One of DETR's objectives is to promote a sustainable pattern of physical development and land and property use in cities, towns and the countryside. The Planning Inspectorate plays a major part in the delivery of this, by improved handling times for planning appeals, promoting full coverage of local plans by local authorities, and by undertaking other casework to allow the planning process to operate efficiently. The context for our work in Wales is now set by the National Assembly for Wales.

Our business planning process starts with the preparation of internal business plans by Directors for the work of their divisions to reflect anticipated targets and allocations for the coming financial year. The plans are discussed by the Management Board and developed into an overall plan for the Agency, and reviewed when the targets are confirmed. Staff are very much involved in the process and are encouraged to take ownership of their divisional plans.

The targets set by Ministers for 2000-2001 are recorded at Annex C.

Resources

This business plan takes us into the second year of the 3-year deal negotiated under the comprehensive spending review. The indicative allocations are below:

	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02
Running costs	£33,383,000	£33,133,000	£32,383,000
Capital	£1,585,000	£1,284,000	£784,000

As the figures show, running costs funding has decreased this year by £250K and will be reduced by a further £750K in the following financial year. Against this background we are required to deliver a 3% saving on our running costs and this is set out in our efficiency plan on page 6. In addition, we will be expected to deliver an improved performance against tighter handling targets for 2001-2002.

The anticipated income from 2000-2001 activities is shown below:

Activity	Receipts forecast
Development Plan Inquiries	£3,000,000
National Assembly for Wales	£1,100,000
Treasury Solicitor	£125,000
Miscellaneous income	£275,000
Total	£4,500,000

Work forecasts

Our projected workloads are set out below and take account of the financial resources available and the need for efficiency in programming.

Planning appeals - England

The anticipated intake for new appeals in 2000-2001 is 13,700. We are in a position to meet the handling time targets set by Ministers (see Annex C), but performance is affected by factors outside our direct control. It is important that the parties to appeals play their role in the process, submitting statements and proofs on time, and accepting the inquiry or hearing date first offered. Where a date is refused, this can often lead to 2-5 weeks being added to the time taken for the appeal to be decided. Approximately 60% of first dates offered for inquiries are refused before alternative dates can be fixed.

The rules and regulations governing the procedures for written representations and inquiries are being revised. In addition, new rules relating to hearing procedures will be introduced to replace the existing Code of Practice. The new legislation is due to come into effect in Summer 2000. It will set new deadlines for submitting documents, which should produce a speedier and more efficient planning system. As a result of these proposals, we are preparing changes to our procedures, letters and guidance for our customers.

Planning appeals - Wales

We anticipate the intake for new appeals in 2000-2001 to be 750. In Wales planning appeal targets this year are slightly tighter than those set for England, 80% of appeals to be decided in 17, 22 and 30 weeks for written representations, hearing and inquiry appeals respectively. We are confident that we will be able to meet these targets but, as in England, it is important that the parties play their part in the process, accepting inquiry or hearing dates and submitting representations on time. Because of the very small numbers involved, the inquiry target is particularly vulnerable.

Development plans

In 2000-2001 we expect to deal with up to 40 inquiries in England and Wales. We will also supply Inspectors for some 10 Public Examinations into Regional Planning Guidance and Examinations in Public for Structure Plans. New requests for an inquiry are subject to a service agreement with the local planning authority concerned. Both the date for an inquiry and the date for delivery of the Inspector's report are closely monitored, allowing all parties to plan their work effectively.

Development plan receipts are expected to total some £3 million per year in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Staged fee increases are proposed, beginning in 2000-2001, leading to full cost recovery by 2004-2005.

By 31 December 1999, 79% of local planning authorities had an adopted plan in place, compared with 67% as at 31 December 1998. Forecast coverage by 31 December 2000 is 88%.

Enforcement notice appeals - England

We anticipate that intake and output for enforcement notice appeals will be around 3,400. Our internal target for 2000-2001 for processing enforcement notice appeals will be tighter, at 40, 40 and 50 weeks for 80% of written representation, hearings and inquiry cases, respectively. We have worked closely with DETR on a consultation document for streamlining procedures. The target date for implementation is Spring 2001.

Enforcement notice appeals - Wales

We expect input and output for enforcement appeals to remain steady at around 180 new appeals. Our internal target for processing these appeals is 35 and 46 weeks for 80% of written representations and the hearing and inquiry cases, which have a combined target.

The Lord Chancellor's Panel of Independent Inspectors

The Panel deals with Highways and Transport cases, and rights of way casework. The number of rights of way cases is expected to remain stable, between 300 and 350, but there is likely to be a decline in transport cases to around 40. We have agreed with DETR that the trial of Inspectors preparing reports for appeals under Schedule 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 should be extended and will include appeals of greater complexity. The success of the trial will be assessed when the additional cases have been completed.

We cannot predict exactly what the impact of the proposed Countryside Bill will be on the Inspectorate, but we are willing to take on any additional duties which are appropriate to the Lord Chancellor's Panel. In the meantime, we are assisting DETR in drawing up proposed measures in the Bill and have initiated a trial to assess the usefulness of mediation in cases involving the creation, diversion or stopping-up of footpaths and bridleways.

Call-in casework

Each year the Secretary of State calls in about 120-140 planning applications for his decision instead of the local planning authority. Since 1 April 1999, in addition to providing an Inspector, the Inspectorate has handled the pre-inquiry procedural work. The main benefits of this arrangement are that it makes good use of the Inspectorate's procedural expertise, gives economies of scale, and frees Government Office resources for other work.

In Wales a small number of planning applications are called in and decided by the National Assembly. The Inspectorate provides an Inspector and carries out the pre-inquiry procedural work.

Advertisement appeals

Numbers of appeals, in England, are expected to be around 2,400 in 2000-2001. Our internal target is to decide 80% of appeals by written representations within 16 weeks, and hearings within 22 weeks. In Wales we anticipate around 100 appeals each year. The internal target in Wales is to decide 80% of all appeals within 15 weeks. We have worked with DETR on the `Outdoor Advertisement Control' consultation paper, about changes to regulations and guidance on advertisement appeals, and offered support in follow up work.

Other casework

Our other work is much lower in volume, accounting for approximately 10% of Inspector resources. Potentially, we deal with nearly 200 different types of appeals and orders.

Forecast intake of this work for 2000-2001 is shown below:

Listed building/conservation area consent appeals	750
Listed building/conservation area consent enforcement notice appeals	200
Environment appeals	200
Compulsory Purchase Orders	95
Planning Obligation (Modification and Discharge) appeals	25
Lawful Development Certificates	150
Costs	1500
Land Compensation appeals	25
Purchase Notices	15

Staff numbers

For 2000-2001 staff numbers will be around 685 (full time equivalents), including approximately 270 salaried Inspectors and about 120 on a contract and consultant basis. We recruited 18 new Inspectors in 1999-2000, to replace those who are retiring in the next year or so, and a further recruitment exercise will be held during 2000-2001. Recruitment of administrative staff to fill vacancies is likely to take place, together with occasional open competitions.

Efficiency plan 2000-2001

The target is to achieve a 3% saving on the use of running costs, compared to last year. Examples of the measures we will be taking in 2000-2001 are:

Taking on additional work

Delivery of new initiatives from the centre, including Modernising Government.

Further use of Inspectors on Public Examinations into Regional Planning Guidance.

Using resources more efficiently

Merger of two divisions, with the saving of a Director level post.

Recruitment and training of Planning Assistants to maximise the use of Inspector time.

Reduction in off-site storage space following the implementation of the file storage policy.

Improvements to appeals procedures

Stricter enforcement of deadlines from parties to appeals to improve timeliness.

Information Systems Strategy projects

A programme of IS projects which will be implemented during the next 3 to 5 years to improve working practices and speed up the dissemination of information.

Further moves to electronic working practices arising from the development of the Intranet and Internet and from links to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI).

Developing new efficiency indicators

We will be developing new ways to use unit costs data as indicative measures of efficiency.

Consultancy programme

Agencies are required to set out proposals for expenditure on external consultants in their annual Business Plans. We use consultants either to provide cost-effective access to specialist skills that we do not have in-house or to provide training for staff to enable them to develop new skills. In 2000-2001, we expect our consultancy fees to be as follows:

Category	Purpose	Estimated cost
Management	Business advice to the Management Board Customer Satisfaction Survey Equal Opportunities/Diversity Plain English	£66,000
IT	IT Services Branch Contractors	£202,000
Europe & Human Rights	Advice on the implications of new legislation for handling appeals and other casework	£40,000

Category	Purpose	Capital	Running Costs

Information System Strategy Projects
Casework Processing	CASE/CSL Maintenance & Support	£150,000	£300,000
Managed Desktop	Government Secure Intranet (GSI) Inspector IT Links Pilot	£10,000 £10,000	£80,000 £50,000
Inspector Resource Management	Inspector Scheduling	£700,000	£150,000
Managing PINS	Human Resource Information	£250,000	£150,000
Information Supply	PINSnet, Intranet and Web Site Development	£40,000	£20,000
Smaller projects	ie. the move to Temple Quay, updating hardware and software, improving our Finance Systems etc.	£103,000	£103,500

Quinquennial Review

Like all agencies and non-Departmental public bodies, the Inspectorate is subject to quinquennial reviews to determine that the functions carried out are necessary and that they are being delivered in the most effective way. The next review will take place in 2000 and will be carried out by our sponsor Departments, DETR and the National Assembly for Wales.

The main options which will be considered are:

abolition;

continued agency status;

market testing;

merger or rationalisation;

privatisation; and,

strategic contracting out.

These options were considered in depth at our last review and Ministers concluded that agency status represented the best approach to the management of our activities. The next review will be undertaken in two stages, each lasting about 3 months. Separately, the Environment Sub Committee is conducting an inquiry into the Inspectorate. It is envisaged that the Sub Committee will report towards the end of the first stage of the quinquennial review.

Modernising Government

We are developing an action plan to implement the recommendations emerging from the Modernising Government agenda and an initial programme to take forward the six themes which form the basis of the Civil Service Reform:

stronger leadership with a clear sense of purpose;

better business planning from top to bottom;

sharper performance management;

an improvement in diversity;

a service more open to people and ideas, which brings on talent: and

a better deal for staff.

This incorporates our ongoing initiatives under Investors in People and diversity which have been disseminated to staff for information and consultation.

Our Information Systems Strategy will ensure that all our services are capable of electronic delivery by 2005. We are working towards connection to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) and on the development of our Web site which in the longer-term will enable us to deal with our customers electronically.

We have recently re-launched our Web site which is regarded as a major advance in our effort to create an electronic planning portal to the outside world. Phase 1 of our Web site re-development has been completed to provide further information. It has links to other sites associated with the work of the Planning Inspectorate and allows the user to read the Inspectorate's published material, including our decision letters. Phase 2 of the project will expand on the current content and will eventually allow our customers to conduct appeals business electronically.

Investors in People

We achieved Investors in People accreditation in December 1997. Since then we have built on our success and have kept the initiative on track by monitoring and updating our action plan for ongoing improvement. This is now linked with our initiatives under the Civil Service Reform agenda as outlined above.

We are very pleased to report that we have obtained IIP re-accreditation following a formal independent review. We will not rest on our laurels and will continue to promote the principles of IIP.

Training

In addition to an intensive initial training programme, Inspectors receive training and mentoring throughout their careers and we support Continuing Professional Development objectives for all staff. The Inspectorate holds an annual training week each year to broaden Inspectors' technical knowledge, and to give them the opportunity to share and exchange professional experiences with colleagues.

As well as work-related training, the Inspectorate assists a number of administrative staff in obtaining formal qualifications. We are currently piloting an NVQ in Planning with the University of the West of England, and we continue to support staff taking part in other NVQ programmes, the Prince's Trust Volunteers Scheme and Outward Bound courses.

Equal Opportunities (Diversity)

The Task Force established last year has continued to look at diversity within the Inspectorate and to address the Government's wider agenda on equal opportunities. To demonstrate our commitment we have amended one of the Inspectorate's main objectives to include diversity (see Introduction on page 1). We have issued a new Equality Statement to focus not only on employees but also on our customers. It covers a wide selection of groups of people, and research has been commissioned into 3 key areas:

Impact Assessment - to look at how our policies and practices impact on society;

Human Resources Practices - to carry out a statistical view of the Inspectorate and to create a test model to Equality Proof our internal practices and procedures;

Assessing Attitudes - to build up a profile of the attitudes and culture within our organisation.

In addressing these three topics we feel we have taken a comprehensive look at diversity, concentrating not only on statistics but the possible explanations behind them. Our findings and recommendations will form the basis of our action plan "Addressing Diversity".

Customer Service

In accordance with our objective to operate in a user-friendly way, we will continue to become more customer focussed. Our publications explaining procedures for taking part in advertisement, enforcement and planning appeals, and local inquiries have all received the Plain English Campaign Crystal Mark.

To encourage communications we invite local authorities and planning agents to our offices in Bristol and Cardiff, on an ongoing basis, to see our side of the planning system. This focus on customer service also applies to rights of way work, where we will continue to seek opportunities to discuss issues of common interest or concern with local authorities and user groups.

In development plans work we aim to make the process user-friendly for both local authorities and for those who wish to make objections. Inspectors are aware that objectors may not have professional representation and aim to make the process as user-friendly as possible. An inquiry may include both round table sessions and hearings, to improve the efficiency of the process and to help objectors to state their cases more effectively. Inspectors use plain language in writing their decisions and reports, and take a business-like approach to the running of inquiries. We encourage local planning authorities to provide suitable and accessible inquiry venues, with appropriate facilities for public use including an inquiry library and photocopying facilities.

The Welsh Language Board approved our Welsh Language Scheme in 1998. The basic principles of the scheme are that:

It is accepted that in the spirit of equality expressed in the Welsh Language Act, our customers have the right to choose whether they wish to communicate with us in English or Welsh;

Under the Welsh Language Scheme, it is recognised that our customers can express their views better in their preferred language; and

We acknowledge in the Scheme that welcoming our customers to use their preferred language is a matter of good practice and customer care.

We will continue to promote Welsh language training for our staff to increase the number of employees with this skill. We have one Welsh speaking Inspector and an additional two in training.

We also regularly consult the users of the planning system, to check whether any areas for improvement can be identified, and carry out an annual customer satisfaction survey.

Quality

Our training and quality assurance systems are well established and we remain committed to providing a high standard of service in all areas of our work. The quality of our services will continue to be monitored by the Advisory Panel on Standards, who report to the Secretary of State and to the National Assembly for Wales. This monitoring shows that the Inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard with 99% of casework free from justified complaint.

Emerging Legislation

In preparation for the implementation of the Human Rights Act, staff have attended awareness seminars organised by DETR. We are alert to the potential implications of legislation affecting Freedom of Information. In both cases our systems will be revised where appropriate to ensure compliance with the new legislation. In addition, the proposed Countryside Bill is likely to have some impact on the Inspectorate's rights of way work.

Mediation

A research project on the feasibility of using mediation to resolve disputes arising from planning applications and enforcement cases was completed in March 2000. The findings are currently under consideration. Meanwhile we will continue to explore possibilities for widening the use of mediation to other types of disputes that come to the Inspectorate for resolution, for example, development plans, Regional Planning Guidance public examinations and rights of way cases.

Re-location to Temple Quay

In 2001 the Inspectorate will leave Tollgate House and move into new offices in Bristol at Temple Quay, adjacent to Temple Meads railway station, together with Bristol-based DETR and Highways Agency staff. The building is currently under construction and was "topped out" by Planning Minister, Nick Raynsford, on 9 February 2000. The new premises will be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The target date for completion is March 2001, followed by a phased re-location of staff between then and June.

Greening Operations

The Inspectorate remains committed to the further greening of our operations. As we move towards re-location of our Bristol-based staff to Temple Quay we need to ensure that we take full advantage of all the opportunities for environmental improvements that are presented. The Green Transport Plan will reflect the fact that we will be conveniently placed for travel to and from Temple Meads station. The emphasis will naturally focus on initiatives which encourage staff to make use of public transport where appropriate on official business and when travelling to work in both England and Wales.

Contingency planning

We are committed to maintaining a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure the prompt recovery of our essential business operations from any physical disaster occurring at Tollgate House. The business continuity planning review has also allowed us to update our procedures, and this has brought wider benefits to the business as a whole.