§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets he proposed to set the Planning Inspectorate agency for 2001–02. [156323]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Planning Inspectorate continues to play a key role in improving the efficiency and certainty with which the planning system delivers quality services to business and other users 1 have therefore set demanding key performance targets for the Inspectorate for 2001–02. These include tougher targets for handling planning appeals in line with our Public Service Agreement targets.
The tougher appeals targets I am setting the Inspectorate to continue improving its service to customers makes it essential that all parties to the appeals process play their part by cooperating with the Inspectorate in meeting deadlines and agreeing dates offered for inquiries.
The targets for 2001–02 are as follows:
Timeliness
644W
80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 16 weeks;80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 22 weeks;80 per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 30 weeks;to provide an Inspector for development plan inquiries in at least 90 per cent. of cases on the date requested by the local authority, provided that the objection period has ended and at least six months' notice has been given;to deliver 90 per cent. of Inspectors' reports on development plan inquiries to local authorities according to timescales agreed under service agreements.The table shows the Planning Inspectorate's performance against its timeliness targets for 1998–99 to 2000–01.
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 80 per cent. of all planning appeals should be decided within the following number of weeks: Target Written representation 18 18 17 Hearings 24 24 23 Inquiries 36 36 33 Achieved Written representation 17 18 17 Hearings 27 22 20 Inquiries 41 34 31 Efficiency
To generate a 3 per cent. improvement in the use of running costs compared to 2000–01.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 all 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 survey customer satisfaction with the Inspectorate's performance in handling rights of way cases and to act upon the results.