The news comes in a Government publication, which announces provisional grant allocations to planning authorities for the coming year.
This grant is based on performance and dealing with planning applications, and Salisbury has come out on top of all other district councils in the country, receiving £451,262.
Portfolio holder for Planning and Economic Development, Councillor Margaret Peach, said: “This is wonderful news and I must congratulate the Head of Development Services Stephen Thorne and everyone in his team, for all the hard work they have put in to get us this far.
“Two years ago we were not performing well in planning and were falling behind government targets.
“This resulted in us taking a hard look at how we were running the service and changes were made. That work is now paying dividends – but to be the best performing district council in the country has exceeded even our expectations.”
All councils are expected to ensure that 60% of major applications processed within 13 weeks; 65% of minor applications within eight weeks and 80% of all other applications within 8 weeks by 2007. The grants are based on each council’s performance in meeting these targets.
So far in the 2005/6 financial year, Salisbury successfully dealt with 71% of major applications within 13 weeks, 90% of minor applications within eight weeks and 90% of all other applications within eight weeks.
The council will receive confirmation of this grant, and also grants for delivering the Local Plan and meeting e-government targets in planning early next year.
Autor: Jon Land
Quelle: 24dash, 16.12.2005
