THE Government has announced it will plough more than £600,000 into helping speed up the planning process in York plus North and East Yorkshire.

The cash, unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, is part of a £130 million allocation which will be given to local authority planning departments across the country.

The troubled planning department at Ryedale District Council will benefit with more than £200,000, while York's planning department will get £150,000.

City of York Council's executive member for planning and transport, Coun Ann Reid, said: "This is more than last year and more than we had expected.

"We have Government targets to meet, which is difficult in a city like York, so extra money that will help us is always welcome."

Coun Reid said it had not yet been decided what the money would be spent on, but it could include taking on more staff and introducing new technology.

Ryedale District Council, which was last year branded one of the worst-performing planning authorities in the country, was given the third highest handout in North Yorkshire.

The chairman of its planning committee, Coun Allin Jenkins, said: "We hoped to get some money. but did not know what to expect. It is pleasing we have had this amount."

Ryedale's planning department received no stars out of a possible three in an Audit Commission report last year.

But Coun Jenkins said changes made since then, which included switching to one planning committee instead of having two area committees, had resulted in improvements, and the handout reflected that.

He said: "The amount of money we received shows the success of the road we went down when we became one planning committee."

The Government also announced grants of £93,351 to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, £79,185 to Hambleton District Council and £98,981 to North Yorkshire County Council.

Planning Minister Keith Hill said: "Planners need to be properly resourced if they are to deliver the radical reforms we have set out.

"Providing a quality planning service is not just about taking quick decisions, although that is important.

"This year's allocation criteria recognise that and reward a broad range of planning activity. Where an authority receives a large award it is because they are delivering in at least one important area.

"However, there is no room for complacency and authorities should be aware that they will not receive further reward unless they continue to improve or maintain high levels of performance."

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, March 16, 2004