Top quality service from planners

North Ayrshire Council’s planning team is providing a top-quality service for people and businesses across the region.

That was the verdict delivered by the Scottish Government following an appraisal of the team’s performance over the last year.

All local authorities are asked to provide an annual Planning Performance Framework (PPF) which evaluates every area of the planning process. This in turn is passed on to the Scottish Government, which reviews the results and recommendations. This then informs the council’s next PPF.

The latest feedback – received at the end of last year – reflects the high level of performance and customer service delivered by the planning service for North Ayrshire.

It notes a successful performance and notes a range of positive achievements in service delivery throughout 2015/16. The average time for local and household applications to be determined in North Ayrshire – around 5.8 weeks – over half the national average of 12.3 weeks. For major applications, the average decision time is 24.3 weeks, which is again quicker than the national average of 38.8 weeks.

Councillor Alex Gallagher, cabinet member for economies, said: ‘We are a council that is always looking to improve and be innovative, and our planning team is very much setting the bar with its approach.

‘It’s done incredibly well to bring average times down and we are sure that it will continue to make steady improvements to the service over the coming months.’