WEST Somerset Council's planning department has beaten its targets for performance over the past year.

Staff at the cash-strapped authority have been praised and told the figures are "very impressive" after performing well above the percentage level set for determining all three categories of applications - major, minor and other - within the specified time.

In the past year a total of 374 applications have been determined, 332 - or 89 per cent - of which were approved.

These included 16 major applications, 115 minor and 243 which fell into the 'other' category.

In all, 91 per cent of the decisions were delegated, meaning that they did not go before the authority's planning committee but were considered by officers in conjunction with committee chairman Cllr Tony Knight.

The department was set targets of determining 60 per cent of major applications on time but achieved 75 per cent, with the 65 per cent target for minor applications being smashed with a 95 per cent performance.

But most impressively, with an 80 per cent target for other applications, staff actually achieved a 99 per cent result.

In a memo to staff, deputy planning manager Kenneth Taylor said: "The figures for the year are very impressive and show that we are providing our customers with a good service.

"I would like to thank everyone for the hard work involved in achieving this."

Cllr Knight told the Free Press that he was very proud of the department: "I go into the offices on most days and I have always found the staff dedicated, conscientious and committed," he said.

"They have a lot to cope with because, in addition to dealing with applications, they have site visits to attend as well as meeting the public to give advice.

"They do not always make universally popular decisions and they are often difficult decisions, but they are always made properly."