To:

Office of Fair Trading

Office of Government Commerce

Communities and Local Government FAO Michelle Banks

Dear Colleagues,

It has come to our attention, as part of a project funded by the Planning Advisory Service, seeking to increase co-operation between Planning Authority back office systems that there is a limited number of software providers with two systems UNI-form and Acolaid dominating the market.

These two pieces of software provide some two-thirds of the Planning Authority market and last year a company called Idocs bought CAPS who produce the UNI-form software for local authorities for processing planning applications.

More recently, Idocs have also bought Plantech who produce the Acolaid system. Our Committee are therefore concerned that a near monopoly position within the planning software market is being established as these two systems provide for the vast majority of local planning authorities.

Whilst the Committee appreciates that it is not always possible to effectively regulate the computer software market, we would ask colleagues within OFT and Office of Govt Commerce whether they would wish to assist and/or advise planning authorities on this matter. Furthermore, Communities and Local Government may wish to establish similar arrangements to those adopted by other Government Departments, for example, the Department for Working Pensions whereby a regular forum is held with software providers (in this case for housing benefit

applications) where they can be collectively informed of any changes to regulations but also to ensure that the market can be effectively monitored and regulated.

I look forward to your response.

Dave Ayre

Secretary: POS Management Committee

(Head of Environment Business Support, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ. Tel 01305 224257)