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The Planning Service Review - Update

Meeting: 14/09/2021 - Cabinet (Item 37)

37 The Planning Service Review - Update pdf icon PDF 230 KB

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor D Evans)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which outlined the proposed actions and provided an update on progress with implementing the recommendations of the planning services review.

 

The minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Planning Committee had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details set out in the report before it and the reasons contained therein.

 

RESOLVED:   A.   That the minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 2 September 2021 and the Planning Committee held on 9 September 2021, be noted.

 

                          B.   That the Summary Level Project Plan, attached at appendix 1 to the report be noted.

 

                          C.   That the costs, outlined at paragraph 8.1 of the report, be agreed to create a new Team Leader post as outlined at paragraph 6.7, to create capacity within the service to deal with demands and assist in taking forward the recommendations.


Meeting: 02/09/2021 - Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 31)

31 The Planning Service Review - Update pdf icon PDF 228 KB

To receive an update from the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 119 to 132 of the Book of Reports, which outlined the proposed actions and updated Members on the progress with implementing the recommendations of the planning services review.

 

The Interim Head of Growth and Development outlined the report and explained that a Working Group, made up of cross departmental representatives, led by the Corporate Director Place and Community had met on a regular basis to drive the implementation of the recommendations.  Each recommendation was grouped according to a theme and documented.  He explained that the Action Plan is now in the 'delivery phase' and that the Group will meet on a regular basis, currently at least fortnightly, to monitor and advance delivery of the actions and that progress on this will be reported to the Our Future; Our People Transformation Programme Board and Cabinet as appropriate.

 

He also explained that in reviewing the structure of the Planning Service, it was determined that the creation of a Team Leader post would give capacity within the service, to deal with the demands of the daily workload and to assist in taking the recommendations forward. He also explained that the costs of the new post would be funded through existing underspends in the Environmental Services and Growth and Development budgets. These are recurring underspends and no future growth will be required other than for usual pay increases.

 

In discussion comments and questions were raised in respect of:

 

·         Support for the Planning Services Team Leader post – budget and future of the post

·         Initial focus on 'quick wins'

·         Action Plan – questions in respect to the length of the review and the end target date for the process to be considered

·         Red Quadrant – 'process mapping' - ongoing work to develop the Action Plan, in order to identify efficiencies / better ways of working

 

RESOLVED:

 

A.   That the Planning Services Review update report be considered and noted.

B.   That the Committee fully support the creation of a Planning Services Team Leader post.

C.   That the Committee request a progress update report including target start and completion dates against the 83 actions contained within the Action Plan, to be presented to the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting to be held on 13 January 2022.

 

 


Meeting: 17/06/2021 - Planning Committee (Item 24)

24 THE PLANNING SERVICE REVIEW pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 125 to 167 of the Book of Report. The purpose of which was to update Planning Committee members on the outcome of the Planning Services Review and that any agreed comments  be forwarded to the Corporate Director of Place and Community for consideration in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.

 

The Corporate Director of Place and Community outlined the report and sought any agreed comments to be taken back to the Planning Portfolio Holder for consideration.

 

In discussion comments and questions were raised in respect of:

 

·         Senior Staff in the Planning Department leaving the Council

·         Lots of recommendations to address in the report

·         Planning being an important Council Service

·         Planning Training

·         Appointment System for Members attending the Planning Office

·         Backlog of applications and enforcement actions

·         Recognition of Officers working hard

·         Enforcement actions used to be brought to Planning Committee which Members found beneficial

·         Procurement of Red Quadrant

·         IT Equipment and current systems

·         Concern with regard to the number of retrospective Planning Applications being received

 

The Corporate Director of Place and Community's informed the Committee that these comments had already been raised previously at Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee and she had noted Members concerns.

 

 

RESOLVED:   That the comments be noted.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Meeting: 08/06/2021 - Cabinet (Item 13)

13 The Planning Service Review pdf icon PDF 228 KB

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor D Evans)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community, which provided an update on the outcome of the planning services review and sought agreement of the recommendations to be taken forward and implemented.

 

The minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 27 May 2021 had been circulated prior to the meeting

 

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and the reasons contained therein.

 

RESOLVED:   A.      That the findings in the Red Quadrant report be noted and the Corporate Director Place and Community, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to take forward the recommendations set out in Appendix 1 to the report, following consideration of the agreed comments of Planning Committee.

 

B.        That the costs of £25,000 outlined at paragraph 6.2 of the report, for Red Quadrant's continued involvement in taking forward a number of the recommendations to create capacity and drive forward change be approved.

 

C.        That an update on progress be brought back to Cabinet in Spring 2022.

 

 

 


Meeting: 27/05/2021 - Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 12)

12 The Planning Service Review pdf icon PDF 227 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 37 to 76 of the Book of Reports, which provided Members with an update on the outcome of the Planning Services Review and to agree that the recommendations are taken forward and implemented.

 

The Head of Growth and Development outlined the report and explained that following feedback received from Members and some Parish Councils, it was suggested that a review of the Planning Service would be useful.  He also explained that the process had been included in the SORP review, during which time the Government announced the 'Planning for the Future consultation' which proposed significant changes to the planning process. 

 

He went on to inform that Red Quadrant was appointed to undertake the review, which took part in three stages.  The review has now concluded and overall 81 recommendations had been made covering a number of areas, which will improve the service further and lead to a better customer experience.

 

He explained that an Officer Working Group will be looking at the recommendations to take them forward in order to prioritise and implement.  He also explained that the information from the Officer Working Groups would be presented to Cabinet in Spring 2022.

 

The Portfolio Holder of Planning joined the meeting to respond to questions raised by Members of the Committee.

 

In discussion comments and questions were raised in respect of:

 

·         Planning Training

·         Appointment System for Members

·         IT Service / Self Service

·         Enforcement

·         Ward Councillor /Neighbour Disputes

·         Procurement of Red Quadrant

·         The necessity to use consultants for process mapping

·         Timescales / Action Plan

 

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Planning Services Review report be considered and noted.

 

B.   That the Committee request that an Action Plan detailing the milestones and outcomes of the Planning Service Review, with regard to each of the 81 recommendations, be presented to the next meeting in September. The frequency of the presentation of the Action Plan, is to be agreed at the Committee meeting in September.

 

(The Chairman thanked the Portfolio Holder of Planning for his attendance).

 

(The Portfolio Holder of Planning announced that the Head of Growth and Development and the Strategic Planning, Regeneration and Implementation Manager were both leaving the Council to move to new positions.  The Committee thanked them for all their work and wished them well in their future).