PLANNERS in Worcester have smashed Government targets for processing applications - but the success has come after some officers worked for one month unpaid.

Latest half-year figures show the city's planning department achieved nearly 100 per cent success rates in key categories.

But the targets have been achieved after officers stacked up a total of 809 hours - the equivalent of 33 days, or one extra month, for the three members of staff who put in the extra work - of free overtime in the past year.

"There's a real issue here - it's almost like Victorian mill owners expecting them to work these extra hours without proper rewards," said opposition Labour councillor Paul Denham.

Typical

City councillor Martin Clarke, the cabinet member responsible for the department, said the amount of extra work was typical for high-ranking manager in business.

"Let's keep our feet on firm ground - it is normal for the staff in senior positions to work longer than contracted hours," he told a full council meeting.

"Should the council do anything? Definitely - they should make it clear to staff concerned to claim overtime if they so wish.

"If they are contractually available, payments will be made."

Peter Yates, planning manger at the council, said: "There are workload pressures we've got at the moment and it is one of the issues we've got to deal with.

"We'll be looking to reallocate resources and funding and different staff resources are all part of the process of the preliminary round of budget setting."

The target-busting figures could result in a large Government grant for planning - which some councillors want poured straight back into the department that earned it instead of being spread across the authority.

"It looks to me as if the majority of it will go into planning department but the council is so continually strapped for cash the city treasurer will be determined to spend it on other things," said Coun Denham.

"It's all very well, people to work unpaid in industry. But do remember that local government officers are not paid as well as people in industry and ones in Worcester are paid less than most."