Planning stopping work for local tradesman?

Following concerns raised by tradesmen in Hay i have raised the following question at full council this Thursday

QUESTION TO COUNTY COUNCILLOR W.T. JONES, PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR G.W. RATCLIFFE

Over the last couple of year the Welsh Government have published a Development control Quarterly survey showing the percentage decided within 8 weeks of receipt for the 25 planning authorities in Wales. Over the last year it has shown Powys County Council to have one of the poorest rates in Wales. The figures are as follows

January to March 2010 57% were completed in the 8 week deadline and Powys County Council were 23rd out of 25 with an average across Wales of 69%

April to June 2010 54% were completed in the 8 week deadline and Powys County Council were 25th out of 25 with an average across Wales of 72%

July to September 2010 64% were completed in the 8 week deadline and Powys County Council were 20th out of 25 with an average across Wales of 71%

October to December 2010 56% were completed in the 8 week deadline and Powys County Council were 23rd out of 25 with an average of across Wales 68%

January to March 2011 41% were completed in the 8 week deadline and Powys County Council were 24rd out of 24 as Monmouthshire did not record a figure with an average across Wales of 67%

Please can the Cabinet Member for planning inform this Council if he knew about these figures and what he is doing to increase these figures as it is alleged in some case delays in the determining of applications are causing hardship for local tradesmen?

I wait with interest on what is going to be said