A NEW development control manager could be employed in Pendle as part of a programme to improve the planning service.

The move follows a report from by the Audit Commission earlier this year which said the development control service provided by Pendle Borough Council was 'fair' but with uncertain prospects for improvement.

It scored one star out of a possible three because, since its first inspection in May 2001, inspectors believed it had improved its internal systems and processes.

A report will be presented to the executive on Thursday by executive director (services), John Kirk, setting out how the council aims to implement inspectors' recommendations.

The first step was to appoint an independent consultant to commission a report on an audit of systems, processes and performance of the development control system.

The consultant recommended appointing a development control manager to drive and control systems and processes and ensure service delivery from the professional officers

It also advised looking at systems in other councils to try to 'strike the right balance' between democratic involvement and efficiency

Fully delegating the majority of enforcement powers to the planning manager was another recommendation

The Audit Commission also recommended setting up a development control committee to decide on planning applications in consultation with area committees. Finally, it said improved IT investment and officer training was needed.

The council has been given £75,000 of government cash for 2003/2004 to tackle its weaknesses, which included the need for some improvement in the speed of processing applications as only 63 per cent were decided within eight weeks in the second quarter of 2002/03.

Further assessments of councils will take place between June 2003 and May 2004 and if improvements have been made a second larger grant will be made which could be up to £150,000. Mr Kirk will recommend to the executive that the cost of employing a development control manager be taken from the planning delivery grant and that a new Camino computer system, already used in the benefits section, also be funded through the grant.

He said: "The pressure is on to make significant change and improvements to the planning service in Pendle, especially in the area of development control. The recommendations the council have received fall into two main areas of activity -- the officer and systems organisation of the service and the democratic process.

"The recommendation the council has received would mean large changes in both of these areas of activity and it is proposed to deal with both separately."

The working group, made up of portfolio holders for resources, performance and environment, the chairman of development control, Coun Frank Clifford, the chairman and vice-chairmen of the area committees, the planning manager, Andy Wiggett, and executive director (services), John Kirk, will be asked to submit a report to the next meeting of the executive.

It will consist of a suggested scheme of delegation of planning decisions and enforcement, recommendations for the role and frequency of committees and for member training, and details of visits made to other councils.