Planning progress secures extra £238,000 for York (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Planning progress secures extra £238,000 for York

June 29, 2006 3:00 PM

Cllr Ann Reid (City of York Council Executive Member for City Strategy) will tonight confirm that City of York Council Planning Department has made huge progress since 2003, with a massive rise in the number of planning applications settled within government time limits. The information will be discussed during a full meeting of City of York Council.

This improved performance secured an additional £238,000 in Planning Delivery Grant for the City, as the Government allocates more funds to those authorities who show sustained improvement. This money has been reinvested in the Planning Department to ensure progress continues.

Cllr Ann Reid said "I am absolutely delighted to be able to report that we have met, and indeed exceeded, the Government targets for planning performance.

"75% of major planning applications are now determined within the 13 week timescale, compared to a target of 60%. 70% of minor planning applications hit the 8 week timescale, against a target of 65%.

"It is important to remember that we have worked from an incredibly poor starting position - under Labour in 2002/03 only 18% of major applications were determined within the 13 week timescale and minor applications were at 39%. Residents were receiving a very poor service from the Council with even quite minor applications taking months to be processed.

"The Council has achieved great results and credit is due to officers for this huge turn around in performance.

This achievement also means that City of York Council is unlikely to remain a 'Standards Authority' for Planning. Continued designation as a Standards Authority could have led to Planning powers being removed from the Council, meaning planning decisions would no longer be democratically accountable to local residents.

"So long as the goal posts don't move I am confident that the Standards status will be lifted," said Cllr Reid.

ENDS