HYNDBURN Council's development control service has been praised by government inspectors for doing a good job -- but they expressed concern that it may not improve.

The Best Value inspection team gave the service two stars out of a possible three because it was customer-focused and planning officers do their job in a respectable and sensitive manner.

Users of the service also expressed a high level of satisfaction.

Joanna Webb, lead inspector for the Northern area, said: "The council's original improvement plan did result in some improvements but it needs to keep on improving to keep up with other councils.

"They need to monitor customer service standards, make better use of staff and develop new best practices in liaison with top-performing councils."

The council was praised for investigating all alleged breaches of planning controls.

But it was criticised for not having any clear aim or target or facility to analyse the impact of decisions.

Some procedures in the department were found to be ineffective, including the fact it can take eight days before planning applications reach the correct officer.

And councillors still have to discuss all planning application which receive an objection, which was deemed to be taking up too much of their time.

Other councils already allow their officers to decide some applications, with only major issues or projects which have caused a lot of objections coming before them.

Hyndburn Council meets monthly at present.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Council said: "We are pleased that the inspectors have praised our work.

"We have listened to what they have had to say and we will be striving to improve on our good work."