§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what are the new targets for 2002–03 in respect of local authorities handling planning applications; and what are the targets they replace. [22053]
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§ Ms KeebleThe new targets are: for major industrial, commercial and residential applications, 60 per cent. should be decided in 13 weeks; for minor industrial, commercial and residential applications, 65 per cent. should be decided in eight weeks; and 80 per cent. of all other applications should be decided in eight weeks. These will replace the current single target to decide 80 per cent. of all applications in eight weeks.
§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when his Department set a new Best Value indicator for local authorities in 2002–03 that 90 per cent. of all planning applications should be delegated; if this will be measured by (a) number, (b) size, (c) controversy and (d) value; and what other changes to Best Value he plans to propose. [22101]
§ Ms KeebleThe Government published their full proposals for changes to Best Value in a consultation paper "Best Value Performance Indicators 2002–03", published on 2 November 2001.
The proposals included a new indicator for the percentage of planning applications delegated to officers, underpinned by a new target, also announced on 2 November 2001, to delegate 90 per cent. of all applications received.