From a DE&S perspective the planning round process is perceived to be over-extended and enormously intensive of time. By way of example, the current, "accelerated" planning round (PR09) commenced in April 2009 with the intention of concluding after 9 months in December 2009. It has been estimated that c.1,000 man-years of effort are required each year for the annual planning round process within DE&S alone62.
Despite the considerable effort involved, and clear deadlines, the PR cycle invariably results in the production of a late budget for the following year63, resulting in 'blight' at the beginning of the financial year. It is also insufficiently developed, resulting in changes to planned spending during the course of the year. This is particularly acute at year end, where the EPP and ESP (via DE&S / CDM) are perceived to be the areas of the Departmental budget most rapidly able to make savings or accelerate spending in order to meet higher level, Departmental Control Totals.
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62 Excludes time incurred within the MoD Capability Sponsor and amongst other senior MoD centre personnel
63 the Control Totals for 2009/10 had not been issued 2 months into the financial year