Changes made to planning system

Dec 1 2009 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

MAJOR changes – and improvements – have been made to Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning Service.

And under new legislation which came into effect earlier this year, ALL major applications – such as the Shore Road incinerator proposal – would have to go before the development control committee.

That assurance came in a council statement, issued in the wake of the incinerator debacle.

A council spokesman pointed out that the outline planning application for the Grundon waste-to-energy planning bid was submitted nearly four years ago.

When Roland Bean, the council’s current Head of Planning came into the role in 2007, a review of the procedures involved in the management of development control services was carried out.

“This included looking overall at how the service dealt with planning applications, and where improvements could be made to the process,” added the spokesman.

“In addition, a new Development Quality Manager (Nick Brian) was appointed.

“The scheme of delegation for dealing with planning applications was also recently reviewed and approved by the council.

“Under planning legislation which came into force in August, 2009, all major planning applications are required to be heard by committee.

“The Shore Road application, or any similar future applications, would fall into this category.

“Roland Bean's report to the Special Development Control Committee this week openly and honestly admitted that some errors were made in the processing of the outline application for Shore Road.

“In writing this report, there has been no effort made by the council to hide away from that fact.

“However, considerable improvements and changes have been made in the Planning Service since that time – a fact acknowledged by several members of the Development Control Committee on the day.

“Residents can be assured that it is the aim over Perth and Kinross Council to provide the best possible Planning Service for residents, businesses and developers in Perth and Kinross.

“We are never complacent and work will continue to ensure that we achieve this aim,” stressed the spokesman.