Breadcrumb Trail
Efficient turn-round for applications
Trafford Council's planners have again beaten national targets in dealing with planning applications. In 2007/8, nearly 2300 applications were received - around 15 per cent electronically via the Planning portal.
The service handled 75 per cent of minor applications within the eight-week deadline (target 65 per cent). 64 per cent of major applications within the 13 week deadline, (target 60 per cent); and 90 per cent of other applications within eight weeks (target 80 per cent).
The applications involved consulting over 25,000 neighbours during the year. And around four fifths of applications were passed.
Now the service is progressing its customer care agenda by setting up a six-monthly Agents Forum to take a closer look at the way planning applications are dealt with.
The forum brings together architects, planning consultants, builders and other stakeholders who have the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns they might have. The aim is to encourage a more inclusive and responsive approach to those who submit applications on behalf of Trafford residents and businesses.
Agents who attended the first two meetings in February raised various matters and suggested improvements, including accessibility of planning officers, lack of opportunity to amend schemes to avoid a refusal, improving opportunities for pre-submission discussions, and easing up on validation requirements. They also urged improved information on the council's planning website.
A follow-up session in May was used by planners to explain the context of workload pressures on the service, and answer questions on how improvements in the service could possibly be made.
Chief Planning Officer Simon Castle said: "The feedback we get is very important to us because we want to know what people think about our services, and the way they are delivered. As well as identifying areas of good practice it will improve understanding between staff and agents about the pressures they both work under and will enhance customer satisfaction."
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