Board meeting minutes 23 September 2025 - The Planning Inspectorate
Updated 15 January 2026
Applies to England
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Minutes 27th November 2025 ratified
| Title of meeting | Planning Inspectorate Board Meetings |
| Date | 23 September 2025 |
| Venue | Runway East, Bristol Bridge Office, Bristol |
| Chair | Trudi Elliott (TE), Non-Executive Director (NED) |
| Present | |
| Adrian Penfold (AP), Non-Executive Director (NED) | |
| Baljit Dhillon (BD), Non-Executive Board Apprentice | |
| Oliver Munn (OM), Non-Executive Director (NED) | |
| Emir Feisal (EF), Non-Executive Director (NED) | |
| Paul Morrison (PM), Chief Executive | |
| Graham Stallwood (GS), Chief Operating Officer | |
| Rachel Graham (RG), Chief Digital Information Officer | |
| Rebecca Phillips (RP), Interim Chief Planning Inspector | |
| Sean Canavan (SC), Chief Strategy Officer | |
| Hayley Kelly (HK), Chief People Officer | |
| Will Burgon (WB), Director of Planning, MHCLG (joined virtually) |
| In attendance |
| Full meeting | |
| Corporate Governance Officer (NP), minutes and actions |
| Attending for specific items | |
| Senior Media and External Affairs Manager (GL) (item 6) | |
| Customer Insights Lead (ZC) (item 6) | |
| Head of Business Improvement and Stakeholder Management (LB) (item 6) | |
| Head of Delivery, Productivity and Workforce (MCH) (item 7) | |
| Planning, Reporting and Operational Excellence Lead (RMN) (item 7) | |
| Service Owner Local Plans (AM) (item 8) (joined virtually) | |
| Local Plans Professional Lead (SB) (item 8) | |
| Arthur Young (AY) (MHCLG) (item 8) (joined virtually) | |
| Corporate Strategy and Reporting Lead (BM) (items 9 & 10) | |
| Futures Lead (NPo) (item 10) |
| Apologies | |
| Joanne Butcher (JB), Chief Finance Officer |
1. 1.0 - Welcome and Declaration of Interests
1.1 The Chair called for Declarations of Interest, of which there were none.
2. 2.0 - Minutes of July Board meeting, corporate action tracker Minutes
2.1 No further comments were received for the July Board minutes.
Agreed:
2a) The July Board minutes are an accurate record of the meeting.
3. 3.0 Remuneration Committee (Rem Com) Chair update
3.1 AP explained the Committee received an update on non-Senior Civil Servant pay, reviewed Executive Team spans of responsibility and ways of work and opportunities. It was agreed more Rem Com and Board time should be spent on this topic.
3.2 Gender pay gap requires more focus when compared with other parts of the planning profession. There has been good progress made on gathering the data to inform the reports. Rem Com would like to see more action and spend more time on this area.
4. 4.0 CEO update
4.1 PM provided an update on various topics, including preparations to meet the new Secretary of State, progressing the pay award and the positive progress made to roll out different digital projects.
4.2 EF reflected on the speed at which other arm’s length bodies (ALBs) are adopting AI with one ALB creating a sector level engagement committee inviting Google to sit on the committee to share resources and discoveries.
4.3 RG explained 50 Copilot Pro licences have been rolled out to users in the organisation, the trial report due at the of October. Following review of the report, there is an aim to rollout to 300 users in January.
4.4 Referring to the performance improvements, OM suggested sharing this with MHCLG colleagues and Ministers.
Remainder of the item is captured in part two minutes.
5. 5.0 MHCLG update
5.1 WB provided an update on the change of leadership, Planning Infrastructure Bill, business planning and the spending review.
5.2 Whilst there has been a reorganisation in Government since the last Board, the Minister remains the same. The Secretary of State is interested in Call In powers and procedures, non-determination appeals and the fast-track appeal process. The accelerated procedure will come into effect from December.
5.3 The Business Planning cycle is in a good place along with the spending review submission, PM and JB have been clear with their inputs.
Remainder of the item is captured in part two minutes.
6. 6.0 Stakeholder and customer engagement
6.1 GL asked the Board for thoughts on continuing to promote the organisation and our work with the planning sector. AP suggested working with others and partnering with local planning authorities (LPAs) and the development community. Look for common themes like education and reaching out to those that are not experienced in the planning system.
6.2 Looking at customer contacts, ZC explained we need to be clear about what the customer can expect in their interactions with us and used the example of site visits where the expectation of the customer and the procedure differ.
6.3 OM suggested use of FAQs and user guides to support customers and set out the customer journey. ZC agreed with this proactive approach, using our knowledge, data and insights to improve the customer experience. LB said we should also use the knowledge and insights gathered in the five Services.
6.4 EF asked when we might be able to use AI to assist our customers. ZC explained the discovery work will be included in the 2026/27 business planning round. RG explained this requires thought around the use of agents or chatbots. There are products available, these need to be assessed and tested to make sure these do improve the customer experience and correct advice is available.
6.5 TE asked ZC and RG to factor the Board into the planning, so they are kept informed.
6.6 GS asked ZC to discuss agent and client join up with TW, particularly in relation to one-time users.
Action:
6a) ZC to discuss agent and client join up with TW, particularly in relation to one-time users.
7. 7.0 Balanced scorecard
7.1 MCH presented the performance dashboard. Since the last Board, the balanced scorecard has been launched to all in the organisation through all staff briefings and an article on the intranet.
7.2 There has been a spike in Rights of Way (RoW) complaints which relate to three cases in the system.
7.3 The overall performance rating against the business plan is amber. Performance for our services are rated as amber for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), RoW and Appeals, Local Plans and Applications services are reporting green. There is strong progress against the KPIs set for the strategic plan.
7.4 Productivity is above target across all services. There was a slight dip in August which was expected due to annual leave. Strong progress is being made to reduce the number of older cases in the system. The year-end target was met in July, as a result the target has been revised. Decision issued timescales are improving and moving in the direction.
7.5 With a reduction in the number of local plan submissions, resource is being deployed differently in the Local Plan service, which includes advisory visits.
7.6 OM reflected on the positive progress made to reduce the number of older cases in the system and improve timeliness. There are lots of metrics heading in the right direction.
7.7 MCH explained further work is underway to support people to use the data and hold deep dives to understanding what is happening. GS reflected the data is also supporting conversations with stakeholders. TE said we should be sharing feedback and the positive stories with our colleagues.
7.8 OM referred to the number of cases valid first time and asked why there has been a minimal difference in this number submitted through the service. RG explained with changes to the form; the number will improve along with the planning appeals as data trial starting.
Action:
7a) MCH to add a covering note for the next Board meeting on how to use MiPINS and if there are specific areas the Board should focus its attention.
8. 8.0 New Local Plan Gateway Process; Continuity of Inspector Resource
Captured in part two minutes.
9. 9.0 Business Planning
9.1 BM gave an update on the approach and time for 2026/27 business planning. From April 2026 the business plan will be drafted through the service model approach. The process gives Service Owners agency on the direction of travel for their service.
9.2 Work has started on the final year of the strategic plan delivery. A workshop will be held with Service Owners and Heads of Service on the 13th October and will report to Executive on the 28th October. Phase two of the strategic plan will commence in November through to December which will include the allocation of resource and budget.
9.3 EF suggested BM and SC capture the lessons learned by the DBS as they increased engagement by connection to the strategic outcome.
Action:
9a) BM and SC to seek the lessons learned by the DBS to increase engagement with the business plan and strategic plan.
10. 10.0 Inspectorate’s next strategy
10.1 NPo presented findings from research and international comparison work. The next steps are to develop and present the strategy options to Executive Team in January.
10.2 Through the search BM and NPo found there was no other body like the Inspectorate and the role it plays in the planning system.
10.3 OM asked for BM and NPo to hold a deep dive session with the Board ahead of returning to the Board in January, so Board members can receive more detail and give more input.
10.4 WB said this was a good way into the conversation and looking at the role of the Inspectorate and would welcome the opportunity for a further conversation with the Board.
10.5 Through the interviews and discussions carried out as part of the research, PM asked the Board to note the need for us to move beyond policy to implementation and for WB to consider with Ministers what role the Inspectorate should have.
Action:
10a) NEDs to provide BM and NPo with contacts which can support the research to inform the next strategic plan.
10b) BM and NPo to hold a deep dive with the Board.
10.1 AOB, review of meeting, key points for the blog
11. 11 TE confirmed the Chair recruitment continues to the agreed timescales.
11a) The Board agreed to continue to support the Boardroom Apprentice programme.