Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairperson for the Planning Policy Committee.

Councillor John I Jones was elected Chairperson of the Planning Policy Committee.

To elect a Vice-Chairperson for the Planning Policy Committee.

Councillor Ieuan Williams was elected Vice-Chairperson of the Planning Policy Committee.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit a report by the Planning Policy Manager.

 Submitted – a report by the Planning Policy Manager in respect of the above.

The Chief Planning Officer reported that the new Local Development Plan is a priority for the Planning function and the Council.  The Planning Policy Committee will have a key role in the development of the plan and will have an important contribution to make the process to the creation of the Local Development Plan.  He noted that a detailed Terms of Reference for the Committee will be submitted to the next meeting.  The Chief Planning Officer further said that the role of the Committee will be to afford leadership and guidance on such matters as draft documents submitted for consideration, the development of Supplementary Planning Guidance, annual monitoring reports and other documentation linked to the Local Development Plan preparation; together with comments from the public and stakeholders.

The Planning Policy Manager reported that following the dissolution of the Joint Planning Policy Unit at the end of the joint working agreement between Gwynedd and Anglesey in March 2023, the County Council took over the full responsibility for preparing its own Local Development Plan.  Despite twice advertising for several posts for the newly created Policy Team, the process thus far has not been successful.  The Team benefitted from the TUPE transfer of one officer who commenced duties on 1^st April, 2023 and a unit Manager was subsequently appointed on a 12 month secondment basis.  The required staffing resource for the Team is as follows:-

·     Planning Policy Manager

·     Senior Planning Policy Officer

·     2 x Planning Policy Officers

·     Assistant Policy Officer

The need for a Local Housing Challenge Co-ordinator was also subsequently identified. 

In view of the staffing shortfall, another concerted recruitment process is to be implemented by the Service to try and attract experienced individuals to the posts.  The intention is to extend the scope of advertisement to include professional journals, direct advertising in targeted universities and greater use of social media.  It is essential to have a suitably capable Team to ensure that the various stages of the plan preparation are to be met within the agreed timescales and that subsequent statutory duties can be satisfactorily discharged.  The Service is currently undertaking a procurement process to engage a suitably qualified and experienced consultancy to provide professional support for its Planning Function under a Framework agreement.  This will include support for the Council’s statutory planning policy responsibilities. 

The Planning Policy Manager further reported that the Local Development Plan preparation entails meeting several distinct milestones which include the requirement to be encapsulated within a Delivery Agreement which must be agreed by Welsh Government.  Once agreed, the programme for delivery of the Plan must be rigorously adhered to with any deviation having to be agreed with Welsh Government. An indicative timeline was provided within Appendix 1 to the report. 

Councillor Robert Ll Jones questioned the reasons for ending joint working arrangements between Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.  The Chief Planning Officer responded as this decision had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.