CT draft
5 years ago
Saturday 1 October 2011
Powys Planning ....and it goes on
Changes are afoot in Powys Planning Services with a confidential report being considered at Powys CC Cabinet on 4th October. It seems that Cllr Wynne Jones Cabinet Portfolio Member for planning has found yet another scapegoat for the failure of the service. We hear that the planning manager for Montgomeryshire is now being pensioned off with the post filled by the manager responsible for the south (Brecknock and Radnorshire) assuming a County-wide role. But where is the senior manager in all this? A certain individual was taken on to fulfil the role of senior manager across the County with two team leaders managing the day-to-day business at Welshpool and Llandrindod. But we now hear that he is assuming a "strategic" role within the planning applications (Development Management) section. Isn't that the role of the Head of Development & Regeneration? Cllr Jones should look to ensure that these two very senior people also do their jobs. As the local MP said on his blog, Powys is too management top heavy with insufficient capacity on the ground to get on with the work in hand.
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I'm not sure if you are an ex-Powys CC employee as you remain anonymous but seem to know a lot of what is going on. But one thing is for sure there has been problems at the Planning Dept for some years now and the Council management had to do something about it. But I agree with you that the new chap in charge based in Llandrindod Wells is not doing very much and the Head of Regeneration also based at Llandrindod and in carge of everything has not involved herself once in planning matters. At a combined salary of £130,000 plus overheads the ratepayers of Powys should expect better. You mention Councillor Jones. It is clear that he is happy with these two puppets as he goes from strength to strength.
ReplyDeleteNo I'm not an ex employee of Powys though live and work in the area. Yes I have tried to get hold of the two officers you mention but they are always unavailable. The people on the ground are good officers and the latest change I suspect will only further expose management problems at the top.
ReplyDeleteWas there not a scrutiny review of Planning at Powys CC recently ??? Did it not find that there were some problems in the North re attitude ?? Did it not also say that there was inconsistency in decision making between North & South Offices ??
ReplyDeleteBearing that in mind, surely the Portfolio Holder Cllr.Wynne Jones and his senior management, have to react to that and to make changes in order to try and solves those problems!!! Powys Planning has improved considerably in the last 2/3 years, but it does need to kick on from where it currently is if its going to become a tip top service and help regeneration in Powys at this difficult economic time.
Well Mid Wales Planning sounds very much like a 'grumpy insider to me'( I wonder who that could be ???) and it also talks a load of codswallop. Firstly I ( Cllr Wynne Jones) was not allowed by protocol anywhere near any appointment panel for the Senior Managers job. Not as I am unhappy with the outcome, he is a great planner and has a very positive attitude towards planning. I am affraid there has been oodless of complaints about the North Office and this was confirmed by the Scrutiny Committee which after investigation clearly stated that there was a problem with the attitude of some personnel in the WelshpoolOffice. Remember I am in possession of the evidence that they based that judgement on !!!. I have toiled long and hard to improve planning in Powys for quite a while and we have improved. But that improvement is not enough and not consistent and it is clear we are not treating applications the same in Northand South. These changes WILL improve the situation and WILL take planning in Powys to a higher level. Watch this space !!!
ReplyDeleteAnon - I still maintain that improvements to customer care is crucial as customers are not well served by Powys Planning service. It is enormously frustrating being a customer of Powys planning service at many levels including access to case officers, access to information (the web site is very poor) and there are few specialists able to support planning staff in technical areas resulting in a lack of confidence in the ability of Powys to deal effectively with large scale complex projects. As an agent active on both sides of the border, I haven't seen improvements - actually I've seen a reduction in service levels over the past year or two. But maybe Councillor Wynne can explain to us how he sees the service developing over the next few years. In particular he should identify precisely the areas that will be improved so that we can judge his performance by his promises then. He mentions this "great planner" - I have never met him despite being active in the north of the county so can't judge his abilities. His staff however tell me that they haven't seen hime either but comment that his loyalties are to Councillor Jones rather than his staff (so no wonder the councillor is so appreciative! Councillor Wynne should monitor the performance of his senior management It is the responsibility of senior managers to deliver improvements and not hide away in the deep south of the county who according to Councillor Wynne are high performers!
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ReplyDeleteRemoved post of 7 November above: upon reflection of this comment from a former Council officer, the blog has been duly revised.
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