Planning Resources for District / Town / Parish Councillors
Introduction
There is a wealth of information on the web to aid Councillors and the general public in understanding the planning system. This web page links you to the most up-to-date and useful national web resources, as well as providing links to locally relevant information.
Please contact Development Services (planning@cotswold.gov.uk) if you have any problems accessing the information or if you have ideas for additional information that could be provided.
The information on this web-page is divided up into sections
- The Planning System
- Decision making
(including links to all key policy and legislative documents) - Useful Organisations
- Topics of Interest:
- Procedural Matters
- Copies of Member Training Presentations
The Planning System
The Planning Portal provides a useful introduction on how the planning system works, which may be of use to Councillors both directly in their work, and to pass on to members of the general public who may raise queries about the planning system.
The Planning Advisory Service has produced some relevant guidance -
- How planning works: an introductory guide for councillors
- Neighbourhood planning: a guide for ward councillors
Decision making
In reaching planning decisions or recommendations, Councillors need to consider many issues, including:
- Cotswold District Local Plan
- Gloucestershire County Structure Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Legislation
- Government Circulars
- What cannot be taken into consideration when determining a planning application?
Useful Organisations
- Planning Portal (comprehensive information on all aspects of planning)
- Planning Portal (Interactive House) (easy to follow guide on when planning permission is required for householders)
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Environment Agency (including flood risk standing advice for local planning authorities)
- National Planning Casework Unit (web-link not currently available)
- Planning Advisory Service (information on the planning system, including advice for Councillors)
- English Heritage (including heritage protection)
- Natural England
- Royal Town Planning Institute
Topics of Interest
Local Issues
- Forward Planning - Latest News
- Cotswold Design Code Supplementary Planning Guidance
- Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document
- Cirencester Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document
- Water Park Zones Supplementary Planning Guidance
- Local Development Framework (LDF)
- CDC Planning Webpages
- Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Cotswold Water Park
- Guidance for Town and Parish Councils on engaging with developers
- Cotswolds AONB Planning Protocol (Cotswolds Conservation Board)
National / General Issues
- Planning Appeals
- Letters from the Chief Planner (DCLG)
- A plain English guide to the Localism Bill
- Historic Building Conservation and Development Control
- Trees and Development Management
- Landscape and Development Management
- Biodiversity and Development Management
- Climate change and Historic Buildings (advice and information from English Heritage)
- Letter from Chief Planning Officer on Planning and Design
- Ministerial Statement - Planning for Growth (23.03.11)
- Letter from Chief Planning Officer on Planning Guarantee and Information Requirements (29.07.11)
Procedural Matters
- Public Speaking
- Planning Committee Sites Inspection Briefing Protocol
- Enforcement Protocol
- Probity (Council’s Constitution)
- Customer Satisfaction Survey
- How to upload the web-site measuring tool
Copies of Councillor Training Presentations and Workshops
- Planning and Development - Introductory session 19th May 2011 (images removed to reduce file size)
- GAPTC Event (30/06/11) - Shaping what our communities will look like in the future
- National Planning Policy Framework (01.05.12)