Who does what when a planning Application is submitted
North Dorset District Council is the planning authority for this area.  When they receive a planning application they undertake a period of consultation where views on the application can be expressed. This period will normally last for 21 days, and the local planning authority will identify and consult a number of different groups.

• Public consultation – including consultation with neighbouring residents and community groups.
  
• Statutory consultees – where there is a requirement set out in law to consult a specific body, who are then under a duty to respond providing advice on the proposal in question.
  
• Any consultation required by a direction – where there are further, locally specific, statutory consultation requirements as set out in a consultation direction.
  
• Non statutory consultees where there are planning policy reasons to engage other consultees who – whilst not designated in law – are likely to have an interest in a proposed development.
  Local Planning Authorities have discretion about how they inform communities and other interested parties about planning applications. North Dorset District Council post notices at the site, in the Blackmore Vale Magazine and sends notices to neighbouring residents. They communicate with statutory consultees via the Dorset For You Web site. Planning applications on the Dorset For You Web can be accessed by anyone who wishes to do so.
  http://planning.north-dorset.gov.uk/online-applications/
  Anyone can respond to a planning consultation.
  A Parish or Town Council is a statutory consultee
  Statutory consultees have  a duty to respond to the local planning authority within a set deadline and should do all they can to meet the 21 day deadline from the consultation date, in the Development Management Order. It should rarely be necessary for an extension to be proposed by a statutory consultee . In considering whether to agree to any proposed extension the local planning authorities consider the views of the applicant and the likely impact on the overall time taken to reach a decision.
  When the consultation has concluded, the local planning authority will consider the representations made by consultees, and proceed to decide the application. Depending on the nature of the application this decision may made be made either by a Planning Officer via delegated authority or the Development Management Committee.
  (The source of the information provided has been gained via Google)