ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE
SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE – 29 SEPTEMBER 2003
BEST
VALUE REVIEW OF PLANNING SERVICES
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF PLANNING SERVICES
REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION
To show members the findings of the review and the improvements planned for the Planning Service.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To recommend that the executive summary of the review is taken
forward to Executive for the
improvements to be implemented.
BACKGROUND
The
Best Value Review of Planning Services has been carried out as part of the IW
Council programme of reviews. The
review was commenced in January 2003 and is planned for completion by October.
The main issues highlighted by the review are contained within the Executive
Summary attached.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES,
STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The
Executive Summary shows the main issues and how they are to be addressed within
the Best Value Improvement Plan, which will then be taken forward into Planning
Services service plans over the next three years. We expect the review to be inspected by the Best Value
Inspectorate in early 2004. It is
anticipated that key parts of the executive summary will be monitored by this
Select Committee through its monitoring of departments service plans, contained
within future work plans.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
Key
external and internal stakeholders have given their views on the Planning
Services during the life of the review.
Those involved have included:-
Officers of Planning
Services, through the Project Team
Members of this Select
Committee, Development Control Committee,
& Appraisal Group
Major organisations such
as English Heritage, Environment Agency
IWC Departments who work
with Planning Services
Occasional Users of the
Service – surveyed at Seaclose.
MORI – Citizens Panel –
postal survey of awareness & effectiveness
Best Value Inspectorate
– external challenge visit.
GOSE – external
challenge visit
Agents & Architects
Focus Group – planned meetings.
These
have all informed the review and the findings of the Executive Summary.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND
DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
The financial implication are outlined on page 17 of the Executive Summary and detailed in the Service Plan for 2004/05.
Planning Services are carried out in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990. The Government is seeking to improve the service through the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill. A green paper entitled “Planning: Delivering Fundamental Change” was published in December 2001. The improvements shown in the Executive Summary are in accordance with improvements sought by the Government.
Crime & Disorder is and important issue for all parts of Planning Services. It is taken into account from the design of new development, through planning applications, and into conservation of the countryside and protection of the historic environment.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
Appendix 1 contains the Executive Summary of the Best Value report for consideration by Select Committee members.
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
The appendices, main report, and improvement plan are in draft form at this time, and are available on request.
Contact Point : David Hughes 4553 [email protected]
John Vosper 3635 [email protected]
ANDREW ASHCROFT
Head of Planning Services