In recognition of its excellent record of regularly exceeding Government targets for processing planning applications and other planning performance targets, Gosport Borough Council has been awarded a Government Grant.
The grant, awarded under the Government’s Planning Delivery Grant criteria, will not only enable the authority to make improvements to planning resources, but also to fund changes to meet new Government requirements in relation to improving and increasing public access to planning services.
“We have already used part of the grant to install an on line planning application system which enables the public to both submit and access planning applications on-line as well as comment on any planning proposals, which makes the whole process so much easier and accessible,” said Councillor Martyn Davis, Chairman of Regulatory Board at Gosport Borough Council.
“The next stage in making our services more accessible will be to upgrade the planning reception area on the 3rd floor of the Town Hall. Work on this will commence in the summer and is expected to last around 4-6 weeks. Temporary facilities will of course be in introduced whilst work takes place so as not to inconvenience our customers.”
Once complete the area will provide much improved access to facilities for the disabled and give public access via PCs to various databases and websites. A video link is also planned which will enable home owners, builders and agents to communicate directly with officers of the Building Control Partnership based at Fareham Council.
Thanks to this government grant the new reception area will provide a modern access point for Building Control, Development Control, Planning Policy, Conservation & Design sections, as well as access to Hampshire County Council’s Highways Team.
It must be stressed this project will be fully funded by Government grant and not by Council Tax or the Council’s Capital programme.
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