There are 2 committees of elected councillors who decide some planning applications: the Development Control Committee and the Strategic Development Control Committee.  However, planning officers decide most planning applications under AVDC’s ‘delegation’ arrangements. 

Why delegate?

Planning officers can decide straightforward applications, which are consistent with council policy, without reporting them to committee.  This leaves councillors who sit on the committees more time to concentrate on major or difficult applications.  Also, we can usually decide applications more quickly if they are not reported to committee.  Quicker decisions benefit applicants, their agents and the development industry and help us to meet government performance targets.

What is the role of elected Councillors?

• councillors determine and adopt the Development Plan.  This contains the policies that help us decide planning applications 
• Councillors on the development control committees decide major, or more complicated applications, where they need to balance the often difficult planning issues raised
• any District Councillor can ask for an application to come before committee for decision
• Councillors also decide what the delegation arrangements are and how they will operate

Development Control Committee decides planning applications when:

• the recommended decision does not accord with policies
• any AVDC Councillor has requested that the application goes to committee for decision
• the recommendation to approve or refuse goes against comments made by the parish or town council
• the application involves a councillor or key officer
• the district council is the applicant and there are contrary representations
• planning officers believe it is not appropriate to decide the application using delegated powers

Strategic Development Control Committee decides applications for

• 50 or more dwellings
• 3,000 square metres or more of floor space for business development
• 20 or more dwellings or 2,000 square metres of floor space at Aylesbury town centre
• sites which are allocated in the Aylesbury Vale District Local Plan or Local Development Framework
• other key growth related developments as agreed by the Head of Planning or Development Control Manager after consultation with the chairmen of both committees.

Which applications can officers decide?

Other cases are dealt with by officers using delegated powers.  However, where the decision would be at odds with comments we have received (e.g. from neighbours), we will only do this after discussion with the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Development Control Committee.  They will give guidance on whether they feel the application should be decided by committee.

Who has delegated authority to decide planning applications?

The Head of Planning, the Development Control Manager and the three area planning officers have the authority to decide planning applications.  In practice, the area planning officers decide most delegated applications.

How can I find out who will decide an application?

Please contact the case officer to find out who we expect to determine the application.  Sometimes, however, the position may change, e.g. if an application is subsequently called to committee by a district councillor.

Involving local councillors

If you write to us commenting on an application, you may wish to send a copy to your local district councillor so they can decide whether the application should be referred to committee.

Involving the town or parish council

Alternatively, you may wish to contact your town or parish council to seek their support for your views.  If our recommendation to approve or refuse an application is at odds with their comments, we refer it to committee.  Everyone who commented on the application then gets an opportunity to speak to the committee when it considers the proposal.

Does AVDC decide all applications?

Our planning officers and development control committees decide most of the applications we receive.  But

• Bucks County Council decides its own applications and those about mineral extraction or waste disposal, although they do give us an opportunity to comment
• if an appeal is lodged with the planning inspectorate because we have not decided an application within the timescale set by government, we cannot then decide it
• under exceptional circumstances, the Secretary of State makes the final decision on some proposals

Date Updated: 10/03/08