I have written today to our partners in the e-Consultation Hub project to inform them that the project will close at the end of December 2010.
Like everyone else we are making choices about what we can and should be doing with our resources. We’ve decided that we must focus on supporting and improving the online planning application service (1App) and we simply can’t afford to do both.
I am certain that you will understand the rationale for this decision.
We will be working with our LPA and Consultee partners to minimise disruption and ensure no consultations go astray during the close-down.
I would like to publicly thank each of our partners for their commitment and contribution.
The Portal’s interactive house is one of the most recognisable parts of the site. It was originally designed for use by members of the public who wanted to understand how planning rules work and it has been extremely succesful. Later in the post I recount the history of the house but before doing so I’d like to make you aware of it’s latest exciting incarnation.
House for Sale – no mortgage required
We’ve now moved the house on by stripping it of all content and adding a very simple content management system that will enable anyone (really anyone!) to add whatever content they like, not necessarily planning but anything house or home related.
We’ve already built a Crime Prevention version to demonstrate its potential for non-planning content but the permutations are endless, from providing info to tenants on various scenarios around the home to a sales tool for doors and windows – you decide.
We’ve made it incredibly easy to customise, add new features and content and publish it to the web.
If you’d like to get your foot on the cyber ladder please contact our commercial team
to talk about the costs or access to our demonstrator.
The History of the House Read more…
As previously discussed in my post dated August 25th, we’ve been looking at ways to help you report on the green benefits of online submission.
Well our Carbon Calculator is now live, looking good and ready for you to use.
This is a really useful tool designed specifically for planning to help you measure the benefits of electronic submission and to communicate your environmental commitment to your prospective clients and other stakeholders.
Alongside this we have now launched our Green pledge and Green logo. Lots of companies have already been in touch to tell us they already submit all their planning applications online and we are sending them out pledges to sign and display to let everyone know their commitment to greener working. As part of this process we send them a Green logo to display on their website and marketing material and we’re promoting these enlightened companies on the Portal too.
We have also spoken to companies who want to submit more applications online but need support from us to do so, something we are more than happy to provide in any way we are able to.
If you are currently submitting all your applications online or would like to learn what training and support we have to help you do so please contact our own green goddess Christabel. Read more…
The primary objective of our Corporate Account Managers (CAM’s) is to help business users overcome any issues that are preventing them from using our online application service to its full extent.
Our CAM team provide the training and support needed to help business users quickly benefit from the operational cost savings other users confirm they achieve i.e through streamlining office procedures, improving their competitive edge and helping obtain more timely planning decisions for their clients.
We have found that even regular users of the online application service are not always aware of all the existing Portal functionality. Therefore the CAM team regularly arrange User Surgeries to train new and update long-term users who have embraced online submission.
These live online sessions can be customised to meet the particular requirements of any organisation, including those with multi-disciplinary teams or dispersed teams.
The CAM’s are strategically located around the country and work in partnership with our LPA team to help facilitate improved working between business and LPAs.
If you think your business would benefit from talking to a CAM please get in touch with Christabel christabel.pattison@planningportal.gsi.gov.uk and we’ll introduce you.
Chris
Having run the poll on 1App changes for 4 weeks now, we have found that the following five proposals received 76% of the votes between them.
Reduce the length of the forms 19%
Reduce the need to re-enter data on forms 17%
Create distinction between residential and commercial on full application 16%
Upload multiple attachments 13%
Simplify the supporting documents section 11%
We are now evaluating the cost and technical implications of these improvements and expect to bid for the funds in the very near future. If possible we hope to deliver these improvements within the current financial year however this will be subject to funding being made available.
At the same time and in parallel, we are taking a longer-term view of the 1App service to see whether root and branch improvements can and should be made and importantly how they might be funded. As I’m sure you will appreciate this is a key consideration in the current climate.
Take a look at East Devons innovative approach to engaging people in local planning.
Full marks for trying – who knew planners had a sense of humour!
Chris
Green is good, as Gordon Gecko almost said.
We are aware that a many of our clients have now converted to e-working, we’re just not sure how many.
We are about to offer those enlightened businesses that have fully switched a nice green Planning Portal logo to use as they feel appropriate on their corporate materials.
We hope it will help identify your business as forward thinking and responsible and that in these times that will convert into customers.
We’re also launching a Carbon Calculator specifically designed to enable business or LPA users to calculate exactly how much CO2 e-planning is saving.
By our calculations the Portal will facilitate 25,706 tonnes of CO2 savings over the next four years. If like me you have difficulty visualising what a tonne of CO2 looks like then take a look at the work of Dave Ames, a science teacher at Cohasset High School in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
If you or your company is already submitting all of your planning applications online then please add your company name as a comment below and we’ll be in touch about the logo.
We are working on different ways of displaying our data to make it more understandable. Our plan is to make the raw data available later in the year.
For now, take a look at how July’s online planning application numbers stacked up.
Chris
We haven’t included off-line forms in our main list of 1App improvements because it is essentially new functionality, but a number of Agents have asked for the ability to download an application form, work on it off-line and then upload it to the Portal with attachments.
In the current climate the key question is likely to be O.K but who pays.
To help answer the question here is a short poll to get your feedback.
Thanks
Chris
CLARIFICATION : what we are proposing are forms that can be worked on, on a computer or laptop i.e when with a client, without needing to be on the Internet. These forms could then be automatically uploaded to the Portal when you log on. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH PAPER FORMS!
In our recent poll 72% of you agreed we should shorten and simplify 1App.
As a result we have reviewed all of your suggestions and produced a short-list of those that we believe will have the biggest impact.
I’ve included the list below and I’d welcome your feedback before we progress. At the foot of the post is a poll,please vote for your 3 favourite ideas.
In addition to these key changes we will attempt to incorporate as many of the small but annoying issues we/you have identified.
I can’t promise that we will be able to do all of this, but we hope to do all we can with whatever funds we have available.
More detail on the key changes Read more…
Planning Portal Blog 