Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:       

“1.0  Relevant background information

1.1    On 1st April 2015 a range of planning functions will transfer from Department of the Environment (DoE) to the council.  The more specialised functions in relation to environmental services were to be considered on the basis of a shared services approach due in part to the difficulty in maintaining service provision whilst disaggregating the functions across 11 council clusters. 

1.2    On transfer of the suite of local planning functions to local government the 11 councils will have responsibility for: Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) on planning applications; HRA for the preparation of Local Development Plans; and the consideration of the implications from development on European Sites (e.g. Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas).

1.3    The Shared Environmental Service (SES) model for was agreed by the Regional Transition Operational Board to be a suitable model to support local councils in carrying out these functions. The Mid & East Antrim Council offered to host the Service, on behalf of councils, subject to further consideration of service objectives and functions alongside the potential resourcing.

2.0    Key issues

2.1    The Mid and East Antrim Council has now confirmed that it is willing to host the Shared Environmental Service for local councils and has provided details of the proposed objectives and functions of the service (see Appendix 1).  It is proposed that the specialist SES team will provide expert advice and support to all the new councils from a base in County Hall Ballymena. 

2.2    The primary role of the SES team will be to carry out Habitats Regulations Assessments on planning applications and during the preparation of Local Development Plans to assess and advise on impacts on European Sites (e.g. Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas).  This function is essential to ensure that legal requirements in respect of these Habitats / Sites are fully met and to reduce the risk of challenge to planning decisions, development plans and policies.

2.3    The DoE have confirmed that the full costs for delivery of the Service will be transferred to Mid & East Antrim Council.  This means that there will be no ongoing cost to Belfast City Council in relation to the use of the shared services outlined in the appended letter.

2.4    In order to progress the preparations for the delivery of this service Mid & East Antrim Council are seeking agreement in principle that Belfast City Council will utilise the Service. The final agreement would be subject to the preparation of a Service Level Agreement to formalise the terms of delivery and governance arrangements for the service.

2.5    I would seek the agreement of your Council, in principle, to this Shared Service Model.  I would ask you identify a Liaison Officer from your Planning Service to work on a draft Service Level Agreement which will be presented to your Council in the next number of weeks.

2.6    As highlighted in the appended letter this is an important function in ensuring that risks are reduced whilst the legal requirements associated with planning decisions, development plans and policies are fully met. It is therefore suggested that the Committee agrees to support, in principle, this Shared Service proposal. This agreement would be subject to the preparation of a Service Level Agreement that sets out the required delivery and governance arrangements for the service.

3.0    Resource, Equality and Good Relations  Implications

3.1    None. 

4.0   Call In

4.1    N/A

5.0    Recommendation

5.1    It is recommended that the Committee supports, in principle, the Shared Service proposal as outlined, subject to the preparation of a Service Level Agreement with Mid & East Antrim Council.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.