Planning to deliver

We have just published the Registers of Scotland (RoS) Corporate Plan for 2011-2014. This outlines our strategic objectives for the next three years. Customer service and value for money are the focus of this Corporate Plan.

Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of RoS, commenting on the drivers within the plan, said: "Our customers' needs are at the heart of our business and I believe that in this time of challenge, we must continue to be ready to provide the most effective and efficient services that we can deliver."

Over the next three years, our vision, values, purpose and objectives will enable us to make this plan a reality. Once again, these are aligned with the Scottish Strategic Objectives, set by the Scottish Government.

Our six strategic objectives are:

• To underpin the Scottish economy and contribute to sustainable economic growth by employing our specialist skills to ensure the integrity of the registers under the KeeperÕs control and public access to them.
• To run RoS as a commercially sustainable business with adequate reserves to cover operational and investment needs.
• To continue to develop and implement a business model that allows us to meet our customers' needs.
• To create a culture of continuous improvement that focuses on economy, effectiveness and efficiency.
• To be a leading public sector employer where staff are fully trained and committed to meeting RoS's strategic objectives and value their total reward package.
• To reduce the environmental impact of our consumption and production.

The Corporate Plan includes our new targets for 2011-2012. Whilst retaining turnaround times and where it is in the Keeper's power, we will complete pre-1 April 2011 first registrations and a further 32,000 transfers of part applications by 31 March 2012. Registration accuracy and customer care will now be measured through a series of customer surveys.

If you are interested in reading the Corporate Plan, it is available in full on our website at ros.gov.uk/public/publications/corporate_plan.html

One area which may have a significant impact over the next three years is new legislation with the possibility that Ministers may agree to bring forward a Bill on Land Registration in the next session of the Scottish Parliament.

First registration legacy target outcome

As part of the Keeper's ongoing commitment to reducing registration times, the 2010-2011 legacy target was set to eliminate all pre-March 2010 first registration (FR) casework by 31 March 2011. In absolute numbers the total number of cases that fell within the target was 20,268 FRs*.

RoS despatched 19,133 of the 20,268 applications, leaving a residue of 1,135. The 19,133 applications despatched is the highest ever annual output for legacy cases. Of the 1,135 applications not despatched, some 608 were for reasons outwith our control (primarily because we were awaiting additional evidence from the submitting agents), leaving a balance of 527 complex cases.

Looking at the remaining cases on a county basis, and including those cases outwith our control, 29 of the 33 counties have a legacy arrear of 50 cases or fewer and, of the remaining four counties, the highest single legacy arrear is 208.

Overall RoS despatched 35,017 first registrations, which included 11,260 standard FRs which were subject to the turnaround target (80% of such cases to be completed within 60 days, with none taking longer than 120 days). Consequently our opening arrear of FR casework is now under 15,500 applications Ð the lowest arrear since before 1985. The Keeper intends to maintain the focus on reducing FR arrears and, in particular, on completing those cases remaining from the year just ended.

* A number of cases inextricably linked with Transfer of Part casework were excluded from the target.

ARTL update - as at 18 April 2011

• 40,032 transactions have taken place
• 590 solicitors firms are currently on the ARTL system
• 29 lenders are currently on the ARTL system
• 13 local authorities are using the system.
• For up-to-date information and a full list of participating practices and companies, go to: ros.gov.uk/artl