Transparency data

Board meeting minutes 28th January 2025 - The Planning Inspectorate

Updated 9 April 2025

Applies to England

Board meeting minutes 28th January 2025 - The Planning Inspectorate 

Minutes 바카라 사이트‹Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  바카라 사이트‹ 바카라 사이트‹19th March 2025바카라 사이트‹Â 

바카라 사이트‹Title of meeting	Planning Inspectorate Board Meetings
Date             Â	          바카라 사이트‹28 January 2025바카라 사이트‹Â Â	 Â
Venue            Â	          Virtual Â	 Â
Chair              Â	          바카라 사이트‹Trudi Elliott바카라 사이트‹ (TE), Non-Executive Director (NED)	Â

  Present
  Emir Feisal (EF), Non-Executive Director (NED)바카라 사이트‹Â Â	 Â
  바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹Oliver Munn (OM)바카라 사이트‹, Non-Executive Director (NED)  Â	 Â
  Adrian Penfold (AP), Non-Executive Director (NED)바카라 사이트‹Â Â Â Â	 Â
  Baljit Dhillon (BD), Non-Executive Board Apprentice Â	 Â
  Paul Morrison (PM), Chief Executive Â	 Â
  Graham Stallwood (GS), Chief Operating Officer  Â	 Â
  바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹Sean Canavan바카라 사이트‹ (SC), Chief Strategy Officer Â	 Â
  Rachel Graham (RG), Chief Digital Information Officer Â	 Â
  Hayley Kelly (HK), Chief People Officer Â	 Â
  Richard Schofield (RS), Chief Planning Inspector Â	 Â
  Joanne Butcher (JB), Chief Finance Officer Â	 Â
  Will Burgon (WB), Director of Planning, MHCLG Â	 Â

In attendance Full meeting
Executive Support and Governance Officer (DP), meeting support Â	Â
Corporate Governance Officer (NP), minutes and actions Â	Â
Arthur Young (MHCLG) Â	Â

 Attending for specific items Â
Corporate Strategy and Reporting Lead (BM) (items 5, 7 & 9) Â
Project and Change Management Lead (TJ) (items 5, 7 & 10) Â
Head of Strategy and Change (SH) (items 5-10) Â
Head of Business Improvement & Stakeholder Management (LB) (item 6) Â
Lesley Cowley (LC), Board Effectiveness Reviewer (item 6) Â
Head of Finance (PO), (items 7 & 8) Â
Futures Lead (NPo), (items 8 & 9) Â
Pay & Reward Lead (SM) (item 11) Â

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹1.0 - Welcome and Declaration of Interests바카라 사이트‹Â 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹1.1  The Chair called for Declarations of Interest, of which there were none.

바카라 사이트‹1.2  The Board welcomed BD to the Board as the new NED Boardroom Apprentice for 2025. 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹2.0 - Minutes of 바카라 사이트‹October and November Board meetings바카라 사이트‹, corporate action tracker and ARAC update

Minutes 

바카라 사이트‹2.1  No further comments were received for the part one and part two of the October Board minutes and part two of the November Board minutes. 

바카라 사이트‹2.2  OM asked for the wording at 10.5 of the part one minutes to be revised and reflect OM was offering advice. 

바카라 사이트‹Actions 

바카라 사이트‹2.3  EF suggested the action tracker is reviewed as some outstanding actions appear to be superseded. 

바카라 사이트‹Appeal performance action update paper 

바카라 사이트‹2.4  WB is interested in the appeal complexity aspects set out in the paper and would like a further meeting with TW and GS to discuss. 

바카라 사이트‹2.5  AP reflected appeal complexity is important and would value a deep dive session on the data and information available. 

바카라 사이트‹2.6  There are overlaps between the data presented to Board and the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).  TE asked for this to be reviewed by BM. 

바카라 사이트‹ARAC update 

바카라 사이트‹2.7  ARAC reviewed strategic risk, the materiality of risks and those outside of our appetite and tolerance.  A further risk item will come to the April meeting to examine in more detail, 15% of risks are outside of the tolerance. 

바카라 사이트‹2.8  The Committee held a deep dive on assurance and achievements around people related issues.  Focusing on organisation culture and mandatory training completion. 

2.9  The National Audit Office (NAO) audit planning report on the 2024/25 financial statements audit was reviewed.   

바카라 사이트‹2.10  바카라 사이트 Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) Counter Fraud audit gave the organisation a substantial rating, the Committee commended Executive Team for this rating. 

바카라 사이트‹###Agreed:

바카라 사이트‹2a)  Subject to the amendments to the part one of the November Board minutes, the October parts one and two, and November parts one and two are an accurate record of the meeting. 

바카라 사이트‹Actions: 

바카라 사이트‹2b)  NP to ensure action owners review, update and where necessary close actions ahead of the March Board. 

바카라 사이트‹2c)  NP to schedule a meeting for GS, TW and WB to discuss appeal complexity. 

바카라 사이트‹2d)  NP to discuss deep dive session with TW and GS covering appeal data with NEDs. 

바카라 사이트‹2e)  BM to review the data presented to Board and ARAC and reduce/ remove overlaps. 

3.0 Chief Executive바카라 사이트™s (CEO) update to the Board 바카라 사이트‹Â 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹3.1  PM explained this is a critical period for the organisation, as we develop our business plan, prepare for the spending review and move to a service model to monitor our services. 

바카라 사이트‹3.2  The remainder of the update is recorded in the part two minutes.

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹##4.0 Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local 바카라 사이트 (MHCLG) update to the Board바카라 사이트‹Â 

4.1   WB updated since the November Board, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in December. 

바카라 사이트‹4.2  The latest paper covering the infrastructure measures for the Bill was published which include changes to the National Policy Statement (NPS), this will impact the Inspectorate.  Changes to the Develop Consent Order process is also included. 

바카라 사이트‹4.3  Work continues between the Inspectorate and MHCLG Sponsorship, finance and policy teams to contribute to the spending review commission, there is still work to do which is moving at pace to meet deadlines. 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹5.0 Balanced Scorecard, including review of performance reporting and productivity update 바카라 사이트‹Â 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹5.1  BM is developing the balanced scorecard to align with the new business plan, service model and will also incorporate the feedback and recommendations from the Board effectiveness review (BER).  BM proposed a deep dive session with the Board in February to review the new scorecard and measures. 

바카라 사이트‹5.2  We continue to receive less appeals, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and local plans than forecast year to date. 

바카라 사이트‹5.3  NSIPs continue to be decided within the statutory deadlines.  There has been a reduction in the number of days per local plan examination, the target is being reviewed as part of the local plan reforms. 

바카라 사이트‹5.4  There has been positive year to date progress against hearing and inquiry timeliness, but we have seen a decline on written representations which is linked to resourcing.  The measures do not demonstrate the progress being made to reduce the oldest cases in the system. 

바카라 사이트‹5.5  The unit cost measure for 2025/26 will be reviewed to include how we track the cost effectiveness of recruitment. 

바카라 사이트‹5.6  The overall delivery confidence against the mission is amber.   

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹5.7  OM reflected the positive achievements on examinations and hearing and inquiry performance and asked when will we see improvements in written representations and the run rate numbers. 

바카라 사이트‹5.8  PM explained we are on the track, we are removing the older cases from the system.  GS said we will see improvements to enforcement written representation (WR) cases in the spring and improvements to planning WRs through the year. 

바카라 사이트‹5.9  OM said the current measures do not set out the story and should be replaced.  As part of the scorecard review, BM explained the Service Owners are reviewing and setting out the measures they need to manage their service.  바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹Â 

6.0 Board Effectiveness Review (BER) Report바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트‹Â 

6.1  As part of the review, LC reviewed the recommendations from the previous board effectiveness review (BER) and conducted a review for this year.  LC thanked all contributors for their time and openness and the secretariat for their support. 

바카라 사이트‹6.2  LC set out the findings demonstrated a good and effective board is in place.  Concerns were raised as part of the previous review around the loss of three NEDs all at once.  The latest review found the new NEDs brought skills and experience which are helpful and enabled a reset of the Board focus and ways of working. 

바카라 사이트‹6.3  LC found very good progress against delivery of the major recommendations from the previous review had been made.  Through the interviews, concerns were raised which are consistent in the areas of change, LC made recommendations to address the areas raised. 

바카라 사이트‹6.4  AP referred to sections 4.5 and 4.6 of the report and agreed NEDs would like to be more involved in stakeholder engagement and this recommendation from the previous report needed further work.  AP also supports the recommendation for more in person Board meetings, online meetings taking place by exception and the earlier distribution of papers would be helpful and welcome. 

바카라 사이트‹6.5  Whilst the recommendation to assess capability and resourcing gaps from the 2023/24 review was carried out as part of the business planning process, further concerns were raised through the interviews and questionnaire.  Particularly around the appointments of the Chair and two of the three NEDs due to come to an end in 2026.   

바카라 사이트‹6.6  TE reflected the Board and Executive Team recognise the risk and support the recommendation to review Board succession and has already discussed timings with the MHCLG Sponsorship Team.  TE has agreed to conduct a skill audit across the NEDs and to support the department with recruitment.  AP agreed to share a model used before to conduct a skills audit. 

바카라 사이트‹6.7  AY agreed this will be an area of focus for the Sponsorship Team, it will be important to avoid the issues raised by TE.  PM reflected as Accounting Officer; this is an area of concern. 

바카라 사이트‹6.8  Reflecting on stakeholder engagement and engagement with people in our organisation, TE asked the NEDs to attend a Business Plan session if they are available.  Lots of work has taken place in the stakeholder and customer space, LB suggested a further session with the NEDs. 

바카라 사이트‹###Agreed: 

바카라 사이트‹6a)  To accept the report and endorsed the recommendations. 

바카라 사이트‹Actions: 

바카라 사이트‹6b)  TE and NP to develop the action and implementation plans. 

바카라 사이트‹6c)  NP to share the links to the business plan sessions, NEDs to sign up if they can attend. 

바카라 사이트‹6d)  AP to share skills audit information with TE. 

바카라 사이트‹6e)  LB to hold a stakeholder and customer engagement session with Board. 

7.0 Business Planning 2025/26 바카라 사이트“ OFFICIAL SENSITIVE 

7.1  Recorded in the part two minutes.바카라 사이트‹Â 

8.0 Spending Review 바카라 사이트“ OFFICIAL SENSITIVE

바카라 사이트‹8.1  Recorded in the part two minutes.바카라 사이트‹

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹##9.0 Future Strategy 바카라 사이트“ OFFICIAL SENSITIVE

바카라 사이트‹9.1  Recorded in the part two minutes. 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹10.0 Service Model 

바카라 사이트‹10.1  All aspects of the service model will be in place for the 1st April.  There are five strands of work interlinked which include the PINS way, new service structure with named Service Owners, an increase in matrix management impacting 60 colleagues, reforms to governance and Executive Team agreeing the contracts with Service Owners. 

바카라 사이트‹10.2  Whilst there is a challenge to match the budgets to the services, JB explained the intention is there, changes to our current system are on hold as part of a wider change programme. 

바카라 사이트‹10.3  The introduction of Service Owners does not change the composition of the Executive Team.  The Service Owners will report monthly to Executive Team with an escalation process in place if necessary. 

바카라 사이트‹10.4  SC took the opportunity to thank SH and TJ for all of their work in this space, with SH leading the team and linking to wider pieces of work.  TE endorsed SC comments and commended the pace of delivery. 

바카라 사이트‹###Actions: 

바카라 사이트‹10a)  SH to share with the Board a paper which sets out how the governance will operate. 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹##11.0 Gender Pay Gap (GPG) 

11.1  SM explained the GPG has moved up and down over the last seven years since reporting became a legal requirement.  

바카라 사이트‹11.2  The GPG in the organisation has closed by 1% and we are below the average.  The reason behind our gap is structural and not across grades, it is driven by the demographic of the planning profession. 

바카라 사이트‹11.3  RG said our recruitment rounds are an opportunity to think about how we close the gap and encourage females into senior roles.  SM reflected we may need to look at campaigns and how we can adjust and support females into roles.  HK said we need to set out clearly the value of the employment offer, look at recruitment starting salaries and make sure there is a clear and consistent approach.  TE reflected the gender differences will not change just through recruitment. 

바카라 사이트‹###Actions 

바카라 사이트‹11a)  TE, JB, RG to have a conversation about the engagement of the women바카라 사이트™s network in the GPG space.바카라 사이트‹Â 

바카라 사이트‹바카라 사이트‹12.0 AOB, review of meeting, blog key points 

바카라 사이트‹12.1  The Board agreed the following additions to the March forward look: 

• 바카라 사이트‹Review of the productivity improvement plan - GS 
• 바카라 사이트‹Culture change/ delivery and how this links to the service model 바카라 사이트“ HK 

바카라 사이트‹12.2  The Board agreed a deep dive on AI would also be welcome, looking at our workforce and making sure we are tech enabled. 

바카라 사이트‹Actions: 

바카라 사이트‹12a) TE, OM, GS and JB to discuss timing of the productivity plan update alongside the timings of the audit report. 

바카라 사이트‹12b)  Board to review the high-level business plan approach. 

바카라 사이트‹12c)  WB to provide key points to RS for the blog.바카라 사이트‹