The planning service provided by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is ‘good’ and has ‘promising’ prospects for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.
On a scale of zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave the service two stars because it is delivering good results, it has an up to date development plan, it is making planning decisions quickly and it has an excellent web site and reception facilities.
Paul Chambers, Audit Commission senior manager, said:
‘Reigate and Banstead has delivered significant improvements in service quality since the last inspection of its planning service in 2003. The local plan has now been adopted, customer care standards have improved and the council is now dealing with planning applications in a timely fashion. The Council has clear plans in place to maintain this improvement.’
The inspectors found:
- the service is producing a wide range of new housing to address local needs, improving its town centres and intervening actively to protect the environment and to tackle poor environments;
- it now has an up to date local plan and it is making good progress with a new local development framework to replace it;
- it has an effective web site and an excellent reception service including a network of help shops and a sophisticated helpline;
- it is dealing effectively with enforcement of planning control; and
- it has significantly improved its speed of decision making on planning applications; but
- some councillors on the planning committee do not fully embrace government guidance on best use of scarce development land.
To help the service improve, inspectors made a number of recommendations. These include:
- engaging members of the planning committee more effectively in the national planning agenda and building their confidence in the quality of advice given by officers;
- briefing councillors more effectively on major development proposals to avoid the high level of deferrals at planning committee meetings; and
- further improving customer care, particularly by making planning staff more acessible to customers.
This inspection of the planning service included: preparation of the development plan; development control; enforcement; conservation; tree protection; regeneration and environmental initiatives. The planning service was last inspected in 2003, when it was judged to be a ‘poor’ service, but with ‘promising’ prospects for improvement. The planning service has a budget of just over £1.2 million (net).
Copies of the report are available from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council or on the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.
Notes to Editors
The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively, to achieve high quality local and national services for the public. Our remit covers around 11,000 bodies in England, which between them spend more than £180 billion of public money each year. Our work covers local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services.
As an independent watchdog, we provide important information on the quality of public services. As a driving force for improvement in those services, we provide practical recommendations and spread best practice. As an independent auditor, we monitor spending to ensure that public services are good value for money.
For further information about the Audit Commission, visit our website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk
