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November 2023 - Local Government

Two-thirds of local authority planners believe their teams lack capacity to achieve strategic goals: A recent survey conducted by the non-profit social enterprise, Public Practice, has unveiled that 66% of planning and placemaking professionals working in local government believe that their teams lack the necessary resources and expertise to address their authority's strategic goals. 

While the specific priorities of local authorities may vary, common strategic objectives include fostering prosperity and opportunity for residents, reducing inequality and poverty, and working towards achieving net-zero targets.

Public Practice designed the Recruitment and Skills Survey to shed light on the skills gaps and the consequences of resource shortages on placemaking professionals and their teams across England. 

The survey results indicate that the morale and job satisfaction of these professionals are negatively impacted by this lack of capacity. More than half of the respondents (54%) expressed difficulties in retaining staff, with 14% of them expressing a desire to leave the public sector

The capacity challenges faced by local government are compounded by the fact that more than three-quarters of placemaking professionals (78%) reported difficulties in attracting suitably qualified or skilled candidates to fill the capacity gaps within their teams. Furthermore, nearly one-fifth of respondents (17%) noted that their recruitment efforts failed to yield suitable candidates, exacerbating the capacity problems in local authority planning and placemaking teams.

The survey also revealed that almost two-thirds of local authority placemaking professionals (65%) believe that their teams lacked adequate skills in environmental sustainability. Additionally, 62% noted a deficiency in data and digital skills, and 61% identified a shortage of expertise in architecture, urban design, and masterplanning.

Concerns were also raised regarding the diversity of local authority placemaking teams, with over two-fifths of respondents expressing the belief that their teams did not currently represent the diversity of the population they serve accurately.

Victoria Hills, the Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, commented:

"The results of this research reveal a concerning reality for local authorities, but provide an accurate depiction of what we are seeing in our own research. On the ground, Local Planning Authorities struggling under the weight of budget reductions, resulting in unmanageable workloads and overstretched staff.

“Without well-resourced, qualified planners, Local Planning Authorities cannot meet the crucial housing and infrastructure needs of our communities. Whilst we welcome recent announcements on the planning skills delivery fund, we must urgently address the systemic resourcing issues to safeguard both our economy and the well-being of planners.”

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