Project management support for local development frameworks

PAS is offering a Project Management direct support package to help local planning authorities effectively project manage the production of development plan documents. We are offering a simple, tool-based approach that will make performance managing your DPD production process easier.

Why project management?

Preparing a DPD involves a number of stages and associated tasks, involving many participants over an extended timescale. Slippage on local development schemes has been almost universal and is a strong indication of the need for improved project management.

Setting effective management arrangements in place at the beginning ensures that:

• clear objectives and expectations are established
• responsibilities are clear and transparent
• risks are identified and minimised
• time spent and costs are reduced. 

PAS support offer

The support we offer is tailored, practical and hands on. It is designed to build capacity within the council to roll out effective project plans for all DPDs.

The support package includes:

• an independent review of the Council’s LDS and schedules, including the resources and management arrangements in place to achieve it;
• training on the importance of project management for the LDF, key principles and features. This is illustrated by best practice examples;
• practical advice on how you can put in place procedures and plans to improve project management of the LDF. This includes exploring possible organisational structures and reporting procedures within the Council and in partnership with others, identifying key roles and best practice approaches to risk management and project assurance.
• a step by step approach to accurately scheduling your priority DPD, including project and resource planning. This includes defining the key tasks for each of the main work packages, developing a resource plan to achieve the tasks and producing a schedule to meet LDS milestones;
• recommendations for further action and other sources of support. This offers practical assistance in areas such as ways of resolving identified skills gaps and recommendations on procedures to implement the priority DPD project plan;
• progress review and further advice. This will be a follow up meeting to discuss progress and how to overcome obstacles being encountered and this may include advice on accessing further support.

The support package is delivered over 3 sessions with the LDF team and includes roundtable discussions, workshops and presentations.

Feedback on PAS project management support

77 percent of councils receiving a diagnostic visit from PAS were recommended support on project management. The PAS support for project management had 80 percent take-up indicating that the consequences of poor project management are clearly recognised by the sector. The course has been very well received to date with 91 percent overall satisfaction. Participants have found the charts and tools provided with the training particularly useful.

Community of practice

The CoP is also a space where you can share your thoughts, ask questions of authorities that have used the packages and consultants delivering the support.

The materials used as part of our support will be made available in the community of practice shortly. Sign-up for email alerts to get notification of when they are available.

Plan making support CoP - on the Communities of Practice website
Register for Communities of Practice

Costs

The cost of direct support is subsidised by PAS. Some authorities may be eligible to receive this support free of charge.

The guidance and supporting materials will be made available free of charge.

Contact us

Please contact us on 020 7296 6184 or email pas@idea.gov.uk to find out more, arrange for the support to be delivered or ask any questions about the support on offer.