Key improvements from previous year’s APR not completed Actions to redress previous year’s incomplete improvements 1 The new strategy for dealing with advertising and the regulatory control of signage is being worked on. A more holistic approach has been established that seeks to promote new and sustainable alternatives to unauthorised signage as well as a consistent enforcement regime. 1 Planning Services to complete regulatory framework and enforcement strategy by autumn 2016 and report to PPSL. 2 Rural Authority working Group (Highland Council, Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP and Aberdeenshire) progressing Technical Guidance on ‘occupancy restrictions’ and ‘rural exceptional circumstances’. First meeting of group September 2015. 2 Rural Authority benchmarking group to progress Technical Guidance on ‘occupancy restrictions’ and ‘rural exceptional circumstances’. To be complete by December 2016 3 Production of guidance on agricultural and forestry tracks. 3 New guidance to be prepared by Development Manager following completion of Scottish Government Review (expected Summer 2016) 4 The development of a protocol and process for involving Members in providing early key advice for major development planning applications 4 New guidance to be prepared by Development Manager by December 2016 5 Re-design of Planning Enforcement and Validation Service following budget reduction as part of service choices. 5 Review Enforcement Charter, undertake service options appraisal and Business Process Review of service areas Other 1 Produce 5x Conservation Area Appraisals 1 Fill vacant post and set out detailed plan to deliver CA appraisals. 2 Improve the supply of housing 2 Carry out detailed housing land appraisal and audit to establish deliverability and inform LDP2 MIR 3 Deliver Key Sites Action Programme / Strategic Infrastructure Investment Plan 3 Coordinate with Economic Development to produce succinct promotional document. 4 External Scrutiny and audits. Food Standards Scotland undertakes an audit programme for local authorities and a new audit process is being developed. With the resourcing difficulties within environmental health last year, there are a number of major (review of procedures, internal monitoring etc) and minor non-conformities; we need to be proactive in dealing A Food Safety Improvement Plan is being developed to address these issues, include new requirements from Food Standards Scotland and to try and mitigate the outcome of a forthcoming external audit by Food Standards Scotland Implement a Food Safety Improvement Plan which will detail the activities which require to be undertaken meet the Councils
with these issues. statutory obligations as a “food authority” 5 Strategic Review of Trading Standards. Review of trading standards and national/regional delivery still being promoted to address the findings of Audit Scotland report “Protecting Consumers” which raised significant risk to the future of trading standards. The Council, through its Protecting Consumers Action Plan and successfully addressed many of the recommendations in the report at a local level but we await the details of proposals before we make further comment but local delivery/accountability will be an important factor for us to consider. 5 To continue to participate in the national discussions regarding the review and design of future services 6 Review of advice services in Argyll and Bute 6 To undertake a review of the current arrangements for advice services across Argyll and Bute, in consultation with providers, and make recommendations on how the Council can support future arrangements. 7 The age profile of the current Building Standards team requires careful consideration to succession planning 7 Investigate the use of the apprenticeship scheme. Discuss entry requirements with GCU for suitable candidates. Design a training programme for apprentices. Consultation and Engagement We asked (focus of consultation) You said (customer response) We did (improvement actions) 7 customer surveys were undertaken across the specific areas of debt counselling, licensing standards, private landlord registration, trading standards programmed Inspections, trading standards service requests, environmental health programmed inspections and environmental health service requests. The overall response rate was 22% and the general findings were: 77% of customers overall were very satisfied with the overall service they received. 75% were very satisfied with how our staff did their jobs. We are improving the level of communication with customers, to ensure they are kept informed of progress, actions, timescales and any delays. We have developed systems to better manage workload and ensure that case load are reallocated when an officer is absent from work for long periods, or is leaving the Councils employment. LDP Supplementary Guidance was on public consultation for six weeks in October / November. Comments were made by a wide range of public and private sector agencies on a variety of planning policies. Amendments to policies were made, subsequently approved by Full Council and Scottish Government and now adopted for use
in the planning application process. Feedback from User Forums Too many conditions attached to Planning Permissions and suggested outdated use of materials (slate and render). Set up of a working group to examine the issue and draft new conditions. Also review protocol for attaching conditions. Through our various forms of customer and staff engagement: user forums, questionnaires both paper and electronic, newsletters and one to one meetings service improvements have been identified and these are logged in our Building Standards Service Improvement Log which is published and regularly updated on our webpages Comments are regularly made by a wide range of public and private sector agencies and staff on a wide variety of Building Standards issues. Amendments to policies and procedures are made and additional services are provided if possible to ensure our service remains customer focused. All service improvements are logged on our service improvement log which can be viewed on our webpages: Angus Gilmour, Head of Planning and Regulatory Services, 19 July 2016