What with the forthcoming council elections and being in the midst of a consultation on the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan my feet do not seem to be touching the ground.
This morning I popped the following comment up on the Council's Development Plans Blog re my attendance at the first workshop to be held as part of the consultation on the IMFLDP:
"Thank you. I have now attended a workshop and I am afraid I was disappointed. It is clear that the council has worked hard to prepare materials. It is also clear that officers are prepared to give time (some of it standing around in the cold! Bless) and a lot of it and this is something I feel should not be taken for granted
But I left the meeting with the clear impression that whilst struggling not to suppress debate, and participants clearly had things to say, there were a number of set issues that the council wished to get views on and given the limitations of time these two aspects were at odds with one another. I had to leave, apologies, before the end.
Perhaps greater clarity from the presentation stage as to the benefits to the community of the participant's contributions at each stage of the workshop would help.
I also think it would be beneficial to identify just how familiar those attending are with the planning system and how much participation they have already encountered. This would give an idea as to the range to experience present and the tone of the presentation could be tailored accordingly to need. There seemed to be no recognition at the workshop that many of the participants were familiar with the process and had already been through several years of national and local consultations. Those who had been in the village for 20 years or more were well aware of the previous consultations on plans old and new.
I cannot deny that fact that I have gained a very unfavourable impression of the planning system and its operation. Over the years many folks in Highland have raised the subject of a loss of trust and confidence with the operation of the planning system in Highland but we are constantly left with the impression that our words are falling on barren ground and there is a gulf between us and the major decision makers. A great, great pity, since we should all be working together, in a open and transparent system which engenders confidence with its users, to create the best plans that we possibly can for the Highlands." Post is here at http://hwldp.blogspot.co.uk/ comments on 16 APRIL 2012 post
I have received the following reply:
DevPlansTeamApr 17, 2012 06:10 AM
Thank you for your feedback on last nights event.
We can assure you that we are taking these on board and are looking to make changes to address your concerns and we have already made some changes which will take effect at tonight's event in Ardersier. This will include changing the way the round discussion will work to help everyone have their say and going around the table asking people who they are and their experience of the planning system to date.
We can assure you that we are taking these on board and are looking to make changes to address your concerns and we have already made some changes which will take effect at tonight's event in Ardersier. This will include changing the way the round discussion will work to help everyone have their say and going around the table asking people who they are and their experience of the planning system to date.
