Can the Checklist be audited?
- Can the Local Planning Authority check that the Developer/Planning Applicant has scored their application correctly?
- Does the Development Control officer have to check every single justification?
- Can the Checklist be used for independent audits of planning applications?
- How does the Planning Authority check that the Developer has done what they said they would do?
Can the Local Planning Authority check that the Developer/Planning Applicant has scored their application correctly?
Yes. Whilst the development team completes the Checklist, they are required to fill in a ‘justification’ box for each question. This means they have to explain how they have arrived at their score. This can be a statement, or could be a reference to drawings, undertakings or schedules to evidence that the appropriate standard has been met. It could refer to the work of appropriate consultants.
There was a deliberate attempt to remove as much subjectivity from the questions as possible. Where appropriate, numerical standards were included, but sometimes an indication of process or matters to be included in a process is used and the scoring system reflects this.
Does the Development Control officer have to check every single justification?
No. But the fact that they (or others) could, provides impetus for the Checklist to be completed accurately. We expect that the Development Control Officer will use their experience and judgement regarding the site and the developer/planning applicant to decide which questions need to be fully audited. This is similar to the current situation in applications without the Checklist, but the process is made easier by having a standard Checklist format so that issues are not inadvertently forgotten or overlooked by either Developer/Planning Applicant or the Local Planning Authority.
The Overview Report will suggest areas where performance is unexpectedly weak – or strong – which may require a closer check.
Can the Checklist be used for independent audits of planning applications?
Yes. If the Developer/Planning Applicant and/or the Local Planning Authority wish to do so, the Checklist can be completed or audited by a third party in much the same way as Sustainability Appraisals are carried out now. Whilst this is not envisaged to happen to every planning application, it may be useful particularly in significant, controversial or strategic sites, or on sites where competing applications are being submitted.
How does the Planning Authority check that the Developer has done what they said they would do?
The normal enforcement regime for planning applications will apply for this purpose. Most developments are not checked for compliance with their applications since the resource implications of doing this would be immense. Therefore enforcement tends to take place where there are complaints or obvious deviations from the planning application or conditions. This will not change where the Checklist is used, however the Checklist provides a useful audit trail as to what the Developer/Planning Applicant said that they would do for each of the issues covered.