WORCESTER city councillors have defended their planners after the department was branded not fit for purpose' by the head of urban environment.

Last week, we reported how John Wrightson told members of a scrutiny committee overworked staff were stretched to the limit in a department paying the price for failing to invest in modern equipment.

At a meeting of the city council's cabinet, Councillor David Tibbutt said: "Our planners work exceedingly hard and are certainly "fit for purpose."

Councillor Geoff Williams also questioned the phrase "not fit for purpose" but agreed the service was not up to scratch.

He said: "It was excellent, amongst the best in the city, and it's now falling away."

Councillors heard that, as a result of the recognition of problems within the planning service, a Business Process Review has been commissioned which will analyse and, possibly, redesign elements of the service to achieve improvements.

The discussion was part of a review into how grant money given by the Government, called a Planning Delivery Grant, will be invested in 07/08.

The council received £45,050 in the first tranche from the Government and expects to receive a further £226,957 for the second tranche which includes £58,977 for plan making and sustainable development indicators and £137,576 for development control.

However, the grant will be replaced next year by the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant, with the money linked more closely to housing growth, particularly on brownfield sites.

Cabinet members agreed to the contents of the report.