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Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
New Posts
for Planning
In a response to public demand the Council’s Executive on Tuesday
18th October 2005 approved a proposal to boost the planning officer arrangement
in the Development Control Team.
The Head of Built Environment will now be tasked with recruiting two extra
Senior Planning Officer posts and the one Planning/Technical Officer as
soon as possible.
In October 2004 the Executive approved an Improvement Plan for Development Control, which amongst other things, identified the need to strengthen the number of planning officers dealing with planning applications. This was agreed following a comprehensive review of the service and introduction of enhanced technological solutions to service delivery.
Whilst the Service Improvement Reviews continue across the Council there is a definite need to review the Development Control Service prior to the end of their review in November 2005. This is due to the information so far obtained from the reviews confirming that the Planning Applications Team requires strengthening to both improve current service levels and to ensure the service can make progress towards achieving the Government’s national targets for determination of planning applications.
The Executive agreed to take action now which gives the advantage of allowing an early start to recruitment and making a service impact earlier rather than in November.
Cllr. Terry King, Regulatory Services Portfolio Holder said, “After a lengthy period of investigation and deliberation in its drafting it gave me a great deal of pleasure to bring the planning improvement plan to the Executive committee last Tuesday and I am very grateful for its approval. It is important to realise the improvements agreed will be self financing and will not impinge on the Council Tax.”
For further information about
Planning Services please visit the Surrey Heath website www.surreyheath.gov.uk
– Look under 'Planning'. Alternatively please contact 01276 707222.
For further information or photographs contact:
Amanda Gow, Press & Communications Officer 01276 707312
Jenni Wheller, Communications Assistant 01276 707415
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