Development Control/Development Management Reviews and Procedure Guides
This page outlines TRA's Procedure Review and Online Guide service for Development Control/Development Management. The service is essentially a two-stage process consisting of:
- a review of the procedures and management of development control/development management
- the development of an online procedure guide covering all DC/DM procedures.
If you are looking for a procedural review focusing on a particular element of the planning function (as opposed to a review of the whole service), our Reviews of Specific Aspects of Planning and Development Control/Development Management may be more appropriate for you.
The Review of Procedures and Management of Development Control/Development Management
The first stage of the process is an expert TRA review of procedures. This is essential to ensure that procedures are fully effective, legitimate and up to date. The review can have a potentially significant impact on service delivery.
The review covers the following elements:
- a review of performance; covering quality, consistency and speed of decision-making
- a review of development control/development management procedures with a view to improving efficiency and effectiveness
- a review of management, staff structures and resources; this is essential to ensure that the authority gets the most effective results from any procedural changes and specification.
The output of the review is a substantial written report with justified conclusions and recommendations. Recommendations for change will be incorporated into the subsequent Procedure Guide as appropriate.
The Online Procedure Guide
Each Procedure Guide is unique to the individual local authority, reflecting its particular structure and procedures but also incorporating best practice. It provides a systematic specification of all the routine procedures involved in the development control/development management process in an online format. The Guide operates via a private internet site and is available to any member of staff at any time via any computer with internet access.
Crucially, it can be easily and flexibly updated at any time by the authority's own staff. This updating facility not only overcomes a major difficulty with traditional hard copy procedure manuals, but in itself becomes a major tool of continuous improvement, since it makes changes in procedure much simpler to implement.
The Procedure Guide fulfils the following major functions:
- it provides a constantly and consistently updated frame of reference to the procedures which staff should follow when handling planning applications and related matters
- it helps ensure consistency of treatment of planning applications
- it provides an aide-memoire where necessary in relation to commonly required procedures
- it provides guidance on procedures which are required less frequently, to minimise 're-inventing the wheel'
- it assists new or inexperienced staff, providing support for training in techniques and procedures, a major advantage to senior managers
- it provides a template against which to assess any complaints or investigations where the procedural aspects of development control are an issue
- it helps minimise disruption due to staff changes; the disruption caused by even infrequent staff changes can be significant, and in some cases staff leave taking with them virtually all the authority's accumulated procedural knowledge.
A demonstration version of the Guide is available online now, to give a very general idea of its scope, structure and operation. A brochure is also available on request.
Key features of TRA's approach
- we deal in the detail; the "pencil sharpening" that can move a service from good to excellent
- we are concerned with efficiency ie not just getting excellent performance, but getting this done by the right numbers and types of staff at the right time, with streamlined procedures
- we are concerned with the effectiveness of the whole process (including pre-application discussions, post-decision procedures, appeals and enforcement) not just a narrow focus on monitored decision-making
- we are concerned with the quality of decision-making as well as speed, via our systematic assessment of the decisions taken.
Contact
If you would like to take things further please contact Penny O'Shea on 01204 385678 for more information and a no-commitment discussion.
