Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Colwell.

To approve the minutes from the Regeneration and Development Panel meeting held on 22^nd July 2026.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

Those declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

Councillor Bone was present remotely under Standing Order 34B.

There was none.

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The Planning Control Manager presented the report on the National Planning Scheme of Delegation, which the Council was required to implement by 31 October 2026.  The scheme would replace the existing planning scheme of delegation and call-in arrangements, and failure to implement it could leave the Council acting unlawfully and expose decisions to judicial review.

Members were advised that Schedule 1 applications would be determined by officers.  Schedule 2 applications would also be delegated unless they met the statutory gateway tests for referral to the Planning Committee.

The Planning Control Manager highlighted that ward members could request that a Schedule 2 application be considered through the gateway process by submitting a pro forma within 21 days of the publication of the weekly list, or within 30 days for environmental impact assessment development.  Referral required the agreement of the nominated officer and nominated member.  Where agreement could not be reached, the application would be determined under delegated powers by the Assistant Director for Environment and Planning.

The Chair thanked the Planning Control Manager for the report and presentation and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

Members of the Panel expressed serious concern that the scheme would remove ward members’ automatic right to call applications in to the Planning Committee and reduce opportunities for parish councils, residents and elected Members to participate directly in the planning process.

Officers clarified that ward members, parish councils and the public could continue to comment on applications and that their representations would be considered as material planning considerations.

In response to questions from Councillor Blunt, the Planning Control Manager confirmed that delegated reports would remain publicly available.  Reports would identify whether an application fell within Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 and would include consultation responses, relevant policies, material considerations, proposed conditions and the reasons for the decision.  The outcome of any gateway consideration would also be recorded.

Councillor Collingham raised concerns about applications for works to protected trees.  The Planning Control Manager clarified that these applications would fall within Schedule 2, but that they would be triaged as delegated matters as identified in the report.  However, Members could still make comments on those applications.

Councillor Bubb asked whether consultation responses would be available before the deadline for submitting a referral request.  The Planning Control Manager acknowledged that some responses, particularly from the highway authority, might not be received within 21 days.  Members of the Panel were advised to submit requests within the prescribed period based on the available information.

Councillor Bubb questioned what safeguards would apply to delegated decisions.  The Planning Control Manager explained that decisions would continue to be made in accordance with the development plan and other material considerations.  Schedule 2 applications would be subject to officer triage and appropriate sign-off before being determined under delegated powers or referred to the gateway test panel.

The Planning Control Manager confirmed that, where the nominated officer and nominated member disagreed, the scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD31:

Councillor Bubb asked why the requested Section 106 review was not included within the immediate work programme.  The Planning Control Manager confirmed that the review remained on the work programme and continued to be a priority, but that its timing had been affected by competing demands, including implementation of the National Planning Scheme of Delegation. 

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme and the Forward Decisions List were noted. 

To note that the next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel is scheduled to take place on 25^th November 2026 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Development Panel was scheduled to take place on 25^th November 2026 at 6.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Regeneration Programmes Officer presented the report as included in the agenda and responded to questions and comments from those present.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as included in the agenda.