Watchdog awards Waveney zero rating for planning service

A Suffolk council whose planning services were given a "zero rating" by the Audit Commission has promised to improve its performance.

Waveney District Council was given a "poor" zero star rating by an inspection team from the watchdog, an independent body which ensures that local public services are value for money.

The team has published a report which branded the council's planning services as "poor" with "poor prospects for improvement".

Edwina Child, the commission's senior manager, said: "Some aspects of the service are performing adequately, but the service is not meeting Government expectations in making planning decisions quickly. The time taken to turn around minor applications, in particular, is well below the required standard.

"In addition the quality of service experienced by users in the past three years has been limited. Some improvements are slowly being made but these are not fully effective, and are not yet providing significant benefits."

She added: "Despite investing in its staff and in technology it is far from clear if the planning service can meet the ambitions of Lowestoft and the rest of the district."

Council chief executive Glen Garrod said the report would spur the authority to ensure "the pace of progress is stepped up".

He said: "Although I am disappointed in the harshness of the assessment result, I am pleased that the Audit Commission acknowledges that we are already implementing a programme of change in the service and that there are many things that we are doing better and doing well."

The council's planning service employs 25 staff and has a budget of nearly £1.1m. The commission said its range of planning services was "fair" given its size. That was also the assessment of Waveney's record in building sustainable communities, in regeneration and growth.

The watchdog recommended the council might consider "shared planning services" where appropriate as well as forging closer links with developers and agents.

Access the Audit Commission report

Read the Waveney District Council news story

Roger Milne

27 September 2007