Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 6
Message from the Chief Executive
Welcome to this latest edition of the Planning Inspectorate Newsletter. We have had a very busy time since the last issue especially with the publication of the Planning White Paper and accompanying Appeals Consultation Paper. In this edition we report on:
• the Stakeholder Meetings we have held at which the consultation paper proposals have featured as a main item alongside an update on the Inspectorate’s LDF-related work and its performance;
• our performance figures for 2006/7 which show that, in spite of rising workloads and the introduction of the first DPD examinations, we improved our efficiency in dealing with Inquiries and Hearings in particular and met most of our targets;
• our concern about the continuing slippage in the submission of DPDs for examination;
• our advice on dealing with design issues at appeal.
Finally, we are sad to report the death of one of our esteemed former Deputy Chief Inspectors, Jim Mossop.
As always, I welcome your comments on the items in this issue, or suggestions for future articles at KatrineSporleNews@pins.gsi.gov.uk.
Katrine Sporle
Chief Executive
September 2007
- Message from the Chief Executive
- Design and Planning Appeals
- Customer Satisfaction Survey 2006-7
- Rights of Way
- Stakeholders
- Other News
Contact
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Design and Planning Appeals
Ben Linscott, one of the Inspectorate’s Inspector Managers, considers and attempts to allay concerns expressed by some local planning authorities that Planning Inspectors cannot be relied upon to uphold refusals of planning permission where design is regarded locally as unacceptable.
Customer Satisfaction Survey 2006-7
The Inspectorate has commissioned an annual customer satisfaction survey covering all main business areas since 2002. David Halstead of the Inspectorate’s Policy Unit sets out the main findings of the 2006-7 survey and looks forward to the 2007-8 survey.
Read the "Customer Satisfaction Survey 2006-7" article >>
Rights of Way
In addition to planning and enforcement appeals, the Inspectorate currently deals with over 200 different types of casework. In the first of an occasional series of articles aimed primarily at non-specialists, Martin Steer, Head of the Inspectorate’s Specialist Casework Branch, describes in brief the work of the Rights of Way Section.
Read the "Rights of Way" article >>
Stakeholder News
Stakeholders
The Inspectorate held a series of meetings with its stakeholders over the summer. Sheila Rice, PA to the Chief Executive, summarises the discussions.
Read the "Stakeholders" article >>
Jim Mossop
It is with great regret that we report that one of our former Deputy Chief Inspectors, Jim Mossop, died on Monday 6 August. Jim was one of the august body of Inspectors who survived the move from London to Bristol in the late 1970s. A former Borough Engineer in Local Government Jim joined the Inspectorate in September 1969, he was promoted to Deputy in August 1988 and finally retired from the Inspectorate in May 1997. He did much to increase the standing of the Inspectorate, handling the role of Deputy with quiet perspicuity, deep understanding and compassion. He had a special interest in Enforcement, running the Enforcement Group of Inspectors many of whom in early days were former senior members of the armed services. Outside the Inspectorate Jim dispelled the strains and stresses of modern life bell ringing in his local church. He will be greatly missed by many existing and former colleagues who held him in the highest regard.
Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07
The Inspectorate’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2006/07 were published on 23 July.
Planning Inspectorate Corporate Objective 2007/08
The Inspectorate has published new corporate objectives.
New Non-Executive Directors for the Planning Inspectorate
On 30 July, Planning Minister Baroness Andrews and Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, announced the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors (NED) to the Planning Inspectorate. One of the existing NEDs, Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation has also been re-appointed for a further period.
The two new NEDs are Deep Sagar, a member of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation Board and the Casino Advisory Panel and Jane Earl, a former local authority Chief Executive and interim Chief Executive of the Rich Mix Arts Centre.
Procurement
We reproduce, with the permission of a OGCbuying.solutions, an article that appeared in issue 14 of Public Sector Procurement. In the article, best practice: perfect timing, Phil Taylor, the Inspectorate’s Head of Procurement explains how the Facilities Management Framework Agreement helped him when the facilities management contract for Temple Quay House came up for renewal.
“The Headington Shark”
We were amused to see the article in Timesonline Let’s salute fibreglass fish and wacky artists. The reference to Inspector Peter Macdonald’s comments “I cannot believe that the purpose of planning control is to enforce a boring and mediocre uniformity” seems to us to chime well with the advice in Planning Policy Statement 1 that developments “respond to their local context and create or reinforce local distinctiveness” (para 36 PPS1)!
Next Newsletter
Issue 7 of the Newsletter will be published in early December 2007
