Scheme of Delegation

As a starting point there are a number of criteria which will be considered when determining whether an application should be determined under delegated powers.

These include in the circumstances when:

• A Member of the Council requests that the application is determined by the appropriate Committee and the request has been made in accordance with the Planning Code of Practice or such other protocol / procedure adopted by the Council 

The application is for any of the following: 

• A residential development for 15 or more dwellings 
• The erection of any industrial building/s with a gross floor space exceeding 3,750sqm 
• A retail development with floor space exceeding 2,500 sqm 
• A renewable energy development, as defined by Government guidance, (unless the application would be refused under delegated authority) 
• The Corporate Director considers the application to be of a controversial nature. 

In addition there are other reasons an application may be taken to planning committee in appropriate circumstances and these are: 

Either the applicant is the District Council or the District Council owns/part owns the site, or the applicant is a District Councillor or a member of staff employed by the Council. In these circumstances that interest will be reviewed in considering whether to report the application to committee.

Please note that this is a summary of the approach to delegated decision making and that full details of the scheme of delegation etc may be found via the links below:

Babergh Constitution (Moderngov.co.uk)