Item 7 - Appendix 2
West Dunbartonshire Council · 6 August 2025
Back to Planning Committee — 6 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NATIONAL PLANNING IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK IMPROVEMENT ACTION PLAN 2024 West Dunbartonshire Council ITEM 7 - APPENDIX 2
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A high performing planning authority needs to have the right number of people to do the work expected of it with the rights skills set. It also needs to have a strategy to ensure that it retains and recruits the right staff in the future. It supports staff to upskill and to be prepared for changes in policy, legislation, and new circumstances. Attribute Score (1=Making excellent progress, 5= No progress) 1. The planning authority has sufficient resources and skills to maximise productivity 3 2. The planning authority has a valued and supported workforce 3 Based on the grading above, outline any areas of improvement that are required and by whom and their level of importance (High/ Medium/ Low) and by when (short/ medium/ long term). Improvement Action What action will you take? What will the outcome be? Owner Importance High Medium Low Timescale Short term – 1 year Medium term – 3 years Long term – 3+ years Resources Implement the new back-office document management system and carry out a full end-to-end review of all workflow processes Chief Planning Officer, Development Management Team Leader, Technical Support Co- Ordinator High Short term All service staff will be required to support this process in some way. In conjunction with IDOX and ICT, a project board will be established.
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Develop a workforce strategy and service training plan, including any options/opportunities for restructure or cases for investment Chief Planning Officer High Medium term Chief Officers for relevant service areas, finance and organisational development and People and Change partner. A high performing planning authority has a positive culture through ensuring it has sound governance, effective leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement. The authority has an identified chief planner, who is supported by a strong leadership group to advise on decision-making, policy and operational management. Attribute Score (1=Making excellent progress, 5= No progress) 3. This Planning Authority has embedded continuous improvement 1 4. This Planning Authority has sound governance 3 5. This Planning Authority has effective leadership 1 Based on the grading above, outline any areas of improvement that are required and by whom and their level of importance (High/ Medium/ Low) and by when (short/ medium/ long term). Improvement Action What action will you take? What will the outcome be? Owner Importance High Medium Low Timescale Short term – 1 year Medium term – 3 years Long term – 3+ years Resources
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Complete review of Scheme of Delegation to ensure it is proportionate Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader High Short term Chief Planning Officer, Legal Manager, Chief Officer Regulatory and Regeneration and Elected Members Implement the new back-office document management system and carry out a full end- to-end review of all workflow processes Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader/ Technical Support Co-Ordinator High Short term All service staff will be required to support this process in some way. In conjunction with IDOX and ICT, a project board will be established. Finalise review of committee and delegated Reports of Handling Templates to ensure that they are proportionate and are clear and easy to be understood by a variety of audiences Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader Medium Short term Chief Planning Officer, Development Management Team Leader and Democratic and Registration Services Manager Produce detailed team improvement plans, focusing on improvements that increase efficiency and are clear, including increasing the quality of our customer communication Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader/ Principal Officer Development Planning and Place / Technical Support Co-Ordinator High Short Term All service staff
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A high performing planning authority needs to have an effective local development plan and other strategies in place to provide a vision for the future of the area. It needs to be able to set and deliver on policy ambitions and priorities by clearly informing decision making and providing certainty and predictability for communities, developers and investment. The authority’s development management systems need to be effective in making the right decisions about development and be efficient as possible in doing this. The planning authority makes best use of digital technology and how it manages and uses data. Attribute Score (1=Making excellent progress, 5= No progress) 6. The planning authority has a robust policy and evidence base 3 7. The planning authority makes best use of data and digital technology 3 8. The planning authority has effective and efficient decision-making processes 3 Based on the grading above, outline any areas of improvement that are required and by whom and their level of importance (High/ Medium/ Low) and by when (short/ medium/ long term). Improvement Action What action will you take? What will the outcome be? Owner Importance High Medium Low Timescale Short term – 1 year Medium term – 3 years Long term – 3+ years Resources Implement the new back-office document management system and carry out a full end-to-end review of all workflow processes Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader/ Technical Support Co-Ordinator High Short term All service staff will be required to support this process in some way. In conjunction with IDOX and ICT, a project board will be established.
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Finalise review of committee and delegated Reports of Handling Templates to ensure that they are proportionate and are clear and easy to be understood by a variety of audiences Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader Medium Short term Chief Planning Officer, Development Management Team Leader and Democratic and Registration Services Manager Produce detailed team improvement plans, focusing on improvements that increase efficiency and are clear, including increasing the quality of our customer communication Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader/ Principal Officer Development Planning and Place / Technical Support Co-Ordinator High Short Term All service staff Undertake review of the Development Management and Enforcement Charters and processes to ensure they remain fit for purpose. Development Management Team Leader Medium Short Term Development Management Team
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A high performing planning authority should ensure a wide range of people are involved in shaping their future places. Engagement should be fair and inclusive, early, collaborative, meaningful and proportionate and should include difficult to reach groups. The authority should engage with a wide range of partners at a national, regional and local level to ensure a joined-up approach and that links are made across policies and programmes. The planning authority should demonstrate good customer care, transparency and effective communication. Attribute Score (1=Making excellent progress, 5= No progress) 9. This planning authority has good customer care 3 10. The planning authority has effective engagement and collaboration with stakeholders and communities. 3 Based on the grading above, outline any areas of improvement that are required and by whom and their level of importance (High/ Medium/ Low) and by when (short/ medium/ long term). Improvement Action What action will you take? What will the outcome be? Owner Importance High Medium Low Timescale Short term – 1 year Medium term – 3 years Long term – 3+ years Resources Set up regular agents forum, in conjunction with Building Standards Chief Planning Officer/Development Management Team Leader/ Principal Officer Development Planning and Place/Building Standards Team Leader Medium Short/Medium Term Development Management, Development Planning and Building Standards Carry out wider Service Day (with Building Standards and Environmental Health) to Chief Planning Officer Medium Short All Service staff
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share good practice and workstream updates. This will inform detailed Team Improvement Plans A high performing planning authority should demonstrate place leadership by taking a collaborative place-based approach in line with the Place Principle. It should use the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes in decision-making processes, to achieve the three spatial principles outlined in NPF4: Sustainable places, where we reduce emissions, restore and better connect biodiversity; Liveable places, where we can all live better, healthier lives; and Productive places, where we have a greener, fairer and more inclusive wellbeing economy. The planning authority should seek to ensure that there are no impediments to delivering agreed development. Attribute Score (1=Making excellent progress, 5= No progress) 11. The planning authority supports the delivery of sustainable, liveable and productive places 1 12. This planning authority supports the delivery of appropriate development 2 Based on the grading above, outline any areas of improvement that are required and by whom and their level of importance (High/ Medium/ Low) and by when (short/ medium/ long term). Improvement Action What action will you take? What will the outcome be? Owner Importance High Medium Low Timescale Short term – 1 year Medium term – 3 years Long term – 3+ years Resources Complete review of Scheme of Delegation to ensure it is proportionate Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader High Short term Chief Planning Officer, Legal Manager, Chief Officer Regulatory and Regeneration and Elected Members
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Implement Project Management approach within Development Management Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader High Short/Medium term Development Management, Technical Support and and Uniform Implement the new back-office document management system and carry out a full end-to-end review of all workflow processes Chief Planning Officer, Development Management Team Leader, Technical Support Co-Ordinator High Short term All service staff will be required to support this process in some way. In conjunction with IDOX and ICT, a project board will be established. Explore how “Added Value” can be better captured and reported on Development Management Team Leader High Short Term Uniform system Review Development Management Conditions Chief Planning Officer / Development Management Team Leader High Medium Development Management and other sections of the Council (e.g. Environmental Health, Roads etc.)