Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

Decision

(a)       That the Planning Advisory Service Peer Review of Dorset Council’s Planning Service be noted;

(b)       That the recommendations and action plan as set out in the report be agreed;

(c)        That Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee receive biannual (or more frequent as necessary) progress reports on the implementation of the action plan.

Reason for Recommendation: 

The visit of the PAS peer review team took place at a formative time in the unitary council’s development and the work it carried out has informed the Local Planning Authority in shaping its transformation programme. The final report contains practical and constructive recommendations and an action plan which are intended to assist Dorset Council in progressing the work needed to deliver a high-quality and customer-focused planning service.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) was invited to carry out a peer review of Dorset Council’s planning service prior to its restructure.  The report set out the summary of the PAS findings  which included ten key recommendations.  He further proposed that going forward the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee be invited to monitor the implementation of the action plan.

Decision

(a)       That the Planning Advisory Service Peer Review of Dorset Council’s Planning Service be noted;

(b)       That the recommendations and action plan as set out in the report be agreed;

(c)        That Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee receive biannual (or more frequent as necessary) progress reports on the implementation of the action plan.

Reason for Recommendation: 

The visit of the PAS peer review team took place at a formative time in the unitary council’s development and the work it carried out has informed the Local Planning Authority in shaping its transformation programme. The final report contains practical and constructive recommendations and an action plan which are intended to assist Dorset Council in progressing the work needed to deliver a high-quality and customer-focused planning service.