BRIGG IN NEED OF GOOD, PLAIN ENGLISH

Brigg Town Council's Planning & Environment Committee was a bit bemused by the wording of a recent planning application which sought "approval for prior approval for a housing extension." 
What did this mean? An explanation has now been received. It appears that following a change at national level, some small/minor applications are no longer treated as they used to be. 
An "approval for prior approval" application is to inform the public  that someone is looking to undertake a small scheme.
Having gone to a parish/town council, the final stage in the planning process is  North Lincolnshire Council.  The question now is: Does a unitary authority still need to approve the approval for prior approval?
(This is beginning to sound like an extract from one of Sir Humphrey's speeches in the political comedy Yes, Prime Minister).
Hopefully, whoever came up with "approval for prior approval" has already been contacted by the Campaign For Plain English.
In case you were wondering, Brigg Town Council has no objections to approval for prior approval for an householder extension at Nicholgate, 26 Wrawby Road.