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15. Local authority representatives felt that the returns should record the time taken by local authorities to decide planning applications as they have no control of the period during which a planning application is with Scottish Minissters. On average 44,000 planning applications are decided annually in Scotland of which around 130 are notified to Scottish Ministers; 25-30 of these notified applications are called-in. Of the applications notified a decision on whether to call-in or clear back to the authority for decision is reached on over 90% of cases within 28 days. Scottish Ministers involvement in development control can only, therefore, have a very marginal effect on local authority performance figures.
16. The Group felt that more emphasis should be attached to the issue of quality in development control. Quality in development control embraces:
A number of local authorities have service standards in relation to matters such as registration periods, answering letters, etc. The Group felt that these were valuable and authorities should be encouraged to adopt standards locally rather than having these set nationally. On consistency of decision making the Planning Statistics Returns provide information on development contrary to development plan but other elements would require to be looked at eg refusals, use of planning conditions, development standards, etc. Again it was felt that issues of this type were important to monitor locally and report periodically to elected members rather than devising a series of national indicators or targets. The revision of PAN 40 Development Control, which should now be reviewed in the light of experience gained by the audits, could usefully specify the elements that should feature in monitoring consistency of decision making.
17. Demonstrating quality on the ground is a key aim of development control but it is not really suited to indicators. For example an indicator related to the frequency with which authorities seek amended plans could be interpreted as demonstrating an overly bureaucratic or detailed approach rather than a guide to quality. The need to achieve quality in development control should be given greater recognition not as an alternative to securing efficiency but as an equal part of an effective service to the public. Central government has its role to play in this by:
This needs to be complemented by local authorities by including relevant policies in development plans and by giving more publicity to examples of high quality development or to decisions which protect/enhance existing environmental quality. Consideration might also be given to providing a space in the Planning Statistics Return for authorities to record quality developments completed.
18. Many planning authorities have expressed concern about delays caused by notification of planning applications associated with listed buildings to Scottish Ministers. The issue of conservation controls is being explored through a working group on this subject. This Group has come to the view that there is duplication of control between planning and listed building legislation in relation to notification of proposals to Scottish Ministers and that changes to procedures could be introduced which could contribute to more efficient handling of planning applications without sacrificing objectives related to the conservation of the built environment.
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