MOVES to speed up the planning process in York have been given the green light by City of York councillors.

As part of a new package to tackle an increasing number of applications, members of the council's planning committee discussed allowing officers to take more decisions without referring them to councillors.

The Evening Press reported earlier this year that the Audit Commission found, when it examined the city council's performance for 2002-03, that only 18 per cent of major applications were determined within 13 weeks, compared with a Government target of 60 per cent.

Under the scheme, officers could consider issues like deciding on applications to fell individual trees in areas covered by Tree Preservation Orders, dealing with dangerous buildings, and agreeing to minor amendments to previously agreed plans.

York architect Matthew Laverack told the committee he thought the increased use of delegated powers would be counter-productive.

He said: "What is happening nationwide is that if an officer finds the slightest thing in an application he or she doesn't like then the case is summarily dismissed under delegated authority without any attempt to negotiate a satisfactory proposal and without giving the applicants any opportunity to put their case directly to elected members.

"The first that any applicant or agent knows what is happening is when they receive a rejection notice out of the blue with grounds for refusal which are at best weak and at worst ridiculous."

Labour group leader Dave Merrett said what mattered most was the quality of the decisions made, as people would have to live with them for a substantial period of time.

Updated: 15:03 Friday, February 27, 2004