Commentary on Sections Part 4: Development Control Section 55: Time in which Secretary of State to take decisions
88.Section 55 and Schedule 2 require that the Secretary of State must set a timetable for his decisions on “called in” planning applications and recovered appeals, together with any other decisions for which he is responsible and which are connected to those decisions. The Secretary of State is required to tell parties which timetable applies to the decision in question. At this stage he is able to vary the standard timetable if necessary for the purposes of the decision. He will also be able to revise a timetable subsequently if events arise which prevent the set timetable from being met. Where the Secretary of State fails to meet a timetable he must give reasons for that failure. The Secretary of State will be required to report to Parliament each year on his performance under these provisions. This section does not apply to decisions in relation to which the function has been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.