Annual Report of the Planning Audit Unit

Audit Unit: Objectives and Work Programme

4. The objectives of the Unit are to:

• review the statistics on planning authority performance
• understand better the factors affecting performance
• assist authorities whose development control performance is below par
• identify best practice in the efficient handling of planning applications
• communicate best practice through the Planning Advice Note series
• monitor the effectiveness of advice

5. Following the completion of 2 pilot audits in Moray and West Lothian a programme of 11 audits over 2 years was announced in May 1997:

Reports on these audits have been submitted to the Councils. In addition, meetings have been held with a number of authorities to review progress on implementing the Audit Unit's recommendations.

6. In November 1998 the development control service of 4 additional Councils was selected for audit in 1999/2000.

A finalised report has been completed on Orkney; work is underway in Aberdeen and Scottish Borders; and initial discussions have been held with officials in Stirling with a view to starting work late 1999/early 2000. Figure 1 illustrates progress with the audit programme.

7. On completion of the 1999/2000 programme, audits of the development control service of more than half the Councils in Scotland will have been carried out accounting for around 70% of the planning applications decided annually.