Transforming the Planning Function:
A Case Study From Yorkshire
 With
the exception of Social Services, few council departments have been the
subject of as much change in recent years as planning. The introduction of
the planning portal and electronic methodologies such as 1-App, mean council
planning departments now have available many of the tools they need to move
from ‘Development Control’ to ‘Development Management’ in their local areas.
And, even though the last few years have seen a marked increase in planning
applications, most councils are now either meeting or exceeding government
targets for the time taken to determine them.
However, despite this progress, planning departments continue to attract
much attention and are under pressure to maintain the pace of change. From
applicants frustrated by bureaucracy to community representatives unsure of
the quality and direction of decision making, all stakeholders are looking
for improvements in the service offered and an increase in the efficiency
and transparency of the planning process.
Phase 2 of the National Process Improvement Project focuses solely on
planning and aims to provide a blueprint for councils to resolve some of
these issues through collaborative working and the analysis of current
practices.
Over the summer of 2008, ValueAdding.com has been working with three
Yorkshire councils: Leeds,
Hambleton and East Riding to achieve the
following transformation objectives and develop plans for process
improvements that will deliver the longer term planning goals set out in
their Local Development Frameworks:
-
Make best use of electronic methodologies: 1-App
-
Improve and increase the use of electronic document management
-
Release resource for Development Management activities
-
Improve performance against national indicators
-
Increase customer satisfaction
The project was structured around three methodologies. These methodologies
involved the councils working together in facilitated ‘collaborative
workshops’ to exchange ideas and discuss common issues. The councils also
hosted their own ‘learning days’ on key topics such as use of Uniform,
scanning, workflow, web and systems. Click on each methodology to find out
about them:
 Email
us for more information:
click here
Read
Hambleton's Story Here
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