£50k planning service review for borough
THE effectiveness of Guildford Borough Council’s planning service is to be formally reviewed after an external consultant found evidence of disharmony and inefficiency among staff.
In a report prepared for an influential backbench scrutiny committee, Alexander Consultants identified a need to improve the ‘difference in the level of aspiration and drive for change’ between some planning department officers and elected councillors.
Evidence of ‘strain’ in the working relationship between officers and councillors was also found, with the consultants citing the quality of reports prepared for members contributing to the tension.
A potential for streamlining in the service was also highlighted in the report, withith the author noting a difference in performance between Guildford and other local authorities. The report continued: “The performance management regime is not responsive enough at times to respond to emerging process and quality issues,” adding that ‘a culture of continuous improvement’ should be encouraged and embraced.
A Fundamental Service Review will now be undertaken, with a specially selected board meeting monthly to discuss progress.
The process is unlikely to be complete before December, and will cost an estimated £50,000.
The report notes a ‘risk of lower staff morale, potentially affecting service performance’, as a result of the review.
An additional consultant will be employed to advise on how best to conduct the review without causing significant disruption to the day-today tasks of planning officers.
It is not yet clear exactly who will undertake the Fundamental Service Review.
Councillor Nigel Manning, lead member for finance and asset management, said: “My view is that the review should be done by an external person, rather than by anyone internal.
“It would be cleaner if it was external. It would avoid anyone going in with preconceived ideas about what is wrong or right with the planning service.”
He added: “I think the report highlighted that, given the amount of resources allocated to the planning service, it’s a good idea to assess how well it is working.”
TheAlexanderConsultants’ report noted that a Fundamental Service Review was recommended because areas of potential improvement were identified, but that this did not mean the planning service was not performing well in other areas.
It noted that the council had a good record on planning permission decisions, with Guildford winning 35 of the 40 appeals made against its decisions so far this year.