Planning and Environmental Appeals Division: annual review 2021 to 2022

Our Priorities For The Coming Year

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 continued to focus on improvement of our services. We published further Guidance Notes covering our ways of working during the pandemic as well as a Guidance Note dealing with managing an efficient inquiry process. This latter Guidance Note is aimed primarily at reducing the time taken to examine and report on Section 36 cases but will also be more widely applied.

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.

We have continued to 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 continued to meet more often than prior to the pandemic.

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 PARD in relation to the implementation of the Planning Act.

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

Business Improvement Objectives/Service Improvement Plan 2022/23

With the aim of continuously 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 less-experienced 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 investigate the technical and other requirements of expanding our offer of hybrid in-person/ virtual hearings and inquiries, promoting efficiency and accessibility beyond Covid-19 restrictions.

We will review our approach to succinct decisions, ensuring a proportionate deployment of resources.

We will continue to work with PARD to progress improvements to the planning system in Scotland, in particular on draft NPF4 and revised development plan examination arrangements.

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.