Enfield Council's Planning Committee will now consider fewer applications, with most planning decisions to be made by officers following amendments to the council's constitution. The changes, which came into effect on 31 October 2026, are a result of new national regulations aimed at streamlining the planning process.
These changes are driven by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and associated regulations, specifically the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026. Councillor Michael Rye OBE, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, explained that these changes were necessary to comply with new national planning delegation regulations, which mandate a national scheme for planning decisions.
He expressed regret that these changes, which he felt reduced local democratic oversight, were being imposed by the government, noting that It particularly attacks the ability of us as members to call in applications that our residents may have a concern about.
He also observed that the final word sits with the Officer not with the elected Member should there be a disagreement.
Under the new national scheme of delegation, only a small number of larger or more complex applications will be referred to the Planning Committee. Most planning applications will now be decided by council officers. The ability for councillors to call in applications based on resident concerns will also be significantly curtailed, with final decisions on referrals resting with an officer and a nominated member.
Criteria for Committee Referrals
Under the new national scheme of delegation for planning functions, most planning applications will be decided by officers. Applications specified in Schedule 1 of the Regulations must always be delegated to officers, unless they are 'own interests' applications and the nominated member and officer agree to refer them. Applications in Schedule 2 are presumed to be delegated to officers unless they meet the 'Gateway Test' and the nominated officer and member agree they should be referred to committee. The Gateway Test is met if the application raises an economic, social, or environmental issue of significance to the local area, or a significant planning matter having regard to the development plan and other material considerations. Certain types of applications, such as householder applications, minor commercial and residential developments, and applications for consent for works to trees with Tree Preservation Orders, are specified in Schedule 1 and must be determined by officers. The proposed terms of reference for the Planning Committee and the Planning Referral Protocol outline these criteria in detail.
Resident Concerns and Call-ins
Residents can raise concerns about a planning application by making written representations within the prescribed notification period. If a councillor wishes to request that a Schedule 2 application be considered for referral to the Planning Committee, they must submit a request on the required form to the Director of Planning and Growth before the expiration of the application's statutory publicity period (usually 21 days from validation). The request should briefly set out the key reasons why the application is considered to meet the Gateway Test. The nominated officer and nominated member will then consider the application for referral. The guidance states that the number of objectors or signatures on a petition are not in themselves relevant factors for the Gateway Test, which focuses on the substance of the application.
Ensuring Officer Expertise and Fairness
The nominated officer for considering referrals to the Planning Committee is proposed to be the Director Planning and Growth, with the Programme Director for Development Management and Enforcement acting as substitute, or a Development Management Manager if neither is available. The Guidance states that the nominated officer should be a Chief Planning Officer or an equivalent officer with extensive professional experience. The Council will also maintain a record of cases considered for referral, the outcome, and the reasons for the decision, which will be reported to the Planning Committee annually. The amendments to the Constitution also propose considering the inclusion of additional provisions about civility in officer and member interactions.
Transparency and Public Access
The Council will publish on its website a record of cases considered by the nominated officer and nominated member for referral to the Planning Committee, including the outcome and the reasons for their decision. This information will be reported to the Planning Committee annually. Additionally, the proposed amendments to the Planning Code of Practice suggest considering the inclusion of provisions about civility in officer and member interactions, and the Council will publish its Civic Flag Protocol, which aims to promote inclusivity, community cohesion, public safety, and public confidence.
Councillor Bambos Charalambous seconded the motion, supporting the government's aim of focusing committee time on more significant applications. He stated that it made sense for planning committees to concentrate on major developments and proposals with a real impact on communities, believing the proposal struck a balance between democratic accountability and efficient decision-making. He also noted that routine applications can be dealt with more quickly by qualified planning officers,
suggesting an anticipated impact of increased speed and efficiency for routine applications.
