The Householder Appeals Service Making it easier, simpler and quicker Sean Canavan Head of Quality...

The Householder Appeals Service

Making it easier, simpler and quickerMaking it easier, simpler and quicker

Sean Canavan

Head of Quality and Special Projects

What is the Householder Appeals Service?

• It’s a new way of working

• It saves time – simpler

• It saves resources

• It builds on good practice of Local Planning Authorities (LPAs)

• Proportionate process & procedures

Householder Appeals Service – Making it easier, simpler and quicker

Driver: Improving the Service

• Government White Paper

• 80% of Fast tracked appeals are dealt with in 8 weeks

• Householder cases (approx 6000 a year)

• More proportionate approach

• 8 weeks – 12 weeks – 8 weeks

• Mandatory from April 2009


Desired Outcomes

• Quality of the decision is maintained

• New targets are met

• Customer experience is improved

• Improvements in performance and process for LPAs


Underlying Principles

• Administer the appeal by using the original electronic application file held by the LPA

• This demonstrates joined up government by utilising the advances many LPAs have made in meeting the government's e-government agenda.


What is the Pilot scheme?

• Launched January 2008

• Voluntary basis only

• Looking to test and validate assumptions

• Feeds findings into main project

• Cannot maximise full potential without legislative changes

• Gain support from appellants and LPAs

• Time and cost based incentives

• Easing the pain of Business Change


Procedure Changes For LPAs

• Planning file must be in 100% e-format

• All communication will be by email including questionnaire and policies (Where the Appellant has an email address)

• Based on a well written planning decision notice

• No formal statement sent

• No need to attend the site visit

• Planning officers can be freed up to tackle more complex issues


Procedure Changes For Appellant / Inspectorate

• New shortened appeal forms and questionnaire

• Forms can be e-mailed to Inspectorate

• No need to send additional supporting evidence

• No need to attend the site visit – ‘Access Required’ site visits

• Inspector uses ‘e-file’ with covering plans/application form in hard copy


Pilot ‘v’ Full Service

Pilot

• 6 months (26 weeks) to appeal• Decision within 12 weeks• Appellant may submit an

additional statement after initial grounds of appeal

• Third party right to comment on appeal

Full service

• 12 weeks to appeal, reducing to 8• Decision within 8 weeks• No further statement from the

appellant• No third party right to comment


How long is it taking?

Speed of Decision for Pilot

26%

17%

13%

22%

22%

8 weeks or less

8-9 weeks

9-10 weeks

10-11 weeks

11-12 weeks


How useful are the changes?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Ques

tion

naire

Ele

ctro

nic

File

No S

tate

men

tSite

Vis

it

LPA Feedback on Usefulness of Changes Introduced

Very Useful UsefulNeither


Appellant Feedback

‘I would recommend the Fast Track Householder Appeals process to others in the future. The Fast Track Householder Appeals process offered a guaranteed time-frame with clear predetermined steps.

The appeal process was entirely fair, satisfactory and effective’

Mr N Joshi, Edgware, Middlesex


Appellant/Agent Feedback

• Positive even where decision has gone against them

• Like speed of decision

• All responses agree that the appeal form is easy or very easy to complete

• 90% of Appellants/Agents responding are satisfied or very satisfied with the Site Visit arrangements


LPA feedback

‘We found the pilot really useful. The ability to quickly assemble all the key documents online, cut down the expense and time of putting the appeal together. The whole process has enabled our planning officers to be used in a more effective way. The changes have certainly saved us considerable time and money‘

David Groom (Head of Development Control, New Forest District Council)


LPA Feedback

• Positive response with 75% of LPAs satisfied or very satisfied

• Most positive aspect was speed of the process

• LPAs find the fact that there is no need to attend the Site Visit as the most useful of the changes as part of the Pilot.

• Not having to submit an appeal file is seen as useful or very useful

• LPAs also like the shorter questionnaire, and in the majority of cases, providing files electronically (One LPA cited overhead of checking e-file and getting re-indexing/scanning of documents as an issue)

• Contentious area is inability to provide a statement on committee overturns (this area is being addressed on an individual basis for the Pilot).


Pilot Overview as of September 2008


Appeals received 88

Appeals decided 54

Within 8 weeks 6

Within 12 weeks 48

Missing Target 0

LPAs signed up 30

LPAs submitting cases 16

Inspectors signed up to the pilot 17

Inspectors deciding Appeals

Salaried 12

NSI 3

Appeals Received and Decisions I ssued by Month

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Jan

Feb

Mar Apr

May

June

July

Aug Sep

AppealsDecisions

Marketing our product – focused engagement

• RTPI Planning Convention

• Planning Portal workshops

• Planning Portal ‘landing page’

• Letter sent to Heads of Planning and DC Managers

• Regional RTPI events

• Pilot project manager


Summary

• The Pilot is a success• Meeting and exceeding our targets• Inspectors like the site visit flexibility• Appellants like quicker decisions• LPAs like the improved processes• Appreciation of business change• Underpinned by effective communications


The Householder Appeals Service Making it easier, simpler and quicker Sean Canavan Head of Quality...

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