PLANNING services provided by Wiltshire County Council are deemed to be 'fair,' according to a report by the Audit Commission.

The commission say the prospects for improvement are promising and the council says an improvement plan is already in place to meet recommendations made by the commission.

The inspectors said that staff at the council were doing an excellent job.

The council is responsible for preparing the structure plan, minerals local plan and waste local plan.

Staff also assess and decide on minerals and waste planning applications made to the county council.

The inspectors said many aspects of the service were being provided well "particularly given the low levels of staff and financial resources available."

The inspectors outlined a number of weaknesses but recognised that the council was now addressing them.

The service has an annual budget of £1.2million and employs 22 staff.

Dick Owen-Smith, the county's chief planner, said the council had recently recruited two more people to ensure the council implemented the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. Two more staff were going to be taken on to work in the minerals and waste team to carry out more inspections of sites.

Mr Owen-Smith said: "In addition we are making contact with all district councils to try and increase the degree of joint working we do on planning matters.