Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Politicians and Us
Thanks to a contact who has passed on the following comment she heard from a friend:
"...the huge gulf between political idealism and real life means that we need a translator to understand each other".
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Homelessness, Garages and Office Accomodation
Latest HC Press Releases
There's,
The Highland Council has welcomed the latest quarterly statistics on homelessness which show a 36% reduction in homeless presentations in the Highlands compared to a national reduction of 13%.
The Council has also reported that they are meeting the Scottish Government’s targets in relation to priority need assessments in 94% of cases compared to 93% nationally, and that they are well placed to meet the target required by 31 December 2012.
Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of the Finance Housing and Resources Committee, said: “We have also seen a reduction of 17% in the number of households in temporary accommodation compared to a reduction of 6% nationally. Link here
Then there's,
Highland Councillors have agreed to consult with current garage tenants and residents living close to Council garages and garage sites on the number currently vacant and on how to make better use of these areas.
The council owns and manages 1,820 individual garages and 904 individual garage sites. Currently 1,425 garages are rented out and 653 sites are occupied.
As part of its review the Council will also be seeking views on whether there are opportunities for these premises to be used to help individual micro businesses to start up or be put to greater community use. Link here
And then there's,
Committee members were advised the outline business case highlighted the scope to achieve savings of £1.45 million per year by reducing office space by 44%.
The next phase of work would identify where the offices will be located and how the project is to be funded. Link here
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Inverness City Centre Development Brief
To be found at the end of the report at this link
Extract from the report:
City Vision by identifying and promoting opportunities and actions for the
redevelopment and enhancement of the city core. Under the new Scheme of
Delegation powers available to the Inverness City Committee, Members are asked to
approve the City Centre Development Brief as Supplementary Guidance to the
Highland-wide Local Development Plan.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Wonder where Highland's figures are?
From Planning: Regeneration and Renewal link here
Changes to funding for affordable housing led to a drop of almost a third in the number of homes granted planning permission in Scotland during 2011-12, according to the Scottish government.
An estimated 4,767 affordable homes were granted permission during the year, a drop of 28 per cent from 2010-11, and a reduction of 29 per cent from the annual average between 2008 and 2011.
The figures were revealed in a statistical bulletin compiled by the Scottish Government.
The figures exclude Highland Council because it failed to submit its returns, according to the bulletin.
The figures were revealed in a statistical bulletin compiled by the Scottish Government.
The figures exclude Highland Council because it failed to submit its returns, according to the bulletin.
Also from SG web pages
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today (260912) published Rural Scotland Key Facts 2012.
Some examples of the results contained in the publication are provided below. Comparisons between rural areas (remote and accessible), and the rest of Scotland show that rural areas have:
- a faster rising population than the rest of Scotland and higher rates of in-migration
- higher rates of economically active people and more households where total income exceeds £20,000 per year
- longer life expectancies, fewer emergency hospital admissions and fewer people who smoke
- a higher proportion of people who volunteer in their community and rate their neighbourhood as a ‘very good’ place to live
Rural areas also have:
- more expensive housing stock and a higher rate of households in fuel poverty
- a higher proportion of households spending over £100 a month on fuel for cars
- fewer residents who find key services convenient and who are in close proximity to public transport options
- fewer children who walk or cycle to school and fewer adults using active or public transport to work or education
Money for Greener Homes; could be more?
From Scottish Gov web page
A new £10 million fund aims to deliver hundreds of eco-friendly homes and bring down heating bills.
More information about the Greener Homes Innovation Scheme and the Greener Homes Prospectus is available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/sustainable/largescale
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/sustainable/largescale
The prospectus, originally produced for the Greener Homes Summit held last November, has been updated. It contains case studies of modern methods of construction.
Link here
Council Office Review
Highland Councillors have been advised that reducing the number of Council offices in Inverness and Dingwall from 22 to 4 by 2020 has the greatest potential to deliver significant benefits and improved value to the Council when compared to retaining the current office estate.
An Outline Business Case into the rationalisation of office accommodation, which will be presented to the Council's Finance Housing and Resources Committee on Wednesday 3 October, concludes that the 'preferred option' the Council should pursue is the development of a new centrally located, four-site Council office and front line 'Service Point' solution in Inverness and Dingwall' (comprising 2 sites in Inverness and 2 sites in Dingwall).
Full item here
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Profits up I see
Today's e copy of 'Planning Daily' featured a news round-up item entitled:
'Housebuilders enjoy record profits increases'
So I set of on a search for more info and here are some of the details that I came across:
Monday, 24 September 2012
Simplify the Scottish Planning System that is what I say
Okay here's a suggestion based on my experiences of planning to date, but you'll need to click on the link below.
Click here and go to page 4
You should find a slide there entitled, 'What's the Process?'
The slide shows the 'old' and the 'new' Development Plan stages
What is does not show is the 'Call for Sites' stage, explained on the Highland Council web page here
My suggestion would be to:
- Get rid of the 'Main Issues Report' stage which purports to 'Involve' and 'Consult / Negotiate and simply have a 'Call for Sites' which the Local Authority then uses with as much speed as possible to prepare the 'Proposed Plan';
- Make the Examination stage longer with the Reporters able to look at 'Supplementary Guidance' and hold more Inquiries and hearings
What do you think?
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
12.23 and the web cast was paused; I had to find out from the BBC!
Midday and not long back home after dashing out and I decided to have a quick look at the web cast of the PED meeting to see how far the Agenda had progressed.
The meeting was covering what seemed to be the end of Agenda Item 3
3. Notice of Amendment
(Planning) - Planning Application (09/00038/OUTIN)
Tornagrain New Town
(to review the decision on the planning application)
What Happened next?
A motion to uphold the previous decision of the South Planning Committee was proposed by Cllr Gray
An amendment was proposed by Cllr Crawford - essentially to delay permission until more details sorted out (had missed all prior discussion so hope this is correct take on amendment that was written out)
The Clerk explained the voting process, Press 1 for motion, 2 for amendment, 3 to abstain...
The votes were cast and the vote then closed at 12.23
The Clerk confirmed that the correct number of votes had been cast
The web cast was paused at 12.23 and has just returned at 12.36 with the words from the chair, possibly to the effect(only heard the words once and very suddenly as the web cast sprang back into life)
"...yes we are quorate so we don't need to worry about that..."(?)
The meeting then moved on to item 4, with an apology to the guest speaker for item 4
No doubt we will have to wait until something appears on line or in the press
The Inverness Courier has a page set up here
I expect that there will be a press release on the Highland Council home page here
Today's meeting web cast will be archived and then appear back in 24 hours or so on the page here
Update
12.51 And the BBC has the Scoop here
Extract from BBC on line
No doubt we will have to wait until something appears on line or in the press
The Inverness Courier has a page set up here
I expect that there will be a press release on the Highland Council home page here
Today's meeting web cast will be archived and then appear back in 24 hours or so on the page here
Update
12.51 And the BBC has the Scoop here
Extract from BBC on line
Highland councillors vote 17-3 in favour of Tornagrain
A Highland Council committee has voted in favour of plans for a new town that caused a row at an earlier meeting.
Last month, Highland Council's south planning applications committee approved the 4,960-home proposal without the matter going to a vote.
Officers told councillors that there were no sound legal grounds to oppose the plan for Tornagrain, near Nairn.
The planning, environment and development committee voted 17 to three in favour of the project.
The project has already been approved in the Highland-wide development plan.
Next Tranche of major consultation announced...
...better start getting prepared now
The Government's 'Planning and Building News' arrived yesterday and I bet you cannot guess what is planned?
Well, according to the Newsletter:
Planning Minister Derek Mackay outlined a major review of Scottish Planning Policy and the programme for delivery of Scotland's third National Planning Framework.
In a statement to Parliament, Mr Mackay stressed the importance of the planning system in creating sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
And he announced a programme of engagement on the National Planning Framework (NPF) - which will set priorities for national development over the next 20 to 30 years - as well as a review of Scottish Planning Policy, to spell out how that vision will be delivered.
As part of the review of the NPF Mr Mackay launched a call for Candidate National Developments to be considered for inclusion in the final document. The selected developments must make a significant contribution to Scotland's sustainable economic growth and be of national, rather than regional, significance.
Mr Mackay stressed he wants everyone with an interest in the future of Scotland to be able to have a say in developing the national framework and launched online the Participation Statement which set out how people can get involved
In terms of the Third NPF
The NPF can designate “national developments”, which are in the national interest. 14 were identified in NPF2. The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals for national development status:
A Proposal Form (word version) is provided for interested parties to use to suggest projects which are deliverable, and which they consider to be nationally important. Proposal forms should also be submitted for the existing national developments, should those taking them forward feel that they will also be relevant to NPF3. Completed forms should be returned by Friday December 14, 2012.
In terms of Scottish Planning Policy - SPP:
The intended timescale for the review is:
| Announcement & Call for Ideas |
| Pre-draft engagement & drafting |
| Publish Draft SPP & consultation |
| Analyse responses & re-drafting |
| Publish finalised SPP |
Friday, 14 September 2012
Where to build your university campus?
From Planning e Newsletter here
Extract:
...A group of regeneration professionals has written a letter to Swansea University bosses claiming that the building of a new campus out of town could result in the city losing out on £300million of economic growth.
The university received outline planning consent for a Science and Innovation Campus to teach 5,100 students in November 2010 from Swansea City and County Council and Neath Port Talbot Council.
The site, on Fabian Way, is on the boundary between Neath Port Talbot and the City and County of Swansea and about three miles from the city centre.
However, the letter calls for an alternative site, also on Fabian Way but on the city centre fringe and just one mile from the city centre. It says universities can have a significant impact on city-centre regeneration.
A letter has been written to the 28-member university council by 52 regeneration professionals, led by George Grace, the founder of TownCentred Consultants.
Other signatories include Professor Kevin Murray, a former president of the Royal Town Planning Institute, George Ferguson CBE a past president of the Royal Insitute of British Architects, and Dr Tim Williams, Planning blogger and a former adviser to the Wales and UK governments
The letter states: "Public sector spending in times of austerity must count not once, but twice, three times or more. An out-of-town university will in our view underscore in economic, social, financial and sustainability terms for the city of Swansea."
Britain's 'most beautiful universities' - would you agree?
Link here
News just in - analysis of consultation responses now available
I featured details of the below listed consultations earlier in the year; well this arrived last night in an email from the Head of Planning Legislation:
"Dear Sir /
Madam
PLANNING REFORM – NEXT STEPS
CONSULTATONS
On March 28, 2012 Derek Mackay,
Minister for Local Government and Planning, made a statement to the Scottish
Parliament setting out the Scottish Government’s proposals for future reform of
the planning system. As part of the Reform Package, views were invited, by June
22, 2012, on the following consultations:
Analyses of responses
to these consultations are now available...
I would like
to thank you for taking the time to consider the consultation papers and
responding..."
So far, I have managed to source links for the 'analysis reports' for the middle (as above) three consultations which can be found below:
(I responded as an individual to the 'Development Plan Examinations' consultation but elected not to have my response published. Anyone who wishes to read what I put forward is free to contact me on the apt.intouch@live.co.uk email address.)
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Boundary Commission 'revised proposals'
From THC web news item here
The Boundary Commission for Scotland today (Thursday) begins an eight week final consultation period with its Sixth Review of UK Parliament Constituencies. The final consultation period allows comments to be made to the Commission concerning any of itsrevised proposals for constituencies.
Boundary Commission has prepared these revised proposals after considering all of the responses to the Initial Proposals which were published in October 2012. Most of the suggestions presented by The Highland Council have been accepted by the Commission.
Highland Ward 19 (Nairn) and all of the Moray Council area will comprise Moray and NairnConstituency. From the initial proposals, the constituency name has been changed from Moray and Strathspey.
Highland Ward 22 (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) and Ward 12 (Caol and Mallaig) and all of Argyll and Bute Council area will make up the Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber Constituency. From the Initial proposals, the constituency name has been changed from Argyll, Bute and Lochaber.
The main proposals include the creation of two constituencies in the Highland Council area, namely Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty Constituency and Inverness and SkyeConstituency. The Council’s proposals to move Strathconon; Applecross/Lochcarron; Beauly/Kiltarlity into Inverness and Skye Constituency were not accepted.
Copies of the proposals, including maps of the new constituencies are available at main Council offices and from the home page of the Council’s web site: www.highland.gov.uk.
Monday, 10 September 2012
More on that Award for the HwLDP
I must be missing something (?) help somebody, pleeease
I thought I would do a little research into the 'Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning'
Well, as you will read from clicking on the link above, this year was the 15th such process and there were 3 judges.
I found a very small booklet which lists out the categories and the winners and gives, very briefly, the reason behind the giving of the award / commendation.
For Highland Council, the reasoning is:
...This
initiative has been given a Commendation because it has embraced the modernised
planning system by streamlining all of its different local development plans
into one ‘live’ map-based document that supports delivery on the ground. By
offering services such as pre-application advice, the planning team have been
able to improve the quality of the service to customers and move things through
the system more quickly
One? If there is only one 'live' document then how come the council web site says:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Highland-wide Local Development Plan was adopted on 5 April 2012 and supersedes the General Policies and other related material of this Local Plan. A Parliamentary Order has been made to retain other elements within the Local Plans listed below. This provides the necessary clarity about which parts of the Local Plans continue in force alongside the Highland-wide Local Development Plan until such time as the relevant Area Local Development Plans is adopted. A full schedule of the retained elements of the following plans are contained within Appendix 7 of the HwLDP. Click here to view or download the updated version of Appendix 7 (pdf 617kb).
When using the following adopted Local Plans these must be read in conjunction with the Highland-wide Local Development Plan.
Visit the Local Plan pages for each Area via the links below:
- Badenoch and Strathspey
- Caithness
- Inverness
- Nairnshire
- Ross and Cromarty East
- Sutherland
- Wester Ross
- West Highland and Islands
And then how many 'area' local plans are planned?
Well, here is one view from a 'Dundas and Wilson' Planning Alert (March 2012)
Well, here is one view from a 'Dundas and Wilson' Planning Alert (March 2012)
(Some of the material on this post was first covered on this blog on 06 April 2012 this page )
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