Consultants to take on planning backlog

By Richard Wright

Sunday, March 17, 2013

 

CONSULTANTS have been drafted in by the Isle of Wight Council to clear a backlog of planning applications — at a cost of £20,000.

The authority said it was forced to take on consultants because of a relatively high number of applications submitted at the end of last year, coinciding with staff sickness.

It said it had a statutory duty to process applications within laid-down time frames.

The council describes the decision to employ two consultants from the external, local authority-based consultancy, Urban Vision, as 'short-term assistance’ to deal with 37 applications.

"These are, by and large, relatively uncontroversial applications and we expect the majority will be determined under currently agreed delegated powers procedures," said a spokesman.

The council deputy director for economy and environment John Metcalfe said: "It is anticipated the cost of this will be around £20,000, which is covered by planning fees for applications.

"Without this help applications could be delayed or bypass the local process by being taken straight to appeal, which may cost the council more money than if it had been handled within the prescribed time limits."

Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk

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Displaying the last 10 of 24 comments - Show All Comments

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by Don Prescott

19th March 2013, at 06:26:03

Sarah wrote : " Bill Murphy is stuck with a number of lemons "

But not as many as there were pre-2007!

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by David Shoulder

18th March 2013, at 22:00:17

How many are double dipping? So many planning officers retire and become "consultants".

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by Sarah Parker

18th March 2013, at 19:36:02

Get a grip Dave. Bill Murphy is stuck with a number of lemons as staff. He can't do anything with them because of the Unions. In this case, don't blame the chief, blame the lazy Indians who expect to be paid to sit on their backsides whilst suffering from a sniffle or, even worse, a sore throat.

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by alan naylor

18th March 2013, at 16:14:41

Dear John Heelan You are right on the button the firm at the moment is having a JOLLY in Cannes on the south of france they are a firm that was founded only 2 years age with the vison that local councils could not handle or clever enough to do their elected job and we all know about that hense the hiring the 20000 should come out of the pockets of those who s job they are doing a close eye should be kept on these unelected privat builders consutants or it will be open season for the island on building

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by George Hollett

18th March 2013, at 14:27:13

My dealings with the planning unit proved to me that they were all a bunch of misleading, money grabbing charlatans who close ranks at the slightest sign of trouble. They should remember that working for the Council (planning unit) means that you are 'servants to the public'. Instead they wear their little badges making them feel important & hide behind security doors. Sack the lot of them & start again with some honest, hard working people!

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by Jonathan Young

18th March 2013, at 12:07:32

"the cost of this will be around £20,000, which is covered by planning fees for applications". No it isn't covered by planning fees for applications. The planning fees for applications will help to pay the wages of the staff who were sick. The £20,000 is an extra cost which is not covered by any extra revenue. More spin.

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by Terry Dalley

18th March 2013, at 08:28:07

Why are they going to pay someone else to do their work whilst taking their wages for doing so without any responsibility .
Is this not a fiddle of some kind.will they feel guilty of taking their wages and expenses . Don't hold your breath .

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by Sarah Smith

17th March 2013, at 21:15:30

Why do we need to be paying a "deputy director"? It's a very small council. Shed Metcalfe; reallocate the funds and then we can have enough planning staff to cover the occasional sickness absence.

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by kevin froment

17th March 2013, at 21:13:01

is this the way they will pass the asphalt plant plans, all they need to say is that it was down to the consultants, seems a bit dubious to me

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by David Shoulder

17th March 2013, at 20:47:22

This sounds very worrying. On the face of it the door is wide open for dubious practice. At the very least it will be easier to clear a backlog by keep saying yes. What will be their motivation for saying no?!

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.

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