FOI/EIR 25/26-504-Planning Staffing

Full breakdown of Planning Department staffing since 2024

Request received 23 January 2026

I am writing with the following requests for information: 

1. What is the established staffing level of the planning department at full capacity (FTE)?
2. What is the headcount in each of the following seniority categories at full capacity? 
   a. Head of Service / Director
   b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
   c. Senior Planner
   d. Planning Officer
   e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
   f. Technical / Administrative staff
3. What was the average staff headcount (FTE) of the planning department during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025?
4. As at 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff were in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
   a. Head of Service / Director
   b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
   c. Senior Planner
   d. Planning Officer
   e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
   f. Technical / Administrative staff
5. As at 31 March 2025, how many staff were:
   a. Directly employed
   b. Agency workers
6. During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, what was the average length of engagement of agency workers (weeks)?
7. What was the total expenditure (£) on agency planning staff between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025?
8. What was the average planning department headcount (FTE) in the following financial years:
   a. 2017/18
   b. 2019/20
   c. 2021/22
9. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff:
   a. Left the department
   b. Were recruited into the department
10. Of those recruited during this period, how many were appointed:
    a. To permanent roles
    b. To fixed-term contract roles

11. As at 31 March 2025, how many vacant planning department posts existed in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    a. Head of Service / Director
    b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
    c. Senior Planner
    d. Planning Officer
    e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
    f. Technical / Administrative staff

    Responded 18 February 2026

    1. 25.2 FTE
    
    2. Head of Planning – 1 FTE
        Team Leader – 2 FTE
        Major Projects Planning Officer – 2 FTE
        Senior Planning Officer – 2 FTE
        Planning Officer – 10 FTE
        Planning Assistant – 1 FTE
        Technical Staff – 9.2 FTE
    
    3. 23.8 FTE
    
    4. Head of Planning – 1 FTE
        Team Leader – 2 FTE
        Major Projects Planning Officer – 2 FTE
        Senior Planning Officer – 1 FTE
        Planning Officer – 7 FTE
        Planning Assistant – 1 FTE
        Technical Staff –7.6 FTE
    
    5. Information Refused Under Section 12(4)(a)
    
    6. Information Refused Under Section 12(4)(a)
    
    7. £93 024.52
    
    8. Information Refused Under Section 12(4)(a)
    
    9. Information Refused Under Section 12(4)(a)
    
    10. Information Refused Under Section 12(4)(a)
    
    11. Head of Planning – 0 FTE
        Team Leader – 1 FTE
        Major Projects Planning Officer – 0 FTE
        Senior Planning Officer – 2 FTE
        Planning Officer – 1 FTE
        Planning Assistant – 0 FTE
        Technical Staff – 1.6 FTE