Planning procedures are to get a $216,000 overhaul as part of this year's Budget.

The amount has been allocated towards consultation fees for a review of all processes and legislation. It follows widespread criticism of the Department of Planning, which due to staff shortages has faced a backlog of applications, causing lengthy delays for businesses and members of the public.

Minister of the Environment El James said yesterday: "The difficulties being experienced at the Department of Planning have been prominent in the news recently. We have allocated funding in the next Budget to conduct a comprehensive review of the Planning business processes and Planning legislation.

"We are committed to providing the Department of Planning with the resources they need in order to provide the public with the level of service that they deserve."

The legislation to be reviewed includes: the Development and Planning Act 1974; Development and Planning (Use Classes) Order 1975; Development and Planning (Tribunal Procedure) Rules 1992; Development and Planning (Application Procedure) Rules 1997; Development and Planning Amendment Act 1998; Development and Planning (General Development) Order 1999; the Building Authority Act 1962; Building Act 1998; the Advertisements Regulation Act 1911; and supporting amendments or legislation.

A Government spokesman could not elaborate on what changes were expected to take place, saying: "We will not know the changes that will be proposed until the legislation has been reviewed."

But he added: "It is recognised that Planning applications are taking longer to move through the process than we would like, so we are reviewing the process to see how they can be updated and improved to ensure that the public receives the level of service that they require, while still maintaining the high level of oversight that is the duty of the Planning Department."

Elsewhere in the Budget, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox announced funding for the Government's citrus fruit programme — as outlined in the Throne Speech. Government says it wants to "reinvigorate Bermuda's declining citrus and fruit culture through the introduction of new varieties" and public participation.

Ms Cox said: "The production of citrus and other fruit in Bermuda has been in decline for a number of years. The Ministry of Environment and Sports will introduce new varieties of citrus into Bermuda and provide information and classes to the public on citrus culture. The programme will provide for demonstrations on the production of containerised citrus (trees grown in large pots) which take advantage of smaller spaces rather than those required for in-ground culture.

"Officials also will explore opportunities for the importation of low chill varieties of other fruits (eg: pears, plums, apples, which do not need as many days at low temperatures) to expand the range and quality of fruit produced in Bermuda."

A Government spokesman said yesterday however, that funding would come "from current account funding". "No new funds have been provided," he said.

Public education is to include classes on culture, fertilisation, disease and pest control, pruning, and propagation — such as grafting and budding. School participation is also in the pipeline. "It is the intent of the Department of Envrionmental Protection to involve the schools to the fullest extent possible," said the spokesman.

Other initiatives announced in the Throne Speech included a roadside bottle deposit system to encourage recycling and discourage littering. There was however, no mention of funding for the Bottle Bill in yesterday's Budget.

Support for fishing and farming communities was also a Throne Speech policy — "to help keep these industries viable and sustainable". A spokesman said these initiatives would also be funded from current account. "No new funding was requested or provided, so there was no mention in the Budget Speech," he said.

The creation of a Ministerial portfolio for Energy was allocated a budget of $559,000. Ms Cox said the Department of Energy will receive the money in order to produce a Green Paper on a national energy policy.

Energy Minister Terry Lister yesterday joked that because the Department only had two members of staff, the $559,000 budget would be shared between the two. But he said his team would travel across the Island consulting the public on a future energy policy.

"With our little team and our tiny little bit of money, we are going to do great things for the country," he said.