Appendix C
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE UPDATE
This is the quarterly report on planning applications and appeals for the period from
October to December 2012, covering the turnround of applications, workload and appeal
outcomes. It will be considered by Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Development
Committee at their meetings on 16 and 17 January respectively.
Table 1A (Appendix D) sets out performance for processing planning applications for the
third quarter of 2012/13.
Seven major applications were determined in the quarter, together with 95 minor and 214
other applications, a total of 316 applications, an increase of 70 compared with the
previous quarter. This is largely accounted for by the arrival in post of the replacement
Student Planning Officer and the end of the main summer holiday period.
In terms of speed of determination, figures for minor applications were down by some 3%
and for other applications were down by almost 5%. It is hoped that the recruitment of two
temporary Planning Assistants will address this continuing decline in performance.
As far as major applications are concerned, 7 were determined, of which four were within
the 13 week determination period. The cumulative figure for 2013 shows a significant
improvement from 25% after the first two quarters to 40% by the end of the third quarter.
Members will appreciate the significance of this change in the light of the Government’s
recent consultation paper concerning “Planning Performance and the Planning
Guarantee”, which was discussed by Members following the meeting of Development
Committee on 13 December 2012. In considering the period for which measurement is
likely to be made for the purposes of determining whether an Authority enters ‘special
measures’, i.e. from April 2011 to March 2013, the Council’s current cumulative
performance on major applications is that 12 out of 34 have been determined within the
statutory 13 week period i.e. 35.29%.
As at 1st January 2013 19 major applications were in process of which 13 were already out
of time and 6 were within the statutory 13 week period. Of the former it is anticipated that
up to 6 may be withdrawn in due course as amended schemes come forward, whilst the
other 7 are likely to be determined over the coming weeks and months. In order to
maintain performance levels it is therefore vital that the applications which remain in time
are determined within the statutory period.
Members will be aware of the strenuous efforts being made to determine major
applications more quickly having regard to the Government’s proposed sanctions.
Amongst other measures which are being taken, Development Committee will be asked to
visit key major sites at an early stage in the processing of applications in order to minimise
the risks of delays in determination.
Table 1B indicates workload for the service during the quarter, which shows that 340
applications were submitted, i.e. some 24 more than the number determined. At the
present time the service is still failing to keep pace with incoming work for planning
applications, but the shortfall was significantly less than in the previous quarter. Preapplication enquiries fell by 3 during the quarter but there were 18 more “Do I Need
Planning Permission” enquiries. Duty Officer queries amounted to some 474, compared
with 580 during the previous quarter, although this will have been in part accounted for by
the closure of the Council offices between Christmas and the New Year. This matter is the
subject of a separate report to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 January 2013.
In terms of delegation of decisions, the figure remained at just over 93%; this has been
remarkably consistent over the past three years.
Table 2 indicates performance in terms of appeal decisions. During the quarter 10
decisions were made of which 7 were dismissed, 2 were allowed and 1 appeal was the
subject of a mixed decision. The success rate for appellants was therefore 25% and the
cumulative figure for 2012/13 stands at just over 31%.
In summary, the figures indicate that the service has continued to struggle to cope with its
workload, but in recognition of these difficulties two Planning Assistants on twelve month
contracts have been offered appointments and it is hoped that both may be able to start
work later this month. This should assist the team in terms of dealing with minor and other
applications, but the benefits are likely to be realised later during the new quarter in view of
the time taken for new staff to adjust to the Council’s policies and systems.
In terms of major applications efforts will continue to be made to focus attention on
performance. However, the loss of one Senior Planning Officer who has secured a similar
post with another Norfolk Local Authority, will have an impact on service delivery. Steps
are being taken to replace her at the earliest opportunity.
Finally, Members may be aware that the service has participated in the National Planning
Benchmarking exercise which will enable the costs and performance of the service to be
compared with a large number of other Local Authorities, the results of which will inform
the forthcoming Peer Review. This will be undertaken by a team from the Local
Government Association in February 2013. Further information on this will be given to
Members once the final arrangements have been confirmed.
Steve Oxenham, Head of Development Management