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HOW LOCAL PLANNING PROCEDURE WORKS
Who Makes The Decisions? The principal planning authority, for the parish of Shoscombe, is Bath and north East Somerset. All planning applications are made directly to BANES, which then consults the parish council; seeking their opinion on all applications made on properties within the parish. The parish council is only consulted, by the unitary authority; it does not have the power to grant, or refuse, planning permission. BANES may uphold the parish council's opinion; or reject it. However, whenever BANES decision differs, from the opinion expressed by the parish council, it usually explains the reason to the parish council. How Are Applications Processed? BANES planning committee decides on applications, which are of a major nature. Their decision may, in most instances, be appealed against by the applicant. The more minor planning applications, such as house extensions, are mostly decided by BANES planning officials, under what are known as 'delegated powers'. There is a procedure whereby any planning application determined by a district council planning officer, under these delegated powers, may be 'called-in', for the decision to be made by the planning committee. The prerogative for 'calling-in' an application rests with the appropriate district councillor. Shoscombe Parish Council, on very rare occasions, may request the district councillor to 'call-in' a planning application. This procedure is only invoked when the parish council feels the application is of such a nature that it considers the interests of the local community is best served by having it decided by the district council's planning committee, rather than being decided under 'delegated powers.' There is nothing to prevent any parishioner requesting their district councillor to have a planning application 'called-in', but before doing so the district councillor will need to be convinced that there is justification for such an action to be taken; the district councillor will have to present a convincing argument, to BANES planning department, that such a move is justified. All applicants have the statutory right to appeal against any planning decision made by the district council and you are advised to seek the assistance of the district council's planning department, to learn about the procedures and time-tables involved with planning appeals. How Do I Find Out About Planning Applications? All planning applications can be viewed at BANES Council Offices, or on the BANES website, planning pages. This is the best way for a parishioner to peruse any application. The copies issued to the parish council are usually in circulation, being passed between the parish councillors, right up to the time of the next council meeting. For this reason it is not always possible for the parish council to make them conveniently available to parishioners. How Can I Have My Say? Any parishioner is entitled to make representation to the district, or parish, council about any application. This may be made either in writing to either, or both, councils. In the case of the parish council you may also make personal representation at a council meeting. The parish council welcomes parishioners' comments; either for, or against, any planning application. Written representations should be addressed to: The Clerk to Shoscombe Parish Council: clerk@shoscombecouncil.org also to: Chief Planning Officer, BANES
Important links: What is the difference between Planning and Building control? : click here How do I apply for Planning Permission? : click here What is BaNES' Planning Policy? : click here How can I comment on a Planning Application that has been submitted to BaNES? : click here |