UNISON has been raising concerns about problems in planning departments for some time. We published papers based on surveys of members about the issues as long ago as 2013. Many of the current “performance issues” in the system are caused by budget cuts and staff shortages. Local government budgets have been decimated. Staff levels across planning have departments decreased by approximately 20% compared to 2009. Planning revenue spending has fallen 21% since 2010/11: one of the largest reductions in local government.
Scotland's biggest and liveliest public service trade union, representing workers delivering public and related services across Scotland.