Business and Corporate Plan 2001-2002 to 2004-2005
Chief Executive's Foreword
The Planning Inspectorate has continued to build upon its success in meeting the timeliness targets and I am delighted to say that we have now reached a stage where we are dealing with appeals work faster than at any time in our recorded history. This excellent performance has been achieved partly by the introduction of more streamlined rules for handling planning appeals, the setting of tighter targets, continual improvements in efficiency and by hard work and commitment from Inspectors and administrative staff.
We will continue to modernise and widen the range of our services to meet the needs of our customers. This programme of modernisation will carry on during the forthcoming period as further investment in IT infrastructure and new e-Business systems will enable the Inspectorate to offer electronic working, in line with targets under the Modernising Government Action Plan. We have been successful in securing funding from the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund to develop a Planning Internet Portal and e-Commerce Casework Handling System. This is an exciting project in which we are working in collaboration with over 70 outside partners. Together with other investment in e-Business systems it will enable the Inspectorate to offer the capability of electronic services well in advance of the Government's 2005 target.
The findings of the joint Inspectorate/DETR pilot study of mediation in planning were published in 2000. The results were very encouraging and showed that participants supported mediation even when there was no definitive outcome. The use of mediation to resolve planning disputes could help speed up the planning system by saving time, cutting paperwork and making the process less adversarial. The pilot will be extended to certain types of rights of way disputes whilst further consideration is given to the costs and benefits of using mediation in the planning system.
We will continue to work with Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (formerly the DETR) and the National Assembly for Wales to improve our procedure rules. New planning appeal rules for England were introduced in August 2000 and are due to be introduced in Wales in 2001. These will be complemented by new procedure rules for enforcement and advert appeals. The new rules will help increase the fairness and openness of our procedures, and at the same time enable the Inspectorate to meet its tighter targets for deciding appeals.
We will begin the year in our new premises in Temple Quay House, which is one of the most modern and energy efficient office buildings of its type in the country. The open-plan interior has greater flexibility than our previous accommodation and will enable us to expand on team working opportunities. The offices are well placed for Temple Meads railway station, which will increase the travel options for staff and visitors.
Chris Shepley
Chief Executive and Chief Planning Inspector
