Figures for the first third of the financial year show that Perth & Kinross Council's planning service has continued to show improved performance.

The statistics show an increase of 6% in the proportion of all planning applications decided within two months compared with the previous year. The improvement in the proportion of the small-scale "householder" planning applications decided within two months has been even more marked, jumping from 70% to 81%.

Head of Service, Roland Bean, said: "This increase means that one third of the way into the new financial year, we are exceeding the targets set for us by the Council in our Improvement Plan for 08/09.

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"We are also making inroads into recruiting new staff which will help take the service forward. We have recently filled a long-vacant post for a planning officer and we are also to appoint a further planner, enforcement officer and clerical officer. Once these staff are in place I expect to see further improvements in our performance."

Jim Valentine, Depute Director of the Council's Environment Service, added: "These latest performance figures show that the planning service is moving very much in the right direction.

"The Council is investing in extra staff. We are committed to achieving further progress, and meeting the big challenges the Service faces. Staff have a very heavy workload, and often put in extra hours. It should be remembered that staff have dealt with a growth of 51% in the number of applications received in the last seven years. Last year alone, productivity in deciding applications increased by 14%. The Council has dealt with 10 of the 22 windfarm appeals in Scotland, which is itself a huge workload. Each planning officer is dealing with 50% more applications than the national recommendation.

"I am delighted that the hard work of staff is paying off, as is shown in these encouraging statistics."

(GK/JM)