Advice please. Should I claim back my planning application fee, or not so as to be kind to my planning officer (who I rather like)?
I spoke to my planning officer today and said that I was thinking of asking for my fee back. He said it was my right to do so but he would prefer if I didn't.
Background
My planning application was made in January this year. Because of over work and short staff my application has taken an age. And at no stage was I asked to extend the planning deadline.
Under the regulations* my planning application fee must be refunded if it all takes more than 26 weeks, which it has.
My application is at long last going to committee shortly and the planning department have said they are recommending its approval.
So what to do? Claim the fee back, or don't so as to be kind and maybe generate some goodwill?
* regulation 9A of the 2012 Fees Regulations of the The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.