Purpose

Introduction of Monitoring Fee for the processing of
Unilateral Undertakings for single plot self-build applications and
a title check fee.

Decision

Breckland Council authorises the introduction
of a Monitoring Fee for the processing of Unilateral Undertakings
(UU) for single plot self-build applications and a title check fee
to make the UU enforceable.

Reasons for the decision

The cost of registering and monitoring
obligations lies with the Local Planning Authority, despite
developers and applicants benefiting from the
development.  Therefore, it is
considered that this modest contribution towards these costs would
benefit the Council financially and would go some way to covering
these costs in terms of registration and monitoring, whilst noting
costs would be significantly higher if there was a need to enforce
such a legal obligation.  The average
registering time for such agreements would be approximately two
hours, and the monitoring will depend on compliance with the
agreements, however, it is predicated that at least one check would
be made, with the average staffing cost (including on-costs)
amounting to £34.00 per hour.  On
this basis, this is a modest charge proposed and only aimed to
initial cover costs on the average agreement, whilst noting it may
not eliminate all cost, as set out above.
 
The title check fee is to cover the cost of
our legal team’s time and land search fees to undertake the
title check to ensure that the Unilateral Undertaken is
enforceable.
 

Alternative options considered

·        
To authorise the introduction of the Monitoring and Title Check
Fee.

·        
Not to permit the introduction of the Monitoring Fee and Title
Check Fee.

·        
To permit the introduction of either the Monitoring Fee or the
Title Check Fee