Leader Joe Harris says Cotswold District Council need to “think outside the box” to tackle the crisis affecting their planning services.
He said planning departments across the country are facing problems and the district council needs to be more robust and forward thinking in how they come up with solutions.
Councillor Harris made the remarks this week as he announced changes to cabinet positions on the council.
Cllr Juliet Layton, who has been the planning committee chairman for the last two years, will take on the development management and licensing portfolio.
And economy and council transformation cabinet member Tony Dale will be working to improve how the local authority works.
Cllr Harris said Cllr Tony Dale will take on the responsibility of internal service transformation and improvement.
“Part of that will be working with Juliet to really enhance and improve the planning service,” Cllr Harris said.
“It’s fair to say planning, not just in the council but in many other councils, is in a state of crisis.
“We need to be robust, forward thinking and we need to be thinking outside the box about how we can come up with solutions for that.”
Cllr Harris said the cabinet will remain largely the same and will continue to have eight councillors.
Health and wellbeing cabinet member Jenny Forde will take on the responsibility for young people from Cllr Dale.
“There is one change in that Cllr Clive Webster let me know the other day that he wishes to step down from the cabinet,” he said.
“I want to say a massive thank you to Clive for all the hard work and effort he has put in in what has been a very difficult time for planning.
“In that role, I’m appointing Julie Layton.
“Juliet knows planning, and development management in particular, like the back of her hand.
“She has been chair of the planning committee for the last two years.”
Cllr Layton will be responsible for development management, heritage design management, landscape conservation the AONB, neighbourhood development plans, licensing and building control and Cotswold Water Park.
