Calls for greater investment in planning following profits disclosure
Two Shropshire Councillors are calling on Shropshire Council to plough more of their windfall profits from planning fees back into the ailing planning system.
Cllr Heather Kidd (Chirbury and Worthen) explained. "Government's insistence on a lengthy adoption process for the new SAMDev housing policy created something of a planning boom. During this period national planning regulations applied and we saw a huge spike in planning applications across the County.
"This in turn saw a steep rise in planning fees. From an average income of around £1.6m in the period 2008- 2012 fees received by Shropshire Council leapt from £166,057 in 2012/13 £4,059,737 in 2014/15. The period however, saw a marked decline in the number of staff employed by Shropshire's Planning Department due to Government cuts. This saw a corresponding decline in the level of many of the services delivered.
"Although searches have now improved, we still have real issues of enforcement of planning regulations. I have had several instances of buildings being put up or altered in my area without planning permission much to the irritation of local residents.. The response of the planning department has been slow to say the least."
Cllr Richard Huffer (Clee Division) added "The provision of affordable homes for local people has really suffered in recent years. We simply don't have enough rural housing officers to identify land for small scale development especially in rural communities. Even where we have applications they are taking an age to process and often the criteria are unrealistic."
Heather concluded "Shropshire Council needs urgently to re-invest this money in the County's planning department and not simply put it in the pot for general expenditure. We need to hire more staff and pay them a decent amount. Too often suitably qualified people lend up working for developers who currently pay better.
"This is a real problem now for many residents across Shropshire. Delayed planning applications and the lack of enforcement can make life difficult for many. Even a proportion of this income spent re-invigorating the Planning Department would help a great deal. I would like to see more investment in the planning policy team - hugely cut- so that the Sam Dev can be strengthened over the next year or so for both a review and to work with Parishes so that we have the right housing built for the needs of our communities and specifically our young and elderly residents."
