COUNCIL PLANNING DEPARTMENT

People applying for planning permission in Derby have faced the longest delays for 11 years, according to a new report. City council figures reveal that its planning department dealt with only half of applications within eight weeks between January and March 2003. A total of 528 applications were submitted, of which 47 per cent were dealt with within eight weeks, compared to the national average of 67 per cent. The report states: "Our performance during the quarter was the lowest for any quarter for 11 years." But the council, which says the backlog has been cut down through staff working overtime, has blamed the delay on a massive increase in applications, because a growing number of people are carrying out renovations.

There were 88 more applications received between January and March than between October and December 2002. The number of applications received by the council was the second highest in the East Midlands. The council also says that the department was one member of staff short until mid-March. It is now hoping that the second quarterly performance, between April and June, will show that the authority is back on track. The planning team is now back up to its full quota of eight case officers and two group leaders.

Mike Kaye, the council's assistant director of development, said, "We had a big increase in the number of applications than we would normally expect from that quarter. We were aware of the low performance, which was caused by this vast increase in applications. We made significant changes to the way we operated in April. Our staff are working overtime so that we don't repeat these figures." Council leader Maurice Burgess said, "The figures for April to June are still being counted. Initially they show that there has still been a large number of applications, but we have shown a dramatic improvement and now deal with about 70 per cent of minor applications within eight weeks."