PLANS to speed up the way planning applications are processed at Craven District Council look set to be approved.

If agreed by the full council, an additional planning officer will be recruited and the roles of two existing officers will be enhanced.

In addition, a temporary agency worker will be taken on for three months to cover for a senior officer currently on long term sick - at a cost of £15,500.

David Smurthwaite, the council's strategic manager for planning and regeneration, told the Policy Committee that the extra resources were needed in order to cope with the current workload and high volume of applications.

"Due to the current high volume of applications and in order to progress their case load, we need to bring in an experienced temporary agency worker, " he said.

The council is currently dealing with several major planning applications, including one for 'Kellwell Point' holiday park at Hellifield Flashes, which was initially submitted in October, last year.

By not processing planning applications quickly enough, the council puts itself at risk of developers going to appeal.

The council had expected to be able to increase planning application fees by 20 per cent in July this year, but has been unable to do so because the government has not passed the necessary legislation.

Additional funding for both the temporary officer and changes to department staffing, totalling £48,300, will have to be met from the existing budget.