Planning Committee's Criticised by Wales Audit Office

The Wales Audit Office has just published its annual improvement report on Swansea Council.

It's a bit of a mixed bag of results for the council. They praise the council for significant improvements to Child & Family Services, but they also say that there are shortcomings that need to be addressed in areas such as governance, business planning and risk management.

One criticism the Wales Audit Office does highlight is the number of planning committee's. Back in June I pointed out the costs of the 4 committee's (up from 2 committee's the previous year), which pays each of the 4 chair's an allowance of £9708. The Wales Audit Office criticises the number of planning committee's and states that it "does not represent an efficient and proper use of resources". The council has been asked to produce an action plan to address their concerns.

At the time the planning committee's were expanded from 2 to 4 there were outcries from opposition councillors that it was not needed. These comments were disregarded as it was felt the planning process had to be improved. However, it is significant that the 4 chairs of the planning committee's are all members of the Swansea Administration. Plus the extra £9708 goes some way to keeping the mix of Lib-Dem, Independent and Plaid councillors happy and keeping the coalition local government in a slim majority.