Performance against Ministerial targets
The Directorate's efficiency in handling delegated appeals is measured by five Ministerial performance targets related to the most numerous types of cases, and whether the case is dealt with by public local inquiry/hearing or by the written submissions procedure.
In 2007-2008 all of our targets were met despite a larger number of lengthy public inquiries and the increasing complexity and number of planning appeals before us. Even with these complications we were still able to determine 92% of the largest component of our caseload within our target of 20 weeks.
Table 8: Ministerial targets
| Target | Number of
appeals | Performance
against
target | Average
weeks to
determine
appeal |
|---|
1 | Delegated planning appeals determined by written submissions procedure
Cases determined within 20 weeks (Target: 80%) | 906 | 92% | 19 |
|---|
2 | Delegated planning appeals determined by local public inquiry and hearing
Cases determined within 38 weeks (Target: 80%) | 91 | 84% | 38 |
|---|
3 | Delegated enforcement notice appeals by written submissions procedure
Cases determined within 24 weeks (Target: 80%) | 64 | 98% | 23 |
|---|
4 | Delegated enforcement notice appeals by public local inquiry and hearing
Cases determined within 38 weeks (Target: 80%) | 19 | 95% | 37 |
|---|
5 | Delegated advertisement appeals by written submissions procedure
Cases determined within 17 weeks (Target: 80%) | 59 | 97% | 16 |
|---|
The target for delegated planning appeals dealt with by inquiry and hearing is more vulnerable than that for written submissions because there are fewer such cases yet there is a wider range of factors that can delay the procedure. The fact that, despite these uncertainties, the target has been met reflects well on all of those involved in the process.