the parish councils and residents.

For Eccleshall Parish Council's Town Design Statement Please Click Here (Note it is only advisory and not a local or structural plan) If you have problems then please follow the link to EPC website from the useful links page.  For further information you may wish to visit Stafford Borough Council's Website for planning or specifically their future planning teams page.

Don't forget to have your say on the new Local Development Framework.... it will govern planning in Stafford Borough for the next 26 years  Click Here for further information.