Planning services
Case reference FOI2025/01018
Received 15 October 2025
Published 27 October 2025
Request
Please could you answer the following questions related to your planning services.
Development management
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your “development management team” or equivalent team?
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your development management team?
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your development management (or equivalent) team?
Planning policy
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your “planning policy team” or equivalent team?
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your planning policy team.
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your planning policy (or equivalent) team?
Planning enforcement
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your “planning enforcement team” or equivalent team?
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your planning enforcement team.
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your planning enforcement (or equivalent) team?
Expert planning advisors
* Does your local council have in-house expert planning advisors to deal with issues such as ecology, heritage and design?
* Does your local council ever have to access external expert planning advice on such issues as ecology, heritage and design? If so, what areas do you have to request external advice on?
Entry level planners
* Do you fund entry level planning staff to undergo university courses or apprenticeships?
* If yes, how many entry level planners have you provided such funding for in the last 5 years?
Case loads
What was the average annual case load that planning officers in your planning enforcement/development management teams were carrying in the financial years a) 2020/21 b) 2022/23 c) 2024/25
Local Plan
Does your council have an up to date local plan? If it does, when was it last formally approved?
Response
Development management
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your "development management team" or equivalent team? 23
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your development management team? 2
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your development management (or equivalent) team? 0
Planning policy
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your "planning policy team" or equivalent team? 10.8
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your planning policy team. 0
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your planning policy (or equivalent) team? 0
Planning enforcement
* How many full-time equivalent planning staff (not including administration staff) do you have on the establishment in your "planning enforcement team" or equivalent team? 3
* How many full time equivalent vacancies are there currently in your planning enforcement team. 0
How many temporary staff or consultants are currently employed in your planning enforcement (or equivalent) team? 0
Expert planning advisors
* Does your local council have in-house expert planning advisors to deal with issues such as ecology, heritage and design? Yes
* Does your local council ever have to access external expert planning advice on such issues as ecology, heritage and design? Yes
If so, what areas do you have to request external advice on? Policy - Policy - Local Plan evidence base. DM - viability, BNG.
Entry level planners
* Do you fund entry level planning staff to undergo university courses or apprenticeships? Yes
* If yes, how many entry level planners have you provided such funding for in the last 5 years? 6
Case loads
What was the average annual case load that planning officers in your planning enforcement/development management teams were carrying in the financial years a) 2020/21 b) 2022/23 c) 2024/25 - All planning application details are held online and can be found here https://twbcpa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=advanced&searchType=Application doing an advanced search for the time periods required will show how many applications have been received. Each application has the case officer details.
Local Plan
Does your council have an up to date local plan? Local Plan information is online https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/existing-local-plans - we are about to adopt a Local Plan. https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-plan
If it does, when was it last formally approved? Details online.
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.