Planning

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What is measured?

The performance indicator below details the number of planning applications received and the percentage that were processed within two months for householders and non-householders.

How are we doing?

Our overall performance for planning in 2010/2011 was the same as in 2009/2010.

Statutory Performance Indicator: The number of planning applications received and the percentage that were processed within two months for householders and non-householders.

Householder

	Number of applications	Percentage dealt with within two months
2010/2011	312	78%
2009/2010	296	78.7%
2008/2009	384	82.2%
Council target for 2011/2012	n/a	n/a
Trend	n/a

Non-householder

	Number of applications	Percentage dealt with within two months
2010/2011	212	54.6%
2009/2010	211	52.2%
2008/2009	231	49.9%
Council target for 2011/2012	210	n/a
Trend	n/a

In its revised National Planning Policy Guideline 1 (November 2000), the Scottish Government identified a series of targets for councils in dealing with planning applications. This included a target of 80% for all applications to be processed within 2 months and 90% for householder applications.

The percentage of householder planning applications dealt with within 2 months was lower in 2010/2011 than in 2009/2010 and 2008/2009.

The percentage of non-householder planning applications dealt with within 2 months was higher in 2010/2011 than in 2009/2010 and 2008/2009.

The economic downturn is continuing to have an effect on the volume of applications submitted.

What factors influenced our performance?

The time taken to deal with planning applications is affected by the extent to which councillors have delegated responsibility for approving planning applications to officers (greater delegation will generally allow applications to be processed more quickly), the council's policy with regard to negotiations with applicants, and the number and type of applications received.

It is also affected by whether there are any objections to the application and the number of situations where an applicant needs to submit amended plans in order to enable the planning officer to make a recommendation for approval, and the extent to which applications involve listed building consent or conservation area consent or are subject to notification procedures with Scottish Ministers.