Carlisle Planners have reason to celebrate the half yearly Planning Performance Checklist of local authorities' handling of planning applications that has recently been published showing Carlisle as the 69th best planning authority in the country.

The performance checklist shows at a glance how local planning authorities are reaching decisions on planning applications in the year ending September 2008. The Checklist shows performance against the three handling targets set from 1 April 2002 with the emphasis on the need for timely handling of major applications.

The City Council improved its performance in dealing with major planning applications by 19% between the year ending March 2008 and the year ending in September 2008. Performance rose from 63.2% to 82.3% and was the joint third biggest improvement in the Country.

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The Council received 62 major applications, with 82% of those being decided in under 13 weeks, 339 minor applications were received, with 73% being decided in less than eight weeks and 705 other applications were received, with 86% being decided in under eight weeks.

Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure said: "This outstanding performance is to be welcomed. To be third best improved planning authority nationally, now ranked 69th in the country for major applications, and processing 82% of applications in under the 13 weeks required by government is an outstanding achievement. We have continued to build on our performance and our 19% improvement on last year has only been achieved through the hard work and dedication of our staff and their commitment to ensuring they provide the best possible service to the residents of Carlisle."

(CD/JM)