Areas for Service Improvement - Planning

Introduction

The 'Delivering Planning Reform' document issued by the Scottish Government, requires that planning authorities establish local forum to consider the quality of their planning service. It also stated that authorities must identify areas for service improvement, how best they be tackled and repeated annually. The first Service Improvement Plan was approved in March 2009.

Service Planning Framework

The key agencies (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, Architecture and Design Scotland, Transport Scotland and Scottish Water) were also required to produce service improvement plans and these have been done. The agencies' plans have informed this Areas for Service Improvement Plan (ASIP). The Service Plan fits within a hierarchy of themed plans, including the Corporate Strategy and the Community Plan. The ASIP fits within the framework of the Service Plan, in particular it relates to the Performance Standards (future performance) and analysis of user feedback.

In addition, an Improvement Plan (IP) has been prepared for the Planning Service. This has itself been informed by the Single Outcome Agreement and sits below the Service Plan in the hierarchy of plans. This ASIP will be instrumental in achieving one of the main actions of the IP delivering public services that are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs and the associated sub-actions relating to engagement, carrying out customer satisfaction surveys and e-planning. Team Plans outline the teams' roles in achieving the aims of the Community Plan and revisions to these will pick up the relevant actions within the Improvement Plan.

Methods of gathering feedback

A forum of local agents has been established for feedback on Development Management and Building Standards. Questionnaires relating to the Development Management Service have been sent out with planning application decision notices and the responses used to inform ASIP.

The reports since March 2009 are listed below:

• Areas for Service Improvement in Planning - March 2009
• Areas for Service Improvement in Planning - March 2010
• Areas for Service Improvement in Planning - March 2011

 If you require further information, please contact us.

Contacts

• Planning and Sustainable Development
  Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure
  Aberdeen City Council
  Business Hub 4
  Marischal College
  Broad Street
  Aberdeen
  AB10 1AB
  Phone: 01224 523470
  Fax: 01224 523180
  Email: pi@aberdeencity.gov.uk