A DORSET council is taking "urgent and drastic action" to speed up the processing of planning applications.

North Dorset District Council has admitted it is failing badly to meet the government target of completing 80 per cent of applications within eight weeks of being registered.

Last year they only met 47 per cent and at current levels they will only achieve 46 per cent this year.

The council's development control committee were told that if the service fails to decide more than 50 per cent in two consecutive years, it will be regarded as a failing service and could be taken over by government appointed managers.

Long-term staff sickness and departures together with an increased workload were cited as part of the problem.

Too many applications were being brought before the committee, involving far more work, instead of being dealt with under delegated powers.

Efforts are now being made to halt the delays and speed up the processing.

Janet Rees, NDDC policy general manager, said: "We have had problems with understaffing and there has been an increase in the number of applications we are processing - this has led to a drop in our performance. Now we are determined to get back on track and keep this year's figure above danger level."