A COUNCIL has been congratulated for its quick decision making.

Middlesbrough Council's time scale on planning decisions has placed the local authority in 18th position in a national league table of 293 similar councils.

The Government wants 80 per cent of planning applications to be decided within eight weeks.

Over the past 12 months, Middlesbrough Council decided 83 per cent of its applications in that time - 15 per cent above the national average.

The good news relayed in the annual performance report from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister coincides with a 93 per cent satisfaction rate in the council's survey of people and companies submitting planning applications.

Planning and development committee chairman Councillor Frank Gill said: "I know that councillors and officers have to put in a lot of hard work to achieve the council's well deserved reputation as a good planning authority. They should be commended on their continued excellent performance."