Full breakdown of Planning Department staffing since 2024
Request received 23 January 2026
I am writing with the following requests for information:
- What is the established staffing level of the planning department at full capacity (FTE)?
- 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 - What was the average staff headcount (FTE) of the planning department during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025?
- 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 - As at 31 March 2025, how many staff were:
a. Directly employed
b. Agency workers - During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, what was the average length of engagement of agency workers (weeks)?
- What was the total expenditure (£) on agency planning staff between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025?
- What was the average planning department headcount (FTE) in the following financial years:
a. 2017/18
b. 2019/20
c. 2021/22 - Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff:
a. Left the department
b. Were recruited into the department - Of those recruited during this period, how many were appointed:
a. To permanent roles
b. To fixed-term contract roles -
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 staffResponse due 20 February 2026