Planning Appeals Time Taken

Summary

The requester asked for average processing times for written and hearing-based planning appeals for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. The authority responded by disclosing a specific instance of a 2019 decision that took 1,399 days, without providing the requested average statistics.

Key Facts

• The request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on 2019-11-12.
• The authority responded on 2019-12-03 stating all information was sent.
• The response highlighted one specific planning appeal decision in 2019 that took 1,399 days.
• The requested average timeframes for written and hearing appeals were not explicitly provided in the text.
• The requester was informed of their right to an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Data Disclosed

• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 1,399 days
• 2019-11-12
• 2019-12-03
• 1043161

Original Request

For the period 2017 - 2018 can you please supply the average length of time a written appeal takes from the request being received by DEFA to either the Inspector's recommendation being received back by DEFA and / or The Minister's decision with respect to the appeal being made. For the period 2018 - 2019 (to date) can you please supply the average length of time a written appeal takes from the request being received by DEFA to either the Inspector's recommendation being received back by DEFA and / or The Minister's decision with respect to the appeal being made. For the period 2017 - 2018 (to date) can you please supply the average length of time an appeal based on a hearing takes from the request being received by DEFA to either the Inspector's recommendation being received back by DEFA and / or The Minister's decision with respect to the appeal being made. For the period 2018 - 2019 (to date) can you please supply the average length of time an appeal based on a hearing takes from the request being received by DEFA to either the Inspector's recommendation being received back by DEFA and / or The Minister's decision with respect to the appeal being made.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Further information There was one particular decision that took place in 2019 that took a total of 1,399 days from the date of appeal to the decision.

Please quote the reference number 1043161 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely