The Planning Performance Review Sub-Committee met on Monday 14 April 2025 to review the performance of the Building Control, Land Charges, and Street Naming and Numbering services, as well as the council's planning decision performance. Key discussions included challenges in recruiting Building Control staff due to national pressures and the Building Safety Act, positive performance in Land Charges and Street Naming and Numbering, and the council's continued success in meeting planning application deadlines.

Performance Report on Building Control, Land Charges and Street Naming and Numbering

Barry Coughlan, Head of Statutory Planning and Building Control (HSPBC), presented a report detailing the performance of these services. He highlighted that the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Be First, originally established in 2017, was updated in 2023 to include these three services, with an annual performance reporting requirement. Marilyn Smith, Head of Planning Assurance, noted that the KPI refinement for these services was ongoing to ensure relevant targets and outcomes.

Building Control (BC) The Building Control team enforces Building Regulations to ensure safe, accessible, and energy-efficient buildings, and provides a 24/7 emergency response for dangerous structures. Mr. Coughlan explained that the Building Safety Act 2022, introduced following the Grenfell tragedy, has significantly impacted the BC team with new operational and staffing requirements. This, combined with a new classification system for Registered Building Inspectors, has created recruitment challenges. The team is currently understaffed, and recruitment for two key posts remains difficult due to a national shortage of experienced professionals. This has led to three out of eight KPIs not being met, with two recording 0%. However, with one post recently filled and interviews underway for another, improvements are anticipated. A new fee schedule and inspection framework are also expected to enhance performance.

Councillor Muhammad Saleem, Chair of the committee, expressed concern about the impact of these national issues on local development. Mr. Coughlan clarified that the BC team primarily handles non-major domestic projects, not large strategic developments, which are overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). However, the Building Safety Act does have a broader impact on development due to safety certification requirements for tall buildings.

Regarding the underperformance in Building Control KPIs, it was confirmed that none of the three missed targets were statutory requirements. The 0% performance related to the timeframe for receiving site inspection plans and full application plans, which, while not statutory, are Be First's internal targets. The team's statutory responsibilities, such as dealing with dangerous structures, are being met.

Land Charges This service is responsible for maintaining the local land charges register, conducting searches, and updating records. The team has consistently exceeded its KPIs for search responses and query handling. Notably, the team was shortlisted for the Land Data Customer Services Award in 2025 and has been working closely with His Majesty's Land Registry on the migration of the Local Land Charges Register.

Street Naming and Numbering The team assigns names and numbers to new properties, manages the approved names list, and maintains records. They have maintained a high level of performance, exceeding all KPIs. The team received a 'Platinum' award for street data and an award for 'Most Improved Borough' from Geo Place in 2024, reflecting significant work in correcting historical inaccuracies in the Local Land and Property Gazetteer.

In response to a question about complaints regarding street names, it was noted that while there have been enquiries, particularly through national FOIs concerning place name changes due to perceived connotations, there have been no such complaints within the borough. The only changes made were due to administrative errors. The HSPBC agreed to provide further information on the process of member consultation for the approved list of street names.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.

Review of Planning Decisions - Performance Report (April 2024 - March 2025)

Lewis Goodley, Development Management Team Leader (DMTL), presented a report on the council's planning decision performance. The council was ranked joint first nationally and in London for determining both major and non-major development decisions within the statutory eight-week period, achieving 100% compliance. This performance has been maintained for 18 consecutive months and for over four years at 100% on-time decisions. This aligns with government aspirations to expedite the planning process.

The report also highlighted an 86% approval rate for householder applications, a significant increase from 65% the previous year, against an aspirational target of 67%. This improvement was attributed to officers working with applicants to resolve issues before refusal. The overall average for statutory application returns was 72%, exceeding the MHCLG average of 72%. The Development Management Team had also been shortlisted for the Planning Awards 2025.

Councillor Jack Shaw, Deputy Chair, raised a query regarding a discrepancy in the appeal dismissal rates reported. The DMTL clarified this was a drafting error, confirming that 71% of appeals were dismissed over the 12-month period, an increase from 68% the previous year. The year-on-year fluctuations in appeal statistics were attributed to the adoption of the new Local Plan and the Planning Inspectorate's decisions, as well as the number of appeals received in specific quarters.

The committee reviewed a sample of delegated planning and appeal decisions. The DMTL provided an overview of one delegated planning decision and one appeal decision.

• 123 Goresbrook Road, Dagenham, RM9 6YG: This application for a new two-storey, two-bedroom dwelling was refused. The reasons for refusal included the inappropriate siting and massing impacting the street scene and the Becontree Estate (a non-designated heritage asset), harm to neighbouring amenity, and insufficient information regarding parking arrangements.
• 63 Neasham Road, Dagenham, RM8 2LU: This appeal against a refusal for a double-storey side extension and single-storey front extension and garage was dismissed. The Inspector found that the proposed development would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the host dwelling and the surrounding Becontree Estate, conflicting with development plan policies.

The Chair, Councillor Muhammad Saleem, commended the council's planning performance, describing Barking and Dagenham as an exemplary authority. He extended thanks to Barry Coughlan, his team at Be First, Marilyn Smith, and the council's officers for their efforts in achieving these outstanding results.

The Sub-Committee noted the report and the decisions made.