Aims of Research:

1. To investigate the reasons for the bottleneck in the development approval process
2. To assess the credibility of the assertion that LAs are responsible for the inefficiency in the development approval process
3. To develop evidence base recommendations to address the bottleneck in the process

Research Foci:

1. Internal efficiency of LAs in processing development applications
2. How efficient are central government agencies in processing applications submitted by LAs?
3. List of central government agencies involved in the approval process
4. Revenue earn by LAs from this service
5. Economic benefit to communities from this service

Methodology:

Quarterly Reports of the LAs between January and August 2002 were use as a convenience sample for this research. Categorical variables were used to analyse the reasons applications outstanding, and interval-ratio variables used to measure processing efficiency. Cross tabulation were used to analyse efficiency levels. The budgets of LAs were examined to determine the revenue contribution, while multiplier analysis used to determine economic impact on local jurisdiction.

Main Findings:

1. Internal and external backlog existed, but external backlog were greater
2. LAs had a greater level of processing efficiency than referral agencies
3. The multiplier effect can stimulate increase employment and income to local jurisdiction

Recommendations

1. Strategic intervention should reflect variations in cause associated with individual LAs
2. Replicate best practice interagency collaboration throughout LAs
3. Application of e-governance and process re-engineering to improve internal efficiency, transparency and accountability
4. Application of performance measurement to improve output and accountability