The Planning Committee of Cardiff Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The primary focus of this meeting will be a review of the council's planning service delivery, including proposed changes to delegations and procedures. The committee will also address the minutes from a previous meeting.

Constitutional Changes to Planning Service Delivery

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to discussing proposed amendments to the governance arrangements for planning functions. These changes stem from an internal review and recommendations made by Audit Wales in its Review of the Council's Planning Service report. The proposed amendments aim to refine the Scheme of Delegation for planning decisions, update Planning Committee Procedure Rules, and adjust arrangements for public speaking and petition submissions. Key areas for review include:

• Scheme of Delegation: Proposals include defining strategically important and major planning applications to ensure the committee focuses on the most significant cases. This involves setting thresholds for residential units, commercial floorspace, and the inclusion of Environmental Impact Statements for major developments. The report also addresses the delegation of Subsequent / Technical applications, such as variations of conditions or non-material amendments, which would generally be handled by officers.
• Planning Committee Procedure Rules: Changes are suggested to public speaking arrangements, aiming to introduce a formal right for objectors, supporters, and applicants/agents to address the committee. Time limits for speakers are also proposed to be standardised.
• Public Speaking and Petition Arrangements: The automatic referral of applications with a petition to the Planning Committee is proposed to be removed, with decisions instead requiring consultation with the Chair. This is linked to the introduction of wider public speaking rights.
• Member Requests for Referral: A new procedure is outlined for elected members requesting that an application be referred to the committee, requiring material planning reasons and consultation with the Chair of Planning.
• Statutory Consultee Objections: The requirement for committee determination when a decision conflicts with an unresolved statutory consultee objection is proposed to be removed, with such cases to be delegated to the Head of Planning subject to consultation with the Chair.
• Number of Objections Threshold: The threshold for requiring consultation with the Chair of Planning is proposed to be increased from any written objection to five or more objections from households.
• Applications by Officers and Elected Members: The report details proposed changes regarding the reporting of planning applications submitted by council officers and elected members, balancing transparency with employee safety concerns.
• Site Visits: A protocol for members to request Planning Committee site visits in advance of meetings is to be introduced to support efficient decision-making.
• Planning Code of Good Practice: Updates to the Planning Code are proposed to ensure it is current and reflects Cardiff-specific delegations and constitutional references.

The report, titled Constitutional Changes - Planning Service Delivery Review – Planning Committee Delegations and Procedures, is presented for the committee's information and review before further consideration by the Constitution Committee and Full Council. The proposed changes are intended to modernise and clarify the council's planning governance framework, improve efficiency, and rebalance democratic accountability.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee is also scheduled to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4th June.