To consider the joint report of the Director Economy and Development and Head of Planning and Building Control on a proposed change in the structure– report circulated to Members
Minutes:
The Director Economy and Development presented the report of the Head of Planning and Building Control, which outlined a number of proposed changes in the structure of the Planning part of the Planning and Building Control Unit. The changes were proposed as a response to the changing context facing the Unit, in particular ongoing reforms to the planning system, the likely cessation of Housing and Planning Delivery Grant, and wider budgetary issues facing the Council. There is also the need to improve the focus on sustainable development and delivery of key projects such as the Local Development Framework, coordination with the New Growth Point and major developments at Newcourt, Monkerton and the Bus Station.
The Director replied to a number of comments stating that the reduced staffing would be sufficient for the present workload but this could change quickly. He added that reduction in the Enforcement resource from three individuals to one could be problematic for Members if they had high expectations. He agreed with a Member suggestion that joint working with other authorities was also an option if the City Council Panning workload picked up and others had spare resources, provided there was budget provision.
Scrutiny Committee – Economy supported the recommendation that Executive approve the following that: -
(1) the employment of the holder of the Senior Enforcement and Projects Officer (ED07105) and Planning Technicians 2 x 0.5 FTE (ED07113 and ED07141) be terminated on grounds of redundancy on the respective dates of 27 January 2010 (ED07105) and 31 March 2010 (ED07113 and ED07141) in accordance where applicable with the provisions of Regulation 19 of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations 2007; with compensation being paid to the post holders in accordance with the discretion exercised by the Council under the provisions of the Local Government (Early Termination) (Discretionary Compensation) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006;a payment of compensation be made in respect of the notice/unexpired period of notice to which the employee would otherwise be entitled under their contract of employment and the selected post be deleted from the establishment of the Council:;
(2) the deletion of the following vacant posts from 1 April 2010: -
(i) Implementation Officer (ED07151),
(ii) Investigations and Compliance Officer (ED07106) frozen since February 2009,
(iii) Landscape & Tree Officer (ED07131), and
(iv) Clerical Assistant (ED07156);
(3) the creation of the following new posts from 1 April 2010:-
(i) the post of Enforcement Officer (grade subject to job evaluation) to be filled by existing postholder of ED07162,
(ii) the post of Environmental Improvements Officer (ED07154) be amended to Environmental Improvements and Tree Officer, and
(iii) the fixed term post of Design Assistant (ED07162) be made permanent.
(4) the post of Technical Clerk (ED07124) be reduced to 0.8FTE from April 2010 and Forward Planning Officer (Projects) (ED07133) be reduced to 0.6FTE from June 2010;
(5) the Design Assistant (ED07155) to become supernumerary pending an appropriate vacancy; and
(6) the transfer of post ED07138 (Conservation Planner) from the Development Management team to the Design Team; and
(7) the Planning Unit’s budgets be amended accordingly
(Report circulated to Members)