HOUSING AND PLANNING DIRECTORATE
PLANNING SERVICES
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MEETING 1st AUGUST 2005
1: PERFORMANCE COMMENTARY
Planning applications
All categories of planning applications (major, minor and other) met their respective
targets for the year 2004/05. In addition each category is projecting a performance in
the upper quartiles.
Since April, performance has improved again. However, this performance has not
been at the expense of quality. The appeal rate (a new indicator for 2004/05, for
which there is currently no benchmark data) is impressive at just 12% of appeals
being allowed, meaning that the Council was successful in 88% of appeal cases.
Sustainability (Housing on brownfield land)
Continuing regeneration and the protection of greenfield sites means that most new
housing development is being constructed on previously used land. In 2004/05 this
figure was 94.32%, exceeding the 90% target.
Road safety
Road safety on Salford’s road has improved significantly in the last decade. In order
to measure progress, the government uses baseline figures averaged over the years
1994 – 1998. During this period, on average there were 126 people killed or seriously
injured on Salford’s roads each year.
Since then, the numbers have been less in every single year. In 2004 there were 92
casualties. The reduction in the number of child casualties is also encouraging. In the
baseline years 1994 – 1998 there were on average 25 child casualties per year. In
2004 this had been reduced to 10.
Current year data is projecting around 80 casualties overall and 12 child casualties,
but these figures should always be treated with caution as accidents by their nature
are influenced by random elements.
Highway maintenance
The government has specified the measures that local authorities should use to
determine highway condition. These have been changed several times in recent
years so that it is difficult to plot trends. In addition, the measurements laid down are
very technical, using numerical indices which are not easy to interpret.
Following the creation of Urban Vision, it has been decided to develop more user
based satisfaction measures to monitor highway condition. Increased investment
over the next few years should see a noticeable improvement in highway condition.
Street lighting
Street lighting plays an important role in terms of public safety. The city has in excess
of 26,000 lighting columns and it is the intention to ensure that at least 99% of these
are operating correctly. During the first three months of the year, 99.61% were
operating correctly.
Disabled access
Improvements to local authority buildings for people with disabilities are progressing
well with approximately 38% currently compliant. The target for the year is 43% and
the programme of works should see this figure achieved and exceeded.
2: MEETING THE CABINET WORKPLAN
Reviving Salford city centre
Central Salford Vision Framework has been commissioned to guide the work of the
URC and partners. This is to be adopted following consultation (target date Winter
2005 / Spring 2006). A Delivery Plan is required once the Vision Framework has
been approved: target Winter 2006.
Reduce the number killed and seriously injured on Salford’s roads
(see also latest performance commentary on Road Safety above)
Road safety education, training and publicity schemes continue to be implemented.
Infant and junior schools are visited annually and resource packs are left with
teachers to be integrated into appropriate topics. All year six pupils attend a multiagency safety exercise and senior schools are visited on request. Cycle training and
"kerbcraft" schemes continue to operate throughout he city, although take-up is not
universal.
A variety of road safety campaigns are supported throughout the year which follow a
National and North West agreed calendar in order to achieve maximum impact on
specific themes.
Monies totalling £600,000 have been made available by the Department for
Transport under the ‘Neighbourhood Road Safety Initiative’ (NRSI) to tackle
accidents, especially those involving child casualties. This is initially targeted at 9 of
Salford’s wards classified as being in the top 10% nationally, according to the Index
of Multiple Deprivation.
Mitigating and adapting for climate change
The Draft Replacement UDP specifically requires development to minimise its impact
on the Global Environment, with major development proposals required to
demonstrate how they will minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
The UDP adopts a joined up approach to tackling issues of climate change. There is
an emphasis on promoting high density mixed use development in the most
accessible locations in the city, an emphasis on reducing car dependency through
control of parking provision and investment in public transport, a requirement for
development to minimise its impact on the global environment (particularly through
the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions), an emphasis on reducing the risks of
flooding through a sequential approach to development and the provision of
additional flood defences along the River Irwell, and an emphasis on resource
conservation.
Improving the streetscene
A street scene working group has been established to improve environmental quality.
Inspectors from Housing, Environmental Services and Highways are now aware of
each other’s enforcement issues.
Salford is working closely with Red Rose Forest Team to deliver Green Streets
projects which will add value to HMR priorities for block improvements and
alleygating. A total of £300K is projected to be spent over the next 3 years.
Delivering a fair and accessible planning system
The Councils gets 20,000 web hits on the planning site. The quality and accessibility
of the site means that the service is now available 24/7.
A 2003 customer satisfaction survey showed that 81.3% of people were satisfied with
service. This was the best out of 17 North West Councils.
A Planning Neighbour Satisfaction survey is currently being carried out (July 2005).
Promoting and preserving Salford’s heritage
A strategic heritage function is being developed within the Directorate. Work is
underway to produce a workplan to address:



The protection and enhancement of the historic environment.
Conservation Area appraisals.
Conservation Area management proposals.
Enhancing Chat Moss as a major ecological resource
Salford is taking a lead in developing a vision for the future of Chat Moss which
comprises 20% of Salford and could satisfy some of the environmental and
recreational needs of the city with long term benefits in relation to health, education
and the economy.
Malcolm Sykes
Strategic Director of Housing and Planning
BVPI
Number
Planning Services Performance Indicators 2005/2006
Current position (end of June 2005)
A
2004/05
Year end
Figure
B
2003/04
Top Q'tile
Figure
C
2003/04
Quartile
D
2005/06
Year End
Projection
E
2005/06
Quartile
Estimate
F
2005/06
Target
G
On Target?
99a (i)
99a (ii)
99a (iii)
99b (i)
99b (ii)
99b (iii)
99c (i)
99c (ii)
99c (iii)
100
106
109a
109b
109c
156
Killed / seriously injured.
Killed/seriously injured - % change over previous year.
Killed/seriously injured - % change over 1994-1998 average.
Children killed /seriously injured.
Children killed/seriously injured - % change over previous year.
Children killed/seriously injured - % change over 1994-1998 average.
Slightly injured.
Slightly injured - % change over previous year.
Slightly injured - % change over 1994-1998 average.
Temporary traffic controls or road closure on traffic sensitive roads.
The % of new homes built on previously developed land.
Percentage of major planning applications determined in 13 weeks.
Percentage of minor planning applications determined in 8 weeks.
Percentage of other planning applications determined in 8 weeks.
The % of local authority buildings accessible to disabled people.
92
1.1%
-27.0%
10
-58.3%
-60.0%
1088
-9.2%
-35.6%
0.1%
94.32%
60.68%
76.76%
83.32%
37.75%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0.0%
92.25%
65.86%
66.45%
83.70%
43.00%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2
1
1
1
1
2
80
-13.0%
-36.5%
12
20.0%
-51.2%
1016
-6.6%
-39.9%
n/a
n/a
73.68%
81.25%
89.14%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1
1
1
n/a
89
-5.6%
-29.2%
17
-5.6%
-29.2%
1591
-0.9%
-5.8%
0.1%
90%
65.86%
66.45%
83.70%
39%
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
n/a
n/a
yes
yes
yes
n/a
165
178
187a
The % of pedestrian crossings with facilities for disabled people.
The % of footpaths and other rights of way, which were easy to use.
Condition of footway. Category 1, 1a and 2 footways.
80.4%
66%
58%
94.0%
75.3%
16%
3
3
2
n/a
80%
n/a
n/a
1
n/a
90%
75.3%
59%
n/a
yes
n/a
Plan making: Development Plan.
Plan making: Milestones.
Plan making: Monitoring Report.
The % of appeals allowed against the refusal of planning applications.
Quality of service checklist.
Rectification of streetlighting faults: non DNO.
Rectification of streetlighting faults: DNO.
Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas.
Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas: Character Appraisals.
Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas: Management Proposals.
Condition of principal roads.
Condition of non-principal roads (classified network).
Condition of non-principal roads (unclassified network).
Fatalities or injuries on sites supervised by Building Control.
The % of streetlights not working.
n/a
n/a
n/a
37.1%
94.4%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1.13%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12.0%
94.4%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
0.39%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
<40%
94.4%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1%
n/a
n/a
n/a
yes
yes
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
yes
yes
200a
200b
200c
204
205
215a
215b
219a
219b
219c
223
224a
224b
LPI 23
LPI 24