Delegated decisions
It is important to note that allocated planning case officers for specific planning applications will not make the final decision on an application that they are the case officer for. The case officer will make a recommendation and write a detailed delegated report for consideration by a senior qualified planning officer who has been given delegated authority by the Council to make such decisions.
The report and application will be reviewed and signed off by a senior officer who acts in a professional capacity for the Council as local planning authority. All such decisions will therefore be based on relevant planning policy, national planning guidance and planning legislations. Ultimately, therefore the decision on a planning application is made on behalf of the Local Planning Authority whether made by officers under delegated powers or elected Councillors.
A list of all recent delegated decisions is reported to the Dartford Planning Committee each time there is a meeting held. The list is contained within the published agendas.
In addition, each delegated report will include details of which schedule the application falls into and why the application was delegated to Officers.