Once the Council has received your application, a number of processes must take place before you receive your decision. These processes are set out below.
Validation and Consultation
Once all the required information has been received your application will be validated and registered (the application is entered onto the planning database system and given a start date), consultations are sent out to all adjacent neighbours. In addition, it may also be necessary to place a site notice in the immediate vicinity. Advertisements may also be placed in the local newspapers.
Allocation and Site Visits
The application is then allocated to a case officer who will in most cases visit the site to help assess the proposed development in its surroundings. The case officer is likely to make notes and take photographs of the site. These will be kept on file as a record of what is on the site at the time of the visit. If it is likely that the officer would be unable to access your property (i.e. if you work during the day), please contact him/her using the telephone number given on your acknowledgement letter.
Officer recommendations
After the consultation period expires, the application is primarily assessed against its compliance with the relevant planning policies. In addition, any other material considerations such as the history of the site and highway safety are considered.
There are three levels of decision-making for planning applications in Bassetlaw. These are Delegated, Planning Consultation Group (Advisory Body) and Planning Committee:
Delegated Decisions
If the proposal is considered to comply with policy and there are no letters of objection or committee requests from local councillors, the application can be GRANTED under the delegated powers of the Head of Community Prosperity.
Similarly, if the proposal is considered contrary to policy and there are no letters of support or requests for committee from local councillors, the application can be REFUSED under the delegated powers of the Head of Community Prosperity.
If the application does not fall within one of these two descriptions, it is usually referred to PCG.
Planning Consultation Group (PCG)
The PCG is an advisory body comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Opposition Spokesman of the Planning Committee, plus one other member of the Planning Committee chosen on a rota basis. Also present is the Development Control Manager or one of the Principal Planners. PCG meetings are held each Monday afternoon. If the proposal is considered to comply with policy, but there are letters of objection or committee requests from local councillors, the application must be sent to PCG with a recommendation to grant.
PCG discuss each application before they and members vote to either authorise the use of delegated powers or refer the application to the Planning Committee.
Planning Committee
The Planning Committee is a public meeting scheduled for every four weeks on a Wednesday evening, alternatively at Worksop and Retford Town Halls.
In most instances, a decision is made on the night. However, in some circumstances the decision can be deferred until the next meeting should there be further information required, or a change requested by members.
Appeals
You may have the right to Appeal Against the Council’s Decision to refuse your application, to impose conditions or non determination within the 8 or 13 week deadline. You can make your appeal to The Planning Inspectorate.
Scheme of delegation - February 2019
Scheme for determining planning applications
Introduction
The key objective of this scheme is to provide clarity about the circumstances in which applications will be dealt with using delegated powers, referred to Planning Consultation Group (PCG) or referred to Planning Committee.
Any Member of the Council is able to request that applications are considered by Planning Committee. To aid this process the standard form must be completed by Members so that the Call in request is recorded properly. The form will be presented to PCG for consideration before a decision is made to refer the application to Planning Committee. The completed form will be added to the application file. Any requests via email will not be accepted as a Member Call in unless the Standard Form is attached (this form can be completed via Member iPad technology).
In the interest of transparency, the Officer report to PCG will include minutes summarising any relevant issues arising from the discussion at PCG and noting any specific points that Members wish to be recorded. The minutes will be available for inspection as a record of the considerations taken into account in determining the application.
The scheme of delegation sets out the criteria to be used to determine:
- The circumstances in which delegated powers can be used;
- The applications that should automatically be referred to PCG;
- The applications that should automatically be referred to Planning Committee.
When considering applications that do not obviously meet these criteria. Officers will use their judgement to determine whether the applications raise issues that justify consideration at PCG or Committee.
The scheme of delegation for determining planning applications, and related matters as approved by Planning Committee, is set out below.
Extent of delegation to Officers
Officers will have the following delegated powers.
Determination of applications for permission, approval or consent, requirements for assessment, issuing of notices and completion or modification of agreements or obligations under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990, the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 and the Environment Act 1995, or any subordinate rules, orders or regulations made under such legislation.
Officers will also have delegated powers to determine all other matters required to be dealt with as part of the management and administration of the Council’s Planning function and powers, including (but not exclusively):
- Amendments to Planning Permissions;
- Details submitted pursuant to conditions imposed on Planning Permissions and other consents;
- Matters relating to protected trees;
- Consultation with other bodies on planning matters;
- Enforcement of planning control (in consultation with the Head of Regeneration);
- Appeals;
- Screening opinions under the 2017 Environmental Assessment Regulations.
- Scoping opinions under the 2017 Environmental Assessment Regulations.
- All minor County Matter applications
Applications that should automatically be referred to Planning Consultation Group (PCG) for consideration
- Applications made by elected Members of the Council or by Officers of the Council or close relatives.
- All major County Matter applications
- Applications where a request is made in writing on the required form, by an elected Member of the Council, on planning grounds, that an application be decided by Planning Committee;
- Applications that have received up to 10 objections, on material planning grounds, where the recommendation is to grant permission;
- Applications subject to a Parish Council objection on valid planning grounds where the recommendation is to grant permission or applications explicitly supported by the Parish Council where the recommendation is to refuse;
- Applications subject to a Neighbourhood Planning Group objection on valid planning grounds where the recommendation is to grant permission or applications explicitly supported by the Parish Council where the recommendation is to refuse
- Applications where the recommendation is to grant where there are objections raised by a Statutory Consultee;
- Applications for material amendments and to vary conditions (under Section 73 applications) to planning permissions previously approved at Planning Committee;
- Applications for reserved matters where the outline planning permission was granted by Planning Committee.
- Confirmation of Tree Preservation or other Orders or Directions, which are the subject of a valid objection. All applications for Planning Permission in Principle (PiP)
- All applications for Technical Details Consent (TDC) related to a Planning Permission in Principle
- Any written reports, representations or statements to be submitted in respect of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP).
Applications that should automatically be referred to Planning Committee
- Major Planning Applications that require referral to the Secretary of State;
- Applications accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment;
- Applications for residential development or conversions for the following:
- 20 or more dwellings in Harworth, Worksop and Retford where the recommendation is to grant planning permission;
- 10 or more dwellings elsewhere in the district where the recommendation is to grant planning permission:
- Applications for renewable energy generation where the application site exceeds 5 hectares in area
- Employment proposals classified as major schemes not within an existing employment site;
- Applications where more than a total of 10 letters of objection have been received (Members of the public and Parish Councils) where the recommendation is to grant permission.
- Free standing chimneys, towers, masts or similar structures, other than structures intended for removal within less than 1 year, higher than 20 metres. In the case of turbines the height refers to the height of the turbine hub.
Last Updated on Thursday, February 6, 2025