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Objective To find out what conditions are in place to enable permit officers and other staff to issue permits and other decisions; how the permitting procedure is carried out; how data is stored, used and communicated; and how the performance, environmental and other outcomes is assessed. |
B2. Operational Cycle
B2.1. Permitting framework
Guidance
The review team should gain understanding on how the authority supports and ensures permitting officers to do their work in an efficient and effective way. This should be done by checking which conditions are in place and how good quality of work is ensured.
Note: some issues may already be dealt with in part A or B of this questionnaire.
Permitting Framework
Topics to consider
- What provisions, arrangements with regard to equipment, handbooks, information technology etc. are developed to make sure that work can be executed effectively, efficiently, professionally and consistently?
- What are in general the qualifications, skills and experience required of permit officers and legal and administrative staff?
- How are awareness and knowledge of technical, policy and regulatory developments maintained and skills kept up to date?
- What training arrangements are in place and how is the result of training evaluated?
- What guidance is given to permit officers to help them issue permits?
- Does the permit officer have access to any advisory body or any other external, independent source of advice?
- Protocols for communication with the public (access to information) and with operators.
- Information management (e.g. information systems) and information exchange (within the organisation and with partner organisations).
- Awareness of relevant technical, policy and regulatory developments maintained within the authority.
B2.2. Permitting procedure
Guidance
The review team should gain understanding on how the permit procedure works; what the main steps are what the role and responsibility of the permit officers and other staff are.
Permitting procedure
Topics to consider
- What are the main steps in the application phase (e.g. initiative of the application; pre- application discussion; application form; annexes; submission and intake; checking application; notification; public participation; type of procedure; fees)?
- What are the time-lines of the different steps?
- What is the task and responsibility of the permit officers and of other staff?
- What are the main steps in the decision making phase (e.g. environmental impact assessment; appropriate assessment; advise and consultancy, boundaries of installations; cost benefit; derogations; BAT assessment and setting conditions; use of general binding rules; draft decision; enforceability check; notification; public participation; fees)?
- What are the time-lines of the different steps?
- What are the main steps in the access to justice phase (e.g. views, objection; appeal; judging)?
- What are the time-lines of the different steps?
- What is the task and responsibility of the permit officers and of other staff?