Building Control Performance Indicators

 

View the quarterly performance indicator graph as a larger gif image, 28kb.

 

 

Ind No.	Indicator	Target	Q1 2008	Q2 2008	Q3 2008	Q4 2008
9	Percentage of applications decided within 5 weeks.	72%	69.0%	78.2%	77.9%	75.0%
10	Percentage of applications checked within 2 weeks.	60%	63.0%	54.7%	70.6%	61.7%
11	Percentage of applications checked within 3 weeks.	80%	85.2%	78.1%	82.3%	74.4%
12	First time approvals.	75%	96.6%	97.1%	100.0%	100.0%

 

 

Ind No.	Indicator	Target	2008	2009
9	Percentage of applications decided within 5 weeks.	72%	63.1%	75.0%
10	Percentage of applications checked within 2 weeks.	60%	51.8%	62.5%
11	Percentage of applications checked within 3 weeks.	80%	76.0%	80.0%
12	First time approvals.	75%	97.2%	98.4%

 

This review is to consider the 12 performance indicator standards set for the various services within the Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council Building Control Department for the year 2009.

 

The standards were set in 2001 as part of the council’s Quality Improvement Scheme (QIS) under the general guidance of Best Value.

 

The targets were set so as to be challenging and devised from customer feedback questionnaire replies and results of a District Surveyors Association (DSA) benchmarked national survey.

 

Of the 12 performance indicators 8 exceeded the set targets.  Of the remaining 4, indicators 1 & 2 dealing with approval times are in part influenced by the time taken for applicants to return requested amendments.

 

Customer feedback suggests that indicators 4, 5, and 6 are the indicators that are of most importance; these monitor times taken to check applications and give feedback to the applicant.  Indicator 4, domestic applications checked in less than 2 weeks was only 1.85% from meeting the target.  Indicators 5 & 6, domestic and non domestic applications checked in less than 3 weeks both exceeded the set targets.

 

As stated above indicators 1, 2 & 3 dealing with approval times are influenced by the applicants themselves as in most instances they are dependent on the time taken for applicants to respond to queries raised on the application; it must however be noted that 100% of applications have been dealt with in the required statutory time periods.

 

Indicator 8, sites inspected within 9 months has shown 9.38% drop on the previous year; this however could have been expected due to the fact that time limits for the taking of enforcement action have been increased this indication has lost much of its importance.

 

If the indicators are looked at as a whole the average target is 72.25% with performance levels achieved being 73.43%, this shows an overall increase in performance of 6.99% on the previous year.

 

Of the 12 standards 11 have shown an increase on the previous year.

 

From the above it can be seen that it would appear that performance levels have increased over the last 12 months in comparison to the previous year, it is felt that this may in some part be due to the fact that the Building Control Trainee is approaching the end of his training and is now starting to add value to the section combined with the fact that 2008 saw a high rate of sickness within the section (30 weeks)

 

Fee earning application numbers have decreased slightly on the previous year but this has been offset by the facts that several larger commercial schemes have been deposited which are obviously more involved and time consuming.  Non fee earning applications have shown a significant increase over the last couple of years with numbers increasing from 232 in 2007 to 1241 in 2009.  This has placed further pressures on the administrative staff as the applications still need to be mapped and logged.

 

Fee earning application numbers are still 20% higher than when the performance indicators were set in 2001; staff levels have also reduced from this period.

 

As 8 out of the 12 targets being met and another 2 being within 2% of meeting the set standards it can be seen that improvements have been made over the previous period.

 

With the current indicators being set some time ago it is planned to review these over the coming 12 months and assess if they are still fully relevant to the section.

 

Feedback from our on ongoing customer questionnaire does not reveal any serious dissatisfaction with the level of service being provided.

There are no related links for this page.