Service Level Agreement between South Hams District Council and South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
This Service Level Agreement sets out additional measures beyond those set out in the agreed South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Planning Protocol Adopted March 2020 as to how the planning consultation process for the engagement of South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (South Devon AONB) in relevant planning applications within the administrative Boundary of South Hams District Council will be managed.
South Hams District Council will provide an additional £8,000 SHDC funding per annum to the South Devon AONB Partnership. In return the South Devon AONB Staff Unit will provide dedicated support focused on responses to consultation requests.
It is recognised by both parties that provision of responses in accordance with this SLA is reliant upon successful recruitment to a new temporary AONB Planning Officer role shared with North Devon and East Devon AONB Partnerships.
Subject to satisfactory performance, the term of this SLA will be extended to 31st March 2025.
The SLA obligates both parties as follows
South Devon AONB commit to:
1. Provide a written response within 28 days of the date of a consultation request to all consultations responses which meet the Consultation Triggers Criteria set out in South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Planning Protocol Adopted March 2020, even if the response is no comment to make/refer to published policy and guidance.
2. If for any reason this is not achievable in advance of the 28-day period the AONB officer will contact the Head of Development Management to agree an Extension of Time (EOT) in writing which is mutually agreeable to both parties and allow the expedient determination of the Planning Application.
3. Provide 1.5 days per week senior officer resource to meet this commitment.
4. Operate in accordance with the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Planning Protocol Adopted March 2020 alongside this SLA.
5. Provide at least 90% of consultation responses within 28 days of the consultation request being issued.
South Hams District Council commit to:
1. Provide an additional £8,000 funding per annum to the South Devon AONB
2. Refer relevant planning applications to the AONB Unit for comment following the Consultation Triggers Criteria set out in South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Planning Protocol Adopted March 2020.
3. Notify and reconsult the South Devon AONB on planning applications for which SHDC Planning Officers have already consulted the South Devon AONB when new or amended application documentation that is material to the conservation and enhancement of the South Devon AONB has been added to the web-based planning file.
4. Agree a reasonable EOT in writing for responses on behalf of the South Devon AONB Partnership to allow the expedient determination of Planning Applications.
5. Operate in accordance with the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Planning Protocol Adopted March 2020 alongside this SLA.
Signed ……………………………………………………. For and on behalf of South Hams District Council,
dated ………………
Signed ……………………………………………………. For and on behalf of South Devon AONB Partnership,
dated ……………