Post by Sherford on Aug 7, 2008 8:52:35 GMT
THE South Hams has planned its way to a £1million Government grant — the third highest award of its kind in the country.
The cash comes in the shape of a delivery grant, awarded to local authorities who hit all their planning services targets.
It is also a recognition of the major planning efforts the district is making over the new town that is to be built at Sherford on the outskirts of Plymouth and the work on a new local plan for the entire district.
The money will be spent on continuing this work as well as making further improvements to its planning services.
Council leader John Tucker said: "The council has invested in the future of the district by putting plans in place to help deliver affordable homes and land for quality jobs over many years to come.
"This award is not only welcome recognition of our hard work, success and far-sightedness, it also recognises the costs which can be involved and will help the council to continue to make sure we deliver value for money without adding to the tax bill for local people."
The award is based on achievements in a number of areas including:
Speed and effectiveness of plan making;
www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Cash-accolade-planners/article-254614-detail/article.html
Meeting and exceeding Government targets for speed in determining all categories of planning applications; and
Improving planning performance across the board.
Lee Bray, the council's head of community regeneration, said: "This is well-deserved recognition of the immense efforts made by the council — members and officers — over several long, hard years to put in place sound plans for the future of the South Hams.
"The Local Development Framework Core Strategy and the Sherford plan have been highlighted as the main reason for the high level of grant, and the extra funds will help with the difficult task of seeing those plans through to delivery on the ground."
The cash comes in the shape of a delivery grant, awarded to local authorities who hit all their planning services targets.
It is also a recognition of the major planning efforts the district is making over the new town that is to be built at Sherford on the outskirts of Plymouth and the work on a new local plan for the entire district.
The money will be spent on continuing this work as well as making further improvements to its planning services.
Council leader John Tucker said: "The council has invested in the future of the district by putting plans in place to help deliver affordable homes and land for quality jobs over many years to come.
"This award is not only welcome recognition of our hard work, success and far-sightedness, it also recognises the costs which can be involved and will help the council to continue to make sure we deliver value for money without adding to the tax bill for local people."
The award is based on achievements in a number of areas including:
Speed and effectiveness of plan making;
www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Cash-accolade-planners/article-254614-detail/article.html
Meeting and exceeding Government targets for speed in determining all categories of planning applications; and
Improving planning performance across the board.
Lee Bray, the council's head of community regeneration, said: "This is well-deserved recognition of the immense efforts made by the council — members and officers — over several long, hard years to put in place sound plans for the future of the South Hams.
"The Local Development Framework Core Strategy and the Sherford plan have been highlighted as the main reason for the high level of grant, and the extra funds will help with the difficult task of seeing those plans through to delivery on the ground."