Planning applications are received via Daventry District Council and detailed in the agenda. Full details of the application, including back-up papers and plans can be viewed on the West Northants Council website Planning and building control | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)
The Parish Council has to adhere to a strict timescale for responses to West Northants Council, which means that extra meetings occasionally need to be held. When this arises an agenda is produced and displayed as detailed on the meetings page.
Do parish councils grant planning permission?
Town and parish councils are not Planning Authorities. Town and parish councils are only statutory consultees in the planning process. This means that they only have the right to be informed of planning applications within the parish.
They cannot approve or reject planning applications.
They can only comment on planning applications in the same way that individuals can comment.
Consequently the length of time taken to determine a planning application is governed by the local planning authority not the parish council.
A parish council can request that it be given extra time to comment on an application.
The decision whether this is granted rests solely with the planning authority and it’s own deadlines for decision making.
How do parish councils comment on planning applications?
Parish councils agree to comment on planning applications in via council or committee meetings.
The comments agreed in the council meeting are submitted in writing by the Parish Clerk to the relevant planning authority.
The process is exactly the same as that of an individual wishing to comment on a planning application.
Parish councils are statutory consultees and have no powers to approve or reject planning applications, they can only comment or not on applications.
Valid reasons for comment on a Planning Application
Comments that are clear, concise and accurate stand more chance of being accepted than those that are not.
When planning applications are considered, the following matters can all be relevant. These are sometimes referred to as ‘material planning considerations’:
- Central government policy and guidance – Acts, Circulars, Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) etc.
- The Development Plan – and any review of the Development Plan which is underway.
- Adopted supplementary guidance – for example, village design statements, conservation area appraisals, car parking standards.
- Replies from statutory and non-statutory agencies (e.g. Environment Agency, Highways Authority).
- Representations from others – neighbours, amenity groups and other interested parties so long as they relate to land use matters.
- Effects on an area – this includes the character of an area, availability of infrastructure, density, over-development, layout, position, design and external appearance of buildings and landscaping
- The need to safeguard valuable resources such as good farmland or mineral reserves.
- Highway safety issues – such as traffic generation, road capacity, means of access, visibility, car parking and effects on pedestrians and cyclists.#will
- only comments on what are known as “material considerations” – issues, for example, such as boundary disputes between neighbours or loss of views are not considered.