Purpose

To seek delegated authority to respond to
consultations/engagement from the developer and the Planning
Inspectorate (including the Examining Authority) during Development
Consent Order stages and in respect of the powers to deal with
post-decision matters (if development consent is granted)

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 

 That the Executive:
 
a)   
Endorsed the Regulation 11 Notice to submit a draft
statutory consultation response on the Preliminary Environmental
Impact Report (PEIR) in regard to the proposed Green Hill Solar
Farm.
 
b)   
Delegated authority to the Executive Director of
Place and Economy, in consultation with the Executive Member for
Growth and Regeneration, to respond to consultations and engagement
from the developer and the Planning Inspectorate (including the
Examining Authority) during the following Development Consent Order
stages: Pre-application; Acceptance; Pre-Examination; Examination;
and Post-Examination.
 
c)   
Delegated authority to the Executive Director of
Place and Economy to deal with post-decision matters (if
development consent is granted) including matters such as
determination of applications under the Development Consent Order
consenting regime and enforcement in respect of any Development
Consent Order granted by the Secretary of State.  
 
 

Reason for Recommendations
–
 
·      
To adhere to the guidance set down by the Planning
Inspectorate to ensure adequate delegations are in place to enable
the Council to represent the interests of North Northamptonshire
Council as ‘Host Authority’ and participate in the
Development Consent Order stages within the tight formal
timeframes.
 

Alternative Options Considered
–
 
·      
It has been considered whether the authority of the
Executive should be sought at each of the different stages of the
Development Consent Order process. This has been rejected due to
the need to meet statutory timescales and the risk that the impacts
of the development on North Northamptonshire’s local
communities would not be fully considered.
 
·      
The Council could also decide not to respond further
to the Development Consent Order process. This course of action is
not recommended due to the risk that the impacts of the development
on North Northamptonshire’s local communities would not be
fully considered and any opportunity to secure mitigation for the
impacts would be lost should consent be granted. Furthermore, this
option is likely to be reputationally damaging to the Council,
especially given its status as a ‘Statutory Consultee’
and ‘Host Authority’.