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.

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)

Link here

(Some of the material on this post was first covered on this blog on 06 April 2012 this page )

Railways - High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available

Lying awake in the wee small hours it suddenly occurred to me that we should be due another HLOS and lo and behold there it was on the Transport Scotland web site here.

Extract

...Following the Rail 2014 statement from the Minister for Housing and Transport on 21 June 2012, Scottish Ministers have published their High Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA). These documents outline what they require the rail industry to achieve in Scotland between 2014-2019 and the public finances which are available to support that.

From the specification:

3.18 Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line Improvements Phase 1, delivering the network capability to enable the operation of enhanced commuting services into both cities, working with station promoters  to enable them to deliver Kintore and Dalcross stations, and enhancing the end to end service to support the longer term objective for an hourly interval service between the two cities with an average day journey time, calling at all stations, of around 2 hours. 

I am not sure what 3.18 actually says; does it mean that a station will be built or simply that the delivery will be 'planned'?

It is also unclear to me as to which 'Tier' the development falls into.  

Comments as always are welcome.

Scottish Government Cabinet Changes Announced

News Release here

Extract:

The Scottish Government's new Cabinet team has been announced by First Minister Alex Salmond, subject to the necessary parliamentary approval.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s longest serving health secretary, will now become Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, playing a key role in the Scottish Government’s programme for economic recovery.

She will also take lead responsibility for Government Strategy and the Constitution, including preparations for the independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon’s junior ministers will be Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Veterans, and Margaret Burgess, MSP for Cunninghame South, who will become new Minister for Housing and Welfare, reflecting the importance of housing in aiding economic recovery and also the challenges facing those in poverty.

...portfolio responsibilities

Deputy First Minister Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (with responsibility for Government Strategy and the Constitution) Nicola Sturgeon MSP

Infrastructure and capital investment, transport policy, housing policy, Scottish Water, procurement, European Structural Funds, Scottish Futures Trust, cities strategy, welfare reform, broadband and digital. Developing Government strategy and co-ordinating policy delivery across portfolios. Responsible for constitution policy, including preparations for the Referendum, UK relations. Freedom of Information.

No change to LG and P

Minister for Local Government and Planning Derek Mackay MSP

Local Government, Community Planning, Business Improvement, Elections, Planning, Building Standards

Post Plan Award; Where do the public stand now?

Further to the announcement that the HwLDP has been commended at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning, well...

Regular readers may have a vague memory of my approach to the previous  Minister for LG and P, Aileen Campbell in an email saying:

...Dear Minister

We have been totally overwhelmed by our experiences of planning over the last few years.  One of our members was in touch with PAS recently and Mr David Wood at PAS mentioned that you were keen to find out how the new planning act was performing.  For some time now we have felt that our input into the planning system is not meaningful and carries little weight.  The new planning reforms have not improved matters and in fact in our particular circumstances have made things worse. 

We desperately want to take a constructive part in the development of our community but feel marginalised and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the motivation to continue.  Please could you help us to find a way to restore our faith in the system and please could we send you a note of our experiences to date for your serious consideration.

Well, Mrs Campbell was in the process of being 'reshuffled' at the time of sending the email and Mr Mackay, new in post, responded to the mail - with an opening paragraph as follows:

"Thank you for sight of the correspondence you sent to my Private Secretary regarding your experiences and concerns with the Planning system. I am keen to see community

engagement in planning which is meaningful and effective, and was interested to hear about your experiences to date."

And what correspondence did I send that he could have had sight of? Well a great deal of information (some 15 pieces in total) but one item of (recent at that time) correspondence to the Reporters' unit contained this statement:

...Based on my experiences I cannot conclude anything other than that Highland Council’s actions to date have resulted in me being unable to meaningfully participate in and exert any genuine influence within the statutory development plan process.  No amount of planning reform has changed that position; in fact, the loss of the ‘Right to be heard’, the existence of the ‘National Planning Framework’ and the uncertainties caused by Highland Planning Authority being allowed to use a ‘Pseudo Structure Plan’ (with legal issues still to be ironed out) has made the situation worse and placed obstacles in the way of clarity, openness, transparency and faith in the process.

So if the HwLDP is what the Government apparently endorses as embracing the modernised planning system; where does leave the public engagement agenda if our negative experiences seem to count for nought? 

HwLDP gets Awards Commendation

News Just released:

...The Highland Council’s ambitious vision to support the sustainable economic growth of the Highland’s has been commended at a national awards ceremony.

The Highland-wide Local Development Plan received a Commendation at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning in the Quality of Service Category. This year marked the 15th Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) which is one of the Scottish Government's most prestigious events and celebrates achievements in planning, from strategic visions to development on the ground.

The Highland-wide Local Development Plan seeks to deliver new houses, jobs and infrastructure while recognising and protecting the special natural, built and cultural heritage of our area. The Plan was commended as it “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.”

Councillor George Farlow, Vice Chair of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee, who collected the commendation with, Malcolm Macleod, Head of Planning said, “The Highland-wide Local Development Plan is a document which has and will continue to deliver sustainable economic growth across Highland. This commendation is an excellent achievement and rewards the hard work which has been put into delivering this ambitious plan which will help to grow and strengthen communities.”

In presenting the award Derek Mackay, Minister for Local Government and Planning said, "I congratulate The Highland Council’s Highland-wide Local Development Plan on their commendation at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning. This is the first year that I have had the pleasure of being involved in the awards, and I was struck by the high number of good quality applications, and the innovation and hard work that has clearly gone into these projects. Such good applications are a testament to the continued hard work of the profession, and how important it is for us to promote, highlight and celebrate success. Given the standard of the competition, the Highland-wide Local Development Plan’s commendation is all the more impressive, and I congratulate everyone involved."

We must step up our involvement in how Policy is made

Recommended reading - short factsheets and packed with interesting stuff

I became aware of the info below today, via  my feed to the 'Development Planning in Highland' blog:

'Learning Resources - Development Economics and Viability'

...The Government is committed to building the development economics and viability skills of planning authorities and others who are involved in bringing development to fruition. The attached resources are designed to provide a working knowledge of development economics and viability, with accompanying policy context, and to assist with clarifying terminology commonly used by the development sector.

These are stage one, of a suite of resources - there will be more coming in later months. And we will be also distributing a print version of these in the coming weeks.

Glossary - Development

Glossary - Development Finance

Factsheet - Development Viability

Factsheet - Economic Growth and the Development Sector

Extracts from a couple of links above - (very abridged)

'ECONOMIC GROWTH & THE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR FACTSHEET'

...Since first elected in 2007, the Government’s purpose has been increasing sustainable economic growth. 

 ...The development industry is a major contributor  to the Scottish economy, both in terms of wealth generation, and in terms of job creation: 

...The construction of high quality built space, is vital in attracting inward investment to Scotland.  Businesses seeking to locate in Scotland  require premises and accommodation for their workers.   

...In recent years, the development sector has been hard hit by  the global banking crisis, and subsequent recession.  

...The Government has been leading a range of work to ensure that the planning system can assist in delivering good development, and that planning can support development even in challenging times (Link to government webpage )

...Providing certainty through  consistency of advice, process and decision-making.  Business values certainty.  If developers are clear about expectations on them from the outset, they can adjust their business plans accordingly and pursue their proposals with a degree of confidence.  It is the downstream ‘surprises’ and additional or unexpected requests which can cause delays and disputes, and incur costs for all;

...The planning system guides the future development and use of land, ensuring that this occurs in suitable, sustainable locations. It provides strong support for economic development, where it is consistent with other national and local policies. (APTSec Highlight)

'Development viability Factsheet'

..Delivering development requires the involvement  of many parties.  Their actions can have a significant impact on the viability  of a development – ie whether  it is capable of coming to fruition or not.   

It is therefore important to  have an understanding of the economics of development and an awareness of how our actions can impact on delivery.  This document provides a brief outline of some key points.

Why did I highlight the paragraph above? 

Because 'advice' and 'certainty' is provided through policy and we must ensure that not only do we take part in setting policy (through Local Plan consultations), but that the procedures and processes for setting policy are fair, just, robust, easily understood and capable of being influenced by all

Are you having problems using Highland Council ePlanning?

I have received the following message from the secretary of a local resident's group:

...I should be grateful to have a note from anyone who experiences difficulties with the e-planning system e.g.  - system being unavailable, system timing you out, unable to express your full views because file size is restricted, comments not appearing on the system, difficulties in viewing/reading application documents etc.

Could you just drop me a quick email of the date, time and particular difficulty experienced.  I will compile an error log which can be used to take this matter further should Highland Council fail to ensure their e-planning system is sufficiently stable and robust to enable transparent, timeous, complete and proper consideration by elected Councillors and the Public.

Anyone wishing to contribute should email the apt.intouch@live.co.uk and I  will pass on your details to the group.

Street Cleaning, Litter Picking, Waste Treatment, Street Lighting, and much, much more besides - Highland Council Budget Consultation 2012

It all starts here with extracts below:

Latest News Release

The Highland Council has today (Monday) launched a three-month long public consultation to help bridge a projected budget gap of almost £30 million over the next two financial years. Aseries of Ward Forums as well as briefing events with business, voluntary and specialist groups are planned before 19 October to complement the views expressed by staff, trade unions and the Council’s Citizen Panel of 2,300 residents.

The public can also access the budget information and comment online.

The aim is to bring a report to the full Council in December and agree the budget for 2013/14 and 2014/15 in February of next year.

The savings required by the Council in 2013/14 and 2014/15 are £29.7 million.  Already agreed are savings of £17.8 million, leaving a gap of £11.9 million.

The public will be asked to comment on four main areas of operation:-

• Education
• Ways of working
• Infrastructure and resources
• The environment

Message from Councillor Dave Fallows

Many of you will recall in 2010 we asked the public for their views on how we should make savings from our budget.  The assistance you gave us during the consultation was invaluable.  The pressure to reduce public sector spending continues and we have therefore put together a further consultation asking for views on our budget savings ideas for the next 2 years.  We need to make choices and to find savings totalling £29.7m over this period.  The financial environment looks challenging even beyond these two years and the consultation will assist in our longer term budget planning.

Our budget savings ideas are outlined in a consultation document.  We would welcome your thoughts and comments on these ideas and you can feed these back in a number of ways which are outlined below.  You can also join my Budget Blog and feedback your views that way. 

How to have your say

Our budget savings ideas are outlined in a consultation document.  This document provides the context for the current financial situation and the savings ideas that we have.  The ideas are outlined under four headings:

• Education
• Ways of Working
• Infrastructure and Resources
• The Environment

You can feedback your views in a number of ways:

• By coming along to one of our consultation events that are taking place across Highland.
• By downloading a response form and posting the form or your general comments to FREEPOST HC BUDGET CONSULTATION 2012
• Emailing our consultation address: budgetconsultation@highland.gov.uk
• Completing our Online Response Form (104kb Word)
• Join the discussion on Twitter by using the hashtag #HCbudget
• Comment on Cllr Fallow's Budget Blog which will begin on Monday 27th August.

Tornagrain and Nairn Planning Applications to be considered by South Planning Committee on Tuesday 21 August

More on these later but for now the bare bones from The Council web pages:

(From THC web site here)

...A Meeting of the South Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 21 August 2012 at 9.00 am.

9.00 am Transport departs the Council HQ, Inverness to transport Members to Tornagrain for a site visit in respect of Item 5.1.

11.00 am or on completion of site visit, whichever is the later Committee meeting reconvenes in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Inverness to determine the applications.

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate.

Yours faithfully,

Susan Blease, Solicitor 
(for Assistant Chief Executive)

5. Planning Applications to be Determined

There are circulated Reports Nos. PLS/049/12 - PLS/061/12 by the Area Planning Manager South as follows:-

Application subject to site visit:

5.1   
Applicant: Moray Estates Development Company Ltd (09/00038/OUTIN) (PLS-049-12 (3451kb pdf))
Location: Land north east of Tornagrain (Ward 18)
Nature of Development: New Town comprising up to 4,960 houses, Community Facilities, Retail, Leisure, Business Uses and associated Landscaping, Open Space, Infrastructure and Services on land to the north east of Tornagrain.
Recommendation: Grant planning permission in principle

Report here 

5.13   

Applicant: Upland Development Ltd. (12/02743/FUL) (PLS-061-12 (2228kb pdf))

Location: Land NE of Fire Station, King Street, Nairn (Ward 19)

Nature of Development: Erection of 16 affordable flats

Recommendation:  Grant

Report here

Is e planning really back?

 

Public Access to the ePlanning System restored (14/08/12)

The issues affecting public access to The Highland Council’s planning application documents on the ePlanning system have now been resolved.  This has been unavailable for the last four days, following difficulties experienced as an upgrade was applied to the system.

Malcolm Macleod, the Council’s Head of Planning & Building Standards said:  “We wish to apologise for the lack of public access to the ePlanning system over the last four days.  Unfortunately the source of the problem was outwith the Council’s control, and the system supplier IDOX has now managed to resolve the problem.  We have asked for an urgent explanation for the difficulties experienced as well as an assurance that such problems do not happen again in the future.” 

Consultation deadlines have been extended for a period of seven days to ensure that people have an opportunity to view documents before making comments on planning applications. 

ENDS

Well I certainly had problems accessing THC e planning system  for more than 4 days!!!!!!

Oh, and there does not seem to be an easy access link from the 'Home Page' to e planning; might be nice if there was one

THC web page here

Homes that don’t cost the earth - A consultation on Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy

I  signed up to receive various e newsletters from the Scottish Government quite a while ago.

One of these, 'Planning and Building News' arrives quite regularly, but as far as I can tell, (unless I am so overwhelmed with info that I cannot see for looking) the newsletter has not advised me of the consultation,

'Homes that don’t cost the earth - A consultation on Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy'

Click Here


The closing date for responses is Friday 28 September.


(With Thanks to THC Housing Development Manager for letting me know about this)

Now THC email system not working?

I have already reported that the e planning system is not working properly and it is still not working well at the moment.

Now, it seems, it is not possible to reply to email correspondence sent from THC.

Is anyone else out there experiencing difficulties?

e planning still not working

Been having quite a few problems trying to access documents on the site over the last few days.

Will update when back on line

A consultation on the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill

From Scottish Government Web pages
Description:	A consultation paper seeking responses to ideas for the proposed Bill along with a covering letter inviting responses, a respondent information form, and questionnaire form. An Easy Read version of the consultation paper and a word version of the Easy Read respondent information form and questionnaire) are also available. A summary of the consultation paper in alternative formats, including community language translations, can be requested through the contact details provided on this page.
File:	Consultation on the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill [PDF, 805.9 kb: 07 Jun 2012] Open | Open in new window
File:	Easy Read Summary of this consultation [PDF, 6739.7 kb: 07 Jun 2012] Open | Open in new window
File:	Respondent information form and questionnaire for Easy Read version [DOC, 449.5 kb: 06 Jul 2012] Open | Open in new window
File:	Respondent information form and questionnaire for the full consultation paper [DOC, 384.5 kb: 11 Jul 2012] Open | Open in new window