Report on the Performance of the Planning Service : Ninth Report Session 2009/2010 Together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee Relating to the Report and the Minutes of Evidence

This is the ninth report from the Public Accounts Committee in the 2009/2010 session, and follows an NIAO report on the same subject "The Performance of the Planning Service" (ISBN 9780337095641), published on 25th November 2009.

The Department of the Environment is responsible for planning control within Northern Ireland, and the Planning Service administers many of its planning functions.

These include the processing of planning applications and the enforcement of planning control.

In 2008-09, the Planning Service's gross expenditure was GBP 42 million.

Its income was GBP 17.7 million, 97 per cent of which was derived from planning application fees.

Processing of planning applications is a core function of the Planning Service.

However, the Agency has consistently failed to meet its PSA targets for processing applications in a timely manner.

Although there has been a recent improvement, the standard is still not as good as customers have a right to expect.

This area of operations is currently not fit for purpose or ready for devolution to local government, and this situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Of particular concern to the Committee is the fact that performance in processing major applications continues to lag.

In the current economic climate more than ever, the Planning Service has a pivotal role to play in developing the economy and it must focus on strategic applications which can make a real difference to social and economic wellbeing.

The Committee sets out 15 recommendations for improvements in the performance of the Planning Service.