Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 5
Message from the Chief Executive
Just a brief word from me to say that although the achievement against Ministerial targets for the year makes for less than happy reading, the fact is that it masks the fantastic recovery that we have made to reduce backlogs and speed up the process. So, to get my retaliation in first, as they say, I want you to know that during 2006/7:
• 3,210 hearings decisions were issued, compared to 2,000 the previous year: an increase of 60%
• 941 inquiries decisions were issued, compared to 787 the previous year: an increase of 20%
Hearings and inquiries were our priority for the year; in addition to seeing a 3% increase in workload over the previous year, (22,688 appeals received) we also halved the time it took to hold hearings and inquiries.
The Barker Review has recognised that the Inspectorate needs additional resources before we can really consolidate and improve on performance during 2007/8; in the meantime we will continue to do our level best to maintain our quality and performance.
Katrine Sporle
Chief Executive
May 2007
- Message from the Chief Executive
- Regional Spatial Strategies – transfer of Regional Planning Budget
- Guidance note for appellants
- Consistency and previous appeal decisions
- Late representations are contrary to the Rules
- Inspectorate staff to support Government Offices
- Programme Officer training
- Local Development Frameworks in practice: a planning consultant’s view
- Electronic guide to the appeals process
- Stakeholder News
- Other News
Contact
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Regional Spatial Strategies – transfer of Regional Planning Budget
On 1 July 2006, the Inspectorate took over responsibility from the Department for Communities and Local Government for the administration of the Regional Planning budget for expenditure associated with Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), a new system of regional development planning in England. Bob Wiggins, who leads the Inspectorate’s RSS team, explains their role.
Guidance note for appellants
The Inspectorate has recently published a guidance note about the information to include in an appeal. The note has been added to application packs. It is also on the Inspectorate’s website and the Planning Portal.
Consistency and previous appeal decisions
The Inspectorate receives a steady trickle of complaints citing inconsistent decisions by Inspectors. Malcolm Brady, Head of the Inspectorate’s Quality Assurance Unit explains why many apparently similar cases prove not to be so on closer examination. He also describes some of the steps the Inspectorate takes to reduce the likelihood of inconsistent decisions.
Late representations are contrary to the Rules
The 2000 Rules were introduced to help increase the fairness, openness and efficiency of the appeals system in England. They were designed to put everybody on to a level playing field and to ensure that no party gained an advantage over another. John Parris, Operations Manager - Planning Appeals Casework, explains how the Rules work in practice.
Inspectorate staff to support Government Offices
The finding of unsoundness on the first two LDF core strategies has demonstrated that the Government means business in reforming the planning system. However, it has also led to understandable anxiety in local planning authorities (lpa) about how to ensure that their own plans meet the soundness tests in PPS12.
The Local Development Frameworks team explain how the Inspectorate is helping.
Programme Officer training
During 2006, the Inspectorate held a number of courses to explain the role and responsibilities of a Programme Officer. The courses were aimed at local authorities who were considering seconding someone to act as a Programme Officer for their forthcoming Local Development Framework Examinations. Feedback about the usefulness of the course from prospective Programme Officers, professional Programme Officers and Planning Officers alike who attended has been overwhelmingly positive. Consequently, further courses are being held during 2007.
For further information about future courses, please telephone Janet Foster on 0117 372 8948, or email janet.foster@pins.gsi.gov.uk
Local Development Frameworks in practice: a planning consultant’s view
Mick McLoughlin of MJM Planning reflects upon the Examination into the Redcar and Cleveland Core LDF Strategy.
Electronic guide to the appeals process
An electronic guide to the appeals process has recently been published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. The guide is based on the Inspectorate’s existing appeals guides, suitably updated to reflect current circumstances. It includes hyperlinks to various sites offering further information, illustrative photographs, and a spoken commentary. It also covers the use of the Inspectorate indicative criteria to help decide which appeal procedure is most likely to be appropriate for a particular case.'
Stakeholder News
Stakeholder
In October 2006, the Inspectorate wrote to stakeholders to ask for their views on the meetings held with them in 2005 and 2006. This was seen as a way of ensuring we were engaging fully with stakeholders and meeting their needs. Katrine Sporle shares the results of the consultation.
Determination pays off for Zelah
In spite of more than twenty unsuccessful interviews, Zelah Vincent refused to give up and she was delighted when she heard she had got a job with the Planning Inspectorate. Read about Zelah’s determination.
Planning Inspectorate Annual Meeting for Inspectors
Leonora Rozee, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Policy gives a short report of the Inspectorate’s Annual meeting for Inspectors held on 22 and 23 March 2007.
