18. The unit's efficiency in handling delegated appeals is measured by 5 performance targets relating to the most numerous types of cases and whether they proceed by public local inquiry or the written submissions procedure. The results are shown in table C1 in the appendix to this report. There have been improvements in the time taken to determine appeals, and in the achievement of targets in nearly all categories, compared with the previous year.
19. The first and second targets relate to planning permission appeals proceeding by written submissions and public local inquiry respectively. Target 1, which applies to about 60% of all delegated appeals determined during the year, was comfortably met, with an improvement of 5% over the previous year. For planning appeal cases determined by public local inquiry, which comprise about 5% of delegated appeal cases (target 2), 63% achieved the target, a reduction of 4% compared with 1997-98. Increased efforts will be required to reach this target, but this should be assisted by the revised inquiries procedure rules which came into effect in November 1998, resulting in further streamlining of the public local inquiry process.
20. Targets 3 and 4 relate to delegated planning enforcement notice appeals determined by written submissions and public local inquiries respectively. The target for the written submissions cases was comfortably achieved. Only 6 planning enforcement appeals proceeded by public local inquiry. Four of the 6 cases achieved the target, with the 80%ile case missing the target by a small margin.
21. The target for delegated advertisement cases determined by written submissions was achieved, representing an improvement of 14% over the previous year.
Speedier decisions
22. The Unit continues to strive for greater efficiency and effectiveness in the handling and determination of appeals and other casework, and in the conduct of public local inquiries. The main changes in this regard have been: