Delays in responding to planning applications were branded “unacceptable” last night by councillors.

St Albans District Council has, in recent months, left dozens of applications unanswered and accumulated a sizeable backlog of cases – much to the ire of residents and councillors.

At a meeting of the council’s new ruling Conservative cabinet last night, residents were given an assurance by new planning portfolio holder Councillor Teresa Heritage that things would get better.

She said: “When I came into post on 18th May, the backlog of planning applications awaiting to be processed – ie they were out of time for determination – numbered 200. More personnel had been seconded onto the planning team to deal with clearing the system and some overtime instituted, but this appears to have only been a recent action.”

The backlog in December, she added, total some 557 cases – a backlog that was cause in part by the introduction of a new computer system.

Councillor Heritage added: “The poor performance of the planning department has been unacceptable. I have spoken to the planning officer team, who I know really want to deliver a better service to the public. “ The current backlog, she added, would be cleared by June – even if this meant staff working overtime.

Council chief executive Daniel Goodwin said he accepted many of the points raised but stressed that the number of cases dealt with was often a “poor measure of satisfaction with the process.” Quality, he added, was as important as speed.

Councillor Chris Brazier, planning portfolio under the deposed Liberal Democrat administration, was also critical of the Conservatives’ criticisms of his former department.

He said: “What they have got to remember is that when I took over planning it was from a Conservative councillor and, at that time, the planning department was reporting each week to the secretary of state because the department was said to be failing. I think they are over egging the pudding on this one. I actually think the department is in a much better position now than when we took over.”

Councillor Brazier also argue that much of the current pressure on the department was caused by a soaring number of applications for home improvements – made by families who can no longer afford to move home. Applications, he said, had risen from 2,000 a year to 3,000 a year.

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