Purpose

This item seeks approval to update Planning and Building Control (P&BC) discretionary fees, some other fees and introduce a new paid-for fast-track householder planning service. The proposals are based on benchmarking, service-demand analysis and workshop recommendations, with the aim of improving cost recovery, customer clarity, operational resilience and future planning income.

Decision

DECISION:

1. To approve the proposed revisions to Planning and Building Control pre-application fees for implementation through the Council’s fees and charges schedule.
2. To approve the introduction of new and updated pre-application service categories, including revised scale definitions, technical/specialist meeting products and Planning Performance Agreement related service options.
3. To approve the introduction of a paid-for fast-track planning service for suitable application types, subject to further testing and service design.
4. To delegate to the Director of Planning and Building Control to make the necessary operational changes to the published fee schedule, customer guidance, internal workflows and performance monitoring arrangements to reflect the approved changes.
5. To note that the fees review will establish a baseline for future annual reviews, enabling fees to be benchmarked and refreshed in a more consistent, evidence-led and efficient way.

Action by:

David Joyce, Corporate Director, Housing and Regeneration

Reasons for the decision

Development Management is an income-reliant service and needs to ensure that income is maximised to ensure costs of service provision are covered.  

The review has identified scope for further cost recovery, to ensure income targets are achieved.

Benchmarking against London boroughs has identified areas where existing charges are below comparable market levels and do not reflect the position of Tower Hamlets as an Inner London borough. 

Annual inflationary increases have been applied previously, but the review has identified that further changes and, in some cases, restructuring of the service offer is required to address structural gaps in the current fee schedule and to introduce new chargeable services where there is customer demand and operational benefit. 

The proposals will support better cost recovery, improve income growth, enable better income forecasting and provide clearer service options for applicants and developers. 

The draft fast-track service proposal creates a controlled, optional paid-for route for suitable applications, without impacting on statutory requirements.