Council aims to de-mystify the planning process
WORK to de-mystify the planning process at North West Leicestershire District Council will soon begin after an external review team was asked to offer improvement recommendations.
The peer review, which was requested by the council, looked in depth at its planning service. The council has committed to follow the recommendations made by the review and to work hard to put the customer first.
The review suggested the planning committee is currently quite confusing to the public who get involved, either by commenting or objecting to an application, or by speaking at the committee itself.
As a result, the committee layout will be changed completely, with clearer reports and presentations and more clarity on the roles of officers and councillors in the room.
People who speak for or against an application will receive feedback on the final planning decision and why it was made, and the size of the planning committee will be reduced as a result of the review. Committee membership will be decided at the annual full council in May.
Putting the customer at the heart of changes, the review also suggests that the advice given to applicants before they submit their planning application should make sure barriers and challenges are discussed at the earliest point.
The planning department will also look at ways it can support communities to develop their own neighbourhood plans.
And it will publish details of where developer community contributions (known as Section 106 payments) are allocated and how they are spent.
The review also suggested that councillors and officers would benefit from robust training to clarify the complexities of planning and national changes, so that more robust planning decisions are made.
The council is now developing a detailed action plan to set exactly how it will respond to the recommendations.
Bev Smith, chief executive, said: “It’s really important to take a fresh look at the services we provide and looking at best practice, learning from others so we can continue to improve.
“Planning is complex and it’s very easy for customers to feel frustrated - our challenge is to try to make it simpler and easier to understand.
“I’m very much looking for- ward to seeing the improvements come out of this review. Most importantly, we’re committed to working together as a team of officers and councillors to de-mystify the planning process.”
Coun Trevor Pendleton, portfolio holder for regeneration and planning, added: “I’m very proud of how officers and members have responded to the peer review.
“We have opened our processes up to detailed investigation with a view to making improvements.
“I think the comments of the review team are fair and we are looking forward to making positive change as a result.”