 |
|
Planning appeal funding given green light
The go ahead has been given by Surrey Heath Borough Council's Executive to allow money to be transferred from one budget to another to ensure planning appeals are funded for the rest of the financial year.
At its meeting on Tuesday, September 5, Members agreed to support the virement of £60,000 from the Built Environment manpower budget to the planning appeal consultant's budget as a one off measure for 2006/07. This transfer of resources means there is no overall change to the service's budget.
Head of the Built Environment Brian Townley said: "I have identified guaranteed savings of £60,000 from vacancies in the Built Environment Service as a sum to be vired to fund planning appeals using consultants, including the forthcoming Field 2100 Pennypot Lane Inquiry. The transfer of money enables the service to continue without seeking growth in budgets whilst maintaining its impressive record of success at appeals, which over the last year has exceeded the national average performance."
In the first part of the financial year there were vacancies in the Development Control Team so it was necessary to place a number of appeals in the hands of consultants to meet statutory timetables imposed by the Planning Inspectorate.
Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services and Special Projects Cllr Stewart Stevenson said: "This is seen as a one off adjustment for this year which arises because recruiting for key posts took longer than hoped for. Good progress has now been made with recruitment to the Development Control Team and case officers are beginning to pick up appeals relating to applications they first dealt with. However the effect of the vacancies from earlier in the year has been to exhaust the approved budget earlier than planned and with further appeals being received on a weekly basis a significant shortfall in budget became apparent."
Next year the staff structure
is expected to cope with a higher proportion of appeals, with the budget
being largely retained for specialist witnesses and counsel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ref: News 326
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------