11. Performance in a number of authorities has improved significantly. In Inverclyde the returns for April - September 1996 indicate that 55% of planning applications were decided in 2 months. There has since been a sustained improvement in performance with the most recent figures showing the Council now achieving the 80% target. The improvements in Glasgow, which in the first 3 returns submitted after local government reorganisation showed the Council deciding 50% or less of applications in 2 months, are also noteworthy. In April - September 1998 the Council decided over 70% of applications in 2 months, a major achievement given the volume of cases and the higher number of applications in the city which are classed as "major" cases (almost twice the Scottish average). The Council's achievements were recognised in the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning earlier this year. The development control service in the city is currently undergoing significant structural and organisational change. Angus, Argyll & Bute, Dundee, Clackmannanshire, Renfrewshire, Western Isles, Orkney, Stirling and Moray are other authorities whose performance has improved noticeably since the publication of the first Audit Unit Annual Report. With the exception of Angus, Clackmannanshire and Western Isles, the Councils showing the most significant efficiency improvements have had their development control service audited or are included in the current programme.

12. There are, however, authorities where the percentage of applications decided in 2 months remains low or where performance has declined. According to the 6 returns submitted since local government reorganisation Edinburgh has never decided over 50% of the planning applications within 2 months. The inability of the City to improve its performance is a matter of particular concern. East Lothian and Scottish Borders have only intermittently decided more than 50% of applications. The performance of Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire (which has made contact with the Audit Unit on best practice), Midlothian and West Dunbartonshire has also been consistently below the Scottish average. In East Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire there is evidence of slippage in performance.