Havering Council has approved significant changes to its constitution, including updates to its Planning Committee functions, in response to new national legislation. The amendments were formally agreed during a Council meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

The changes were prompted by new national legislation, specifically the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 and the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2026 . The former came into effect on 31 October 2026, and the latter on 30 June 2026.

These new regulations prescribe the types of planning applications that must be determined by officers and those that can be determined by the Planning Committee, subject to a gateway process. As a result, the existing Planning Committee and Strategic Planning Committee have been abolished and replaced by a new, single Planning Committee comprising nine members. This new structure aligns with the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 , as the terms of reference for the previous committees were not in accordance with these new regulations.

The new Planning Committee will consist of nine members, appointed on a proportionate basis to the membership of the Council as nominated by the Political Groups, in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, section 15 and Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.

The report suggests that a membership of nine members will ensure adequate time will be available to deliberate each application considered at Planning Committee. It is stated that Sufficient time should be available for the report relating to each application to be presented to the Planning Committee, representations to be made to the Committee and Member queries to be addressed. The changes are also intended to ensure compliance with statutory timescales for decision-making, with a committee membership higher than nine members potentially protracting deliberations.

Residents' input and representation in the planning process remain a focus. The updated Planning Committee Procedure Rules outline procedures for public speaking, including speaking slots for objectors and the applicant. The rules also detail how representations from residents and Councillors are handled, including timescales and general requirements. The Planning Committee Procedure Rules and the Protocol on Probity in Planning Matters have been updated to reflect the requirements of the new regulations, which include a gateway process for determining which applications go to committee. Ward councillors can also request applications be considered through this Gateway Test.

Further details on the council's constitutional changes can be found in the public reports pack for the Council meeting on 2nd September 2026 here.