CHANGES to the planning department at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are beginning to have an effect.

Since November 2021, the backlog of 734 applications has been reduced by 40 per cent to 434.

Figures from July 2021 show that at that time 58 per cent of all planning applications in the area had not been decided within the target timescale, but by the end of April had dropped to 48 per cent.

The best performing council in the country for major applications, Tunbridge Wells, decides 70 per cent of all applications within the target 13 weeks – although has far fewer applications per year.

By comparison BCP only dealt with 16 per cent of major applications on time, a fall on the 21/22 performance of 22 per cent; with 57 per cent of non major applications concluded on time, an improvement from the 21/22 figure of 32 per cent.

Councillors have been told that there has been a “specific focus” on reducing backlogs which, in turn, will allow new applications to be dealt with in a speedier way.

A “clearance fortnight” is being planned for June to further speed up the process.

A report to the May 24 Overview and Scrutiny committee said: “The ongoing work demands and interest in the Planning Improvement Journey has presented a challenging environment within which to operate. The staff, however, have dealt with the pressures positively and admirably and have been the driving force behind the increase in performance.”

Many of the issues have stemmed from the pandemic, which changed working patterns; from relatively high vacancy levels and a surge in planning applications.

The difficulties are said to have been compounded by different IT systems being used, dating back to the days prior to 2019, when there were three councils areas.

The Planning Improvement Journey, as it is known, started in April 2021 with the setting up of an improvement board, which meets monthly.

It says that since then new appointments have been made; there is better communications with staff who have contributed ideas for change; agency staff have been taken on to help meet targets and 13 new staff have been recruited since November 2021 with a rolling recruitment process now in place.

Councillors will be told that a new structure for the planning department is being proposed, which will be explained to staff in the near future.

The report says this will: “Provide a fit for purpose structure for the service, to sustain strong performance following the completion of the Planning Improvement Plan, will create a new management and leadership structure, provide for a focus on major applications and capacity to match the ambition and opportunity for growth within the conurbation.”

Further work being planned includes a “clearance fortnight” from June 20 when staff will concentrate on clearing backlog applications.

Also taking place in June is the launch of a Major Applications Forum designed to improve discussion and objectives for larger schemes, working with various council departments and including statutory consultees.

A new process for planning legal agreements will also come into being during the month together with a new process for registering and validating applications, all designed to speed up the process.

The report also notes that with the changes to the Civic Centre now largely complete staff have mainly returned to the office which has helped improve collaboration and support.