RE: DM Performance – Latest on Speed and Quality of Decision Making 2019

2019-07-03T05:32:30Z

Thanks Clive - yes definately could cause an issue for the designation stats esp Table 153 on no majors that I work off. I have also contacted MHCLG to see if the performanc team are aware of anything. Keep us posted if you get a response. Cheers.

DM Performance – Latest on Speed and Quality of Decision Making 2019

2019-04-25T14:30:28Z

There are 2 important things to take from this message:

PAS has tools to help you manage and monitor performance - the 'PAS Crystal Balls' (attached).
We have a range of performance improvement support; free to councils in most need (contact martin.hutchings@local.gov.uk directly for more information and help)

There are 2 parts to the ‘designation’ regime – ‘Speed and Quality’. A full explanation of how it all works can be found HERE.

Speed of Decision Making

Current assessment period: October 2017 - September 2019

Quarters that have elapsed so far: 5

Quality of decision making*:

Current assessment period: April 2017 – March 2019 (decisions made), April 2017 – December 2019 (appeals received).

Quarters that have elapsed so far: 3

* visit PAS blog where I have made an additional explanation of how the Quality measure works

How PAS Supports councils (1) - avoiding designation

PAS' job on Designation is to help councils with how to recognise, measure and most importantly how to avoid designation.

Attached are the latest versions of the PAS 'Crystal Ball(s)'. They allow you to measure performance in as close to real time as you care to feed in your most up to date performance data. I'd encourage ALL councils to use the crystal balls as part of their performance management framework – don't get caught out - poor performance often ‘creeps up’ and over a 2 year reporting period just a couple of poor quarters can really drag overall performance down leaving little time to recover.

How PAS Supports councils (2) - how best to respond if you're in danger

PAS monitors councils’ performance each time the government publishes a new set of statistics (the ‘live’ tables). We look out for performance scores that are either close to or below the designation thresholds, or are on trajectory that is pointing towards trouble. We write to the head of planning in the spirit of: “we assume everything is in hand, BUT if you’d like some support, we have a range designed to help you improve performance in your specific circumstances”. PAS support ranges from the simple and straightforward e.g. a review of your PS1/2 returns to a more in-depth on-site service improvement review or a peer challenge of your planning committee operations and processes.

The 2 year reporting period, plus the quarterly publishing of the performance data means that new councils can appear on our radar each time the government publishes the latest statistics - so keep an eye on your inbox.

Either join the discussion here or contact martin.hutchings@local.gov.uk directly for more information and help.