Council says it could do better with planning applications

West Berkshire Council says it could do better with planning application processing – and has put itself on report.

It says the number of planning applications fell last year with, 20 per cent fewer minor applications being submitted.

But the council has put itself on report for not meeting its own performance targets in dealing with planning applications.

It says staffing issues are central to the delays.

It has more than six vacancies and is advertising the roles.

Staff turnover has increased in general at West Berkshire Council.

The figure is now at 16.9 per cent, up 6.5 per cent on last year.

It says the planning application backlog is sufficiently large for the council to have to advertise the issue publicly on its website.

“With regard to the backlog of planning applications in the service, we are already taking a range of actions to address this,” says the report.

“The approach we are taking is already publicised on the website to ensure that customers are aware of the situation and about what we are doing to address the issue which includes a new negotiations strategy, working with our internal consultees to address delays in consultation responses and also reviewing our processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our service.

“We are currently employing temporary planning consultants to assist with the current high volume of applications.”