Agenda

Delegated planning decisions for the weeks beginning 23 December 2024 and 30 December 2024 are attached.  Contact for enquiries: Hamish Walke, Acting Group Manager (Development Management) on hamish.walke@crawley.gov.uk.

The following documents are attached in relation to Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders:

·        List of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders.

·        Radford Road, Pound Hill (Appendix A).

·        Durham Close, Tilgate (Appendix B).

·        Rusper Road, Ifield (Appendix C).

On 18 December 2024 Councillor Jones, Leader of the Council, exercised their delegated authority to approve the Council Tax Base for 2025/26 as set out in report FIN/680 which was published on 10 November 2024 in Councillors’ Information Bulletin IB/1263.

The Development Management team is creating a new and improved duty planning phone enquiries service (the way in which the public can get in contact and seek advice on planning matters by phone).  This is in response to feedback from some Councillors about the need to boost planning officer availability to respond to general enquiries.  The proposed new system will offer for the first time a focused time-period each weekday, between 10am – 1pm, for members of the public to contact planners by phone with general planning queries.  There will be two dedicated “duty” Planning Officers available during this time period to ensure that there is always someone available to answer calls.

The new system will enable officers to allocate specific time to answering calls, adding clarity, certainty, and reliability for responses to general planning enquiries.   During the above times the two Planning Officers on phone call duty will continue to work through applications, however they will prioritise receiving phone call enquiries.  The Council’s website will be updated, and a voicemail message provided, so that members of the public are aware of this new system.  The Call Centre has also been briefed.

The Crawley BC Development Management Team are committed to serving the public and are confident that this new system will create a more efficient service.

Please note these changes do not impact on general administration, enforcement or tree queries and the existing written pre-application service (Planning pre-application advice | Crawley GOV) will remain.

The new system is due to take effect from 13 January 2025 and will be kept under review to ensure that it is providing a good service.

Information is attached for Councillors only.

Press releases are available at www.crawley.gov.uk/news.