<b></b>Planning minister Lord Falconer has continued his robust approach to the planning system by naming and shaming the three worst performing local authorities in the country.<br>Oxford, Restormel and Lambeth will now face Lord Falconer in person as he strives to pick up their performance. He will urge them to start learning lessons from the best performing authorities. <p></p><p>Best Value performance standards were introduced in April, requiring the 15 worst-performing authorities to process at least 65% of planning applications within eight weeks. </p><p>Recent figures show 12 of the authorities have indeed improved, some dramatically. Wychavon, for instance, almost doubled the amount of applications that it has been asked to process.</p><p>&amp;“The drive for a reliable and effective planning system has been taken to heart by these 12 authorities,&amp;” said Falconer.</p><p> &amp;“But it is incredible how performance differs across the country. Oxford, Restormel and Lambeth are nowhere near achieving the target we set them earlier this year. I will meet them to discuss their difficulties and remind them failure to reach the standard could result in intervention.&amp;”</p><p>The government has asked consultant Arup to look into what steps poor performers can take to make them improve.</p><p> &amp;“If the Best Value standards are resulting in …