Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director for Planning, Housing & Economy and Improvement Project Manager

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money Review report for Planning Policy and the recommendations arising from the report

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Endorse the updated VFM Review conclusion that the Planning Policy service:

a.      has exceed delivery on the savings target from the 2007 full VFM Review and delivered all the key improvements

b.      has steadily driven down its costs since the full VFM Review was undertaken

c.      compared with similar local authorities, costs are now below average spend for the family group

d.      levels of satisfaction have improved for the way the Council manages local development, which is influenced by planning policy

e.      the service is achieving on or just below its performance targets

f.        will need to reduce the services it delivers if it is to achieve the VFM savings block of £50k.

(2)               To agree that the proposal for achieving the £50k savings block be adopted as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Recommendations Approved

The Strategic Director for Planning, Housing & Economy and Improvement Project Manager submitted a report which presented the findings of the Value for Money Review report for Planning Policy and the recommendations arising from the report

Resolved

(1)               Endorse the updated VFM Review conclusion that the Planning Policy service:

a.      has exceed delivery on the savings target from the 2007 full VFM Review and delivered all the key improvements

b.      has steadily driven down its costs since the full VFM Review was undertaken

c.      compared with similar local authorities, costs are now below average spend for the family group

d.      levels of satisfaction have improved for the way the Council manages local development, which is influenced by planning policy

e.      the service is achieving on or just below its performance targets

f.        will need to reduce the services it delivers if it is to achieve the VFM savings block of £50k.

(2)               To agree that the proposal for achieving the £50k savings block be adopted as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Reasons

This updated review identifies that this service is now below average cost in comparison to its family group and proposes changes to the way the service could be delivered in order to achieve the £50k saving block towards the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.