Hansard

Planning Inspectorate Agency

Volume 328: debated on Wednesday 31 March 1999

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Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate Agency's work in Wales for the financial year 1999–2000. [80121]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

I have today set the following key targets for the Agency's work in Wales in 1999–2000. I believe these continue to be challenging, but realistic targets for the Planning Inspectorate to meet next year. I am confident that the Planning Inspectorate will continue to maintain the impartiality and quality and efficiency of its work. I have decided not to include a specific target for responding to inquiries and correspondence in Welsh this year as the Inspectorate now has its own Welsh Language Scheme in place which requires the Inspectorate to deal with inquiries and correspondence in Welsh and English within the same timescales.

Timeliness

  • (a) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 17 weeks;
  • (b) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 22 weeks;
  • (c) 80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 30 weeks;
  • (d) to provide an Inspector for local plan inquiries in at least 80 per cent. of cases on the date requested by a local authority provided that the objection period has ended and at least 6 months' notice has been given;
  • (e) to deliver 90 per cent. of Inspectors' reports on local plan inquiries to local authorities according to timescales agreed under service agreements.

    • Financial

    Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £839.

    Efficiency

    Contribute to the generation of a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs for all the Inspectorate's work compared with 1998–99.

    Quality

    To satisfy the Advisory Panel on Standards, and thus the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales, annually and following rigorous monitoring, that the quality of the Inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard with 99 per cent. of its casework free from justified complaint.

    Information and Guidance

    To carry out a customer survey of satisfaction with the inquiry and hearing processes for dealing with planning appeals, including the quality of Inspectors' reasoning in reaching a recommendation/decision.

    Following the transfer of functions, the setting of targets for the Planning Inspectorate in Wales will be a matter for the National Assembly.