• To promote and guide an integrated approach to sustainable development, protect the local environment and ensure that all building works are carried out according to applicable legislation and in compliance with the requirements and conditions of permissions granted.
Corporate Policy
How Policy Implemented
Equality & Diversity
Staff give advise on requirements for the Disabled Discrimination Act to all developers whether to new build or to improvements to existing properties.
Data Quality
APAS and Procedure guidelines
Service Policy
How Policy Implemented
Local Plan
Statutory function and procedure guidelines used by all staff
Emerging LDF
Town and Country Planning
As above
Service Partner Providers
How Partner Supports Service Delivery
Planning advisory service
National body supporting standards authorities.
Northumberland County Council
English Heritage
Service level agreement re: staffing, archaeological studies
Conservation and archaeology
IT Systems
How IT System Supports Service Delivery
APAS
Processing of applications. System due to be upgraded with relevant staff training undertaken.
Achievements: Previous Year & Current Year (to date)
Measure or Milestone
Reference
Target 2006/7
Actual 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Forecast2007/8
Review of Development Control Services
May 2007
Evolution of the Local Development Plan Framework, including production of our Local Development Scheme, on target and in line with government guidance ensuring a funding allocation from the Planning Delivery Grant;
Spittal Point Development Brief policy documents progressed as part of the Berwick masterplanning work;
Completion of our Urban Housing Capacity Study;
Participation in Structure Plan Examination in public successfully increasing housing allocation for the Borough from 30 dwellings to 60 dwellings per year throughout the plan period;
Partnership work with Alnwick District Council on the commissioning of external consultants to undertake an Open Space and Recreation Strategy.
Staff have initiated work on a comprehensive regeneration masterplan for the wider Berwick area, including a study on conservation appraisal and management.
Success
How Achieved
Lessons Learnt
18.8 Major applications within 13 week target
47.4 minor applications within 8 week target
67.7 others within 13 week target.
Improvement Plan. Extra Staffing through consultants.
Challenge
How Resolved
Outcome
To retain staffing levels and recruit new staff. This is crucial in meeting targets for the processing of planning applications and other projects specific to development.
Advertisement for new staff in administration and officer roles.
New Head of Development Appointed. Recruitment to other posts ongoing.
Procedure manual to help staff carry out duties.
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.
Cost Centre
Description
Town Planning
Expense
£
Description of Main Activity & Cost
Employees
392,360
Town Planning
Employees Support
66,840
Planning and development control
Support Services
96,370
Local Development Framework
Service Management
15,840
HERS schemes
Running Costs
55,680
Capital Charges
35,900
Gross Expenditure
662,990
Direct Income - Grants
Direct Income – Fees/Charges
275,870
Describe income sources
Recharge Income
Net Expenditure
387,120
Cost Centre
Description
Building Control
Expense
£
Description of Main Activity & Cost
Employees
110,420
Building Regulations
Employees Support
16,100
Fee and non-fee building control and enforcement of Building regulations.
Support Services
21,370
Service Management
320
Running Costs
10,370
Capital Charges
0
Gross Expenditure
158,580
Direct Income - Grants
Direct Income – Fees/Charges
129,070
As above
Recharge Income
Net Expenditure
29,510
Cost Centre
Description
Expense
£
Description of Main Activity & Cost
Employees
Describe main activities of employees
Employees Support
Support Services
Service Management
Running Costs
Describe the main service running costs
Capital Charges
Gross Expenditure
Direct Income - Grants
Describe income sources
Direct Income – Fees/Charges
Describe income sources
Recharge Income
Net Expenditure
Capital Works
Name
Budget
Current Position
Value for Money Assessment
Efficiency Measure
BBC
Local
National
Cost per planning application by Planning Advisory Service
tbc
tbc
tbc
Cost of appeal
tbc
tbc
tbc
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
PAS – consultancy work
Various projects, compliance with statutory requirements and expertise.
Northumberland county council
As above
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
Review of Development Services undertaken by Joan Rees Consulting limited identifying required improvements.
2
Actively involved in projects for town centres across the Borough which ensure that new town centre developments fit the required national and local planning permissions.
3
The department works closely with housing developers to encourage schemes which will meet local housing needs. Urban Housing Capacity study completed.
4
Support businesses with planning advice and building control advice
5
6
Promote better and clearer signage to tourism attractions/businesses
7
8
Staff work on policies and procedures which help to safeguard our local environment.
9
Good quality schemes which “design out crime”
10
Local Plan – Development Framework – Masterplan
11
12
Contribution to Other Five C’s
Outcome Factor
Description of how service contributes to “C” Factor
Customers
Developers, residents, businesses
Communication
Cohesion
Culture
Compliance
Compliance with statutory regulations
Service Proposals for next 3 Years
Measure / Milestone
Reference
Forecast2007/8
Target 2008/9
Target 2009/10
Target 2010/11
Meet Government targets
BVPI 109
Tbc
Tbc
Tbc
tbc
BVPI 109a
tbc
tbc
tbc
tbc
BVPI 109b
tbc
tbc
tbc
tbc
BVPI 109c
tbc
tbc
tbc
tbc
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
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.
