• The production and monitoring of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF).
• Providing spatial planning policy guidance to local communities and the development industry.
• Maintaining and representing the Council’s interest in national and regional spatial planning policy.
• Representing the Council’s interest in the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership.
• The provision of advice and guidance on the protection and enhancement of the Borough’s built environmental wealth.
• Maintaining and representing the Council’s interest in national and regional Conservation Policy.
• Providing support and input into the Future of Berwick masterplan and its implementation.
Corporate Policy
How Policy Implemented
Equality & Diversity
The Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy will be implemented by enacting Equality Impact Assessments across all of its services.
The assessment of the Council’s Local Development Framework is identified as a high priority and will be assessed during the current financial year.
The Conservation function is a lower priority and will be assessed in 2009/10.
As a matter of principle, and to meet government objectives, the process of formulating spatial planning policy is based upon structured and continuous community engagement and consultation (including “hard to reach” groups); and its outcomes are designed to create sustainable and inclusive communities.
Data Quality
Regular sampling of data input into the evidence base for the LDF and the Council’s Annual Monitoring Report will be undertaken.
Evidence base data will also be signed off for accuracy.
The soundness of the evidence base for all Development Plan Documents will be subject to independent examination.
Service Policy
How Policy Implemented
Planning Acts and Regulations.
Compliance with statutory procedures; achieving milestones.
The designation, protection and enhancement of Conservation Areas.
The protection and enhancement of Listed Buildings.
National Planning Policy Guidance, Statements and companion documents.
Preparation and adoption of Local Development Documents following independent examination.
The preparation and implementation of Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Strategies.
North East Region Spatial Strategy.
Securing conformity with regional spatial policy.
Guidance and advice from partner agencies.
Securing support from statutory and non statutory consultees.
Creating effective and proactive partnerships.
Service Partner Providers
How Partner Supports Service Delivery
Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership.
Prepares and implements AONB Management and Action Plan.
Berwick-upon-Tweed Conservation Area Advisory Group.
Provides independent advice on the protection and enhancement of the Berwick-upon-Tweed, Spittal and Tweedmouth Conservation Areas.
Future of Berwick Steering Group.
Oversees preparation and implementation of the Future of Berwick Masterplan.
IT Systems
How IT System Supports Service Delivery
COVALENT
Monitors performance.
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council web site.
Disseminates LDF documents.
Content Management Systems.
Information and data exchange.
Achievements: Previous Year & Current Year (to date)
Measure or Milestone
Reference
Target 2006/7
Actual 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Forecast2007/8
Regulation 26 consultation on Preferred Options.
Deferred to January/February 2007 to take into account the Future of Berwick: Vision & Development Framework and conclusion of the Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Berwick, Spittal & Tweedmouth.
Sept. 2007
Preparation and consultations on Strategic Environmental Assessment of emerging Core. Strategy.
Deferred to January/February 2007 to take into account the Future of Berwick: Vision & Development Framework and conclusion of the Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Berwick, Spittal & Tweedmouth.
Sept. 2007
Submission of Core Strategy to the Secretary of State
Dec. 2007
The Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed Eastern Arc Area Action Plan Development Plan Document
Pre-submission Consultation
Jan. 2008
Development Control Development Plan Document
Pre-submission Consultation
Jan. 2008
Representation on behalf of the Borough Council’s position at the Regional Spatial Strategy examination-in-public.
Appearance at Inquiry and subsequent acknowledgement of Borough issues in Panel Report.
Complete
Open Space, Sport and Recreational Space Study.
Adoption.
Complete
Begin implem-entation
Preparation of Berwick, Spittal and Tweedmouth Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Strategies.
Completion.
Complete
Begin implem-entation
Continuing contribution to Phase 2 of The Future of Berwick: Vision and Development Framework.
To produce evidence base for further Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Documents (DPDs, SPDs) in the Council’s LDF.
Ongoing
Phase 2
comp-lete
Dec. 2007
Revision of the Council’s Local Development Scheme.
Submission and approval from G.O.N.E. and Planning Inspectorate.
March 2007
Preparation of Action Plans to implement the management Strategies for the Berwick, Spittal and Tweedmouth Conservation Areas.
Jan. 2008
Continue capacity building with the Berwick-upon-Tweed Conservation Area Advisory Group.
Development of Listing & Archive project.
March 2008
Submission of case to Secretary of State for extending the life of “saved” local plan policies.
March 2007
Complete
Success
How Achieved
Lessons Learnt
Revision of the Council’s Local Development Scheme.
Preparation undertaken through Project Management Toolkit.
The benefits and disciplines of project management.
Submission of case to Secretary of State for extending the life of “saved” local plan policies.
The preparation of a clear rationale and strategy to justify the retention of current policies.
Attention to detail.
Co-ordinated and extended consultation on three strategies.
Intensive partnership working.
Allow for longer lead in times; understand roles and responsibilities.
Challenge
How Resolved
Outcome
Maintaining momentum in the preparation of the LDF.
Increase capacity.
Incorporation into the development Services Improvement Plan.
Financial Resources to Deliver Services
Note: This section of the report will be based on information contained in the Budget Book for the current year, in this case 2007/08. The original budget figures for the current financial year will be used as the base line figure for the calculation of cashable and efficiency gains.
Protecting and enhancing the built environment through advice, partnership work and policy preparation and implementation.
Employees Support
Support Services
Service Management
Running Costs
Preparation and delivery of advice.
Capital Charges
Gross Expenditure
8,510
Value for Money Assessment
Efficiency Measure
BBC
Local
National
No measures available.
Efficiency Measure
Reason for Difference to Local / National Trend
Please complete the three following tables (if applicable) indicating how partnership working, IT systems or adherence to / achievement of quality standards have contributed to value for money.
Service Partner Providers
How Partner Supports Service VFM
IT Systems
How IT System Supports VFM
How Service Links to Council Priorities
This section contains the same information as collected in the previous year’s budget setting process. The priorities will be reviewed by the Members and either modified or confirmed as consistent (remaining the same as last year). The data provided on this document will be summarised and challenged at Corporate Management Team for content and consistency.
Priority
Description of how service contributes to Council Priority
1
The LDF process is designed to be flexible in response to the changing needs of the Borough’s communities.
2
The development of town centres is guided by spatial planning policy. The Borough’s main town centres are Conservation Areas, the protection and enhancement of which are important if they are to remain vibrant, viable and vital.
3
The delivery of lifetime affordable homes in communities across the Borough is a strategic objective in the LDF.
4
The emerging spatial planning policy promotes economic prosperity, entrepreneurship and diversification.
5
The Council’s LDF and conservation work promotes partnership work, demonstrated via the three sister strategies’ consultation workshops and events, and their ongoing development.
6
The emerging spatial planning policy promotes the diversification and development of the visitor economy.
7
The emerging Core Strategy acknowledges that the delivery of services will change throughout its lifetime, and promotes policies that will connect individuals and communities to lifetime services – principally by the implementation of new technologies.
8
The Core Strategy is deeply rooted in the principles of promoting sustainable development.
The protection and enhancement of the Borough’s environmental wealth safeguards its inherited legacy for future generations.
9
The Local Development Framework will promote policies designed to ensure that communities are sociable.
10
Connectivity between communities in the Borough and to other areas is promoted within the LDF.
11
The promotion and implementation of change across the Borough’s communities requires clear and dynamic community leadership and focus.
12
Cultural and creative activities are promoted within the emerging spatial planning policy framework.
Contribution to Other Five C’s
Outcome Factor
Description of how service contributes to “C” Factor
Customers
The services impact on the needs of all individuals and communities across the Borough, both directly and indirectly.
Communication
The process of successfully engaging with communities, and consulting with them at all stages of policy preparation, will secure robust policies, responsive to the needs of those communities and the individuals within them.
Cohesion
The LDF embeds the Council’s vision in its spatial vision for the Borough; it also embraces and reflects the Community Plan.
Culture
The LDF and Conservation Area Management Strategies (CAMS) are forward looking documents, promoting a positive response to opportunities for change in the Borough’s communities.
Compliance
The LDF process is the subject of an agreed PID. The Council’s Conservation service has been reviewed within the overall and approved Development Services Improvement Plan, and will attract additional resources. This will allow the CAMS to be developed as a PID.
Service Proposals for next 3 Years
Measure / Milestone
Reference
Forecast2007/8
Target 2008/9
Target 2009/10
Target 2010/11
For LDF see PID
RLDF0001
For Conservation see Development Services Improvement Plan.
Development Services Improvement Plan
These targets will feed directly into the Best Value Performance Plan. Once the targets have been established and agreed (in principle) with the Head of Service or Director, an assessment of resources required should be made in the next table.
Measure / Milestone
Reference
Resources Needed
Less
Same
More
New Homes Built on Previously Developed Land.
BV106
√
Plan Making: Local Development Scheme Submitted.
BV200a
√
Plan Making: Milestones Met?
BV200b
√
Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas: Character Appraisals.
BV219b
√
The achievements of some of these targets will be achievable within existing or reduced resources.
Where service improvements are linked to more resources a ProjectBrief (template available on the Intranet) should be completed and submitted to the Programme Improvement Board.
Where service improvements are linked to less resources, the proposals for savings should be identified in the Proposals to Achieve Cashable & Efficiency Gains section.
