Planning and Environmental Appeals: annual review 2020 to 2021

Our Priorities for The Coming Year

Business Improvement Objectives/Service Improvement Plan 2020/21

With the aim of improving DPEA's efficiency and effectiveness, in order to further enhance the reputation of the planning system in Scotland, we continued to focus on improvement of our services. We consulted on ways in which we could encourage enhanced participation in the appeals process and improve the quality of our decision making. In respect of the former and in collaboration with our Stakeholder Group we produced an easy read guide for those participating in our work, with a focus on those being involved for the first time. We see this very much as a live document which we will continue to improve with feedback.

We have continued to embed business improvement policies designed to broaden and deepen the skills of all reporters, with a particular emphasis on developing the experience and competence of newer and newly appointed reporters. In this respect seven reporters have either been or are being mentored through co-appointment on Section 36 applications.

We liaise on an ongoing basis with our sister organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to share best practice, in particular this year with regard to delivering our services during Covid-19 restrictions. In practice we have met more often than any previous year, grasping the opportunities offered by virtual meetings.

We have continued to take steps to improve our efficiency in meeting targets for making decisions on appeals and other cases and whilst the pandemic may have impacted on this the results are better than we might have anticipated.

We reviewed our practices during the current Covid-19 situation with a view to capturing service improvements in our delivery models, both during the current pandemic and beyond. During the course of the pandemic we produced and published 12 guidance notes setting out how we would manage our work. Our well-developed Casework Management System stood us in good stead for a short-notice move to homeworking for caseworkers. We quickly found solutions to virtual meetings and in most instances were able to find working alternatives to site inspections. We also adopted novel approaches to site inspections.

We have continued to work with PAD in relation to the implementation of the Planning Act.

We have continued our programme of meetings with councils to share and implement best practice on appeals and other casework. This included our work with the Improvement Service to develop and deliver training to planning authorities. The Chief Reporter continued to offer and hold meetings with local authority planning committees to discuss the role of DPEA and share experiences.

We continue our programme of early engagement with planning authorities to better facilitate the submission of local developments plans for examination.

We have further developed our IT systems including integration with Planning and Architecture casework and also improvements to our case management system and case website.

Business Improvement Objectives/Service Improvement Plan 2021/22

With the aim of improving DPEA's efficiency and effectiveness, in order to further enhance the reputation of the planning system in Scotland, we will continue to focus on improvement of our services. We will consult on ways in which we can encourage enhanced participation in the appeals process and improve the quality of our decision making.

We will continue to embed business improvement policies designed to broaden and deepen the skills of all reporters, with a particular emphasis on developing the experience and competence of newer and newly appointed reporters.

We will liaise with our stakeholders and also sister organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to share and implement best practice in particular with regard to delivering our services during the current Covid-19 situation and beyond.

We will continue to take steps to improve our efficiency in meeting targets for making decisions on appeals and other cases. In particular we will focus on cases that where inquiry sessions are held.

We will continue to work with PAD to progress improvements to the planning system in Scotland, in particular on work in preparing the draft NPF4.

We will continue our programme of meetings with councils to share and implement best practice on appeals and other casework. This will include continuing our work with the Improvement Service to develop and deliver training to planning authorities. The Interim Chief Reporter will continue to offer and hold meetings with local authorities to discuss the role of DPEA.

We will continue our programme of early engagement with planning authorities to better facilitate the submission of local developments plans for examination. We will commence liaison of a similar nature in relation to Core Path Plans.

We will further develop our IT systems.