Audit Unit: Objectives and Work Programme
4. The objectives of the Unit are to:
- review the statistics on planning authority performance
- understand better the factors affecting performance
- assist authorities whose development control performance is below par
- identify best practice in the efficient handling of planning applications
- communicate best practice through the Planning Advice Note series
- monitor the effectiveness of advice
5. Following the completion of 2 pilot audits in Moray and West Lothian a programme of 11 audits over 2 years was announced in May 1997:
| 1997/98 | 1998/99 |
| Edinburgh | East Lothian |
| Aberdeenshire | Glasgow |
| Argyll & Bute | Dundee |
| Fife | Highland |
| Inverclyde | East Ayrshire |
| Renfrewshire |
Reports on these audits have been submitted to the Councils. In addition, meetings have been held with a number of authorities to review progress on implementing the Audit Unit's recommendations.
6. In November 1998 the development control service of 4 additional Councils was selected for audit in 1999/2000.
| City of Aberdeen | Scottish Borders |
| Orkney | Stirling |
A finalised report has been completed on Orkney; work is underway in Aberdeen and Scottish Borders; and initial discussions have been held with officials in Stirling with a view to starting work late 1999/early 2000. Figure 1 illustrates progress with the audit programme.
7. On completion of the 1999/2000 programme, audits of the development control service of more than half the Councils in Scotland will have been carried out accounting for around 70% of the planning applications decided annually.
Figure 1
