e-Bulletin no.11  11th Jan 2008

Short-cut to sections:-  Consultations | Publications | Scottish Government News Releases | News Releases | Recent Parliamentary Questions | Recent Parliamentary Answers | Motions, Debates and Bill Progress | Events   Training   Job Vacancies

Consultations

Draft Regulations on Development Plan Examinations: Consultation Paper (SG 14/12/07)
In the new development planning regime introduced by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, examinations are intended as the principal means of independently testing the issues arising from representations on proposed strategic development plans and local development plans.
Deadline for response: 04/04/08
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/12112301/0

Scottish Planning Policy SPP3: Planning for Housing: Consultative Draft (SG 07/01/08)
The draft SPP3 will facilitate new land supply for housing development and ensure best use is made of existing housing land allocations. SPP3 will underpin the delivery of the Scottish Government's key housing policy objectives to deliver more homes of higher quality and higher environmental standards. The revision will strengthen and reinforce planning policies to help meet priorities on the provision of new housing.
Deadline for response: 31/03/08
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07141036/0
News release:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/07111334

National Planning Framework 2: Discussion Draft (SG 10/01/08)
The second National Planning Framework (NPF2) provides an important vehicle for the national debate about the sort of place we want Scotland to be. It will guide Scotland's spatial development to 2030, setting out strategic development priorities to support the Scottish Government's central purpose - promoting sustainable economic growth. Nine infrastructure projects have been identified as potential national developments.
Deadline for response: 15/04/08
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07093039/0
Cover letter:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/09112443/0
News release:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/08095631

Development Management Consultation Paper: January 2008 (SG 09/01/08)
Concerns new secondary legislation on procedures relating to processing planning applications.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/08133709/0

Consultation on changes to Planning Application Procedures: Impacts on Communities (SG 09/01/08)
Sets out the main proposals affecting how you and your community will be able to get more information on local planning issues and get involved in the planning of your area.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07154600/0

Consultation on changes to Planning Application Procedures: Impacts on Business (SG 09/01/08)
Sets out the main proposals affecting you and your business.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07152452/0

The New Place Survey: Consultation (DCLG 14/12/07)
This document sets out proposals for a new survey to be carried out by local authorities. The survey will ask local people for their perceptions about the area in which they live. The results of the survey will provide data for 20 of the new National Indicators.
Closing date: 08/02/08
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/newplacesurvey

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Publications

E-Planning Newsletter: Volume 1 Issue 8 (SG 14/12/07)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/11142224/0

Building Excellence: Exploring the implications of the Curriculum for Excellence for School Buildings (SG 14/12/07)
Publication which captures the main messages from the Building Excellence programme
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/14115428/0

Town Centre and Retailing Methodologies: Summary of Main Findings (SG 19/12/07)
Summary of main findings.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/19113640/0

Town Centre and Retailing Methodologies Working Paper 1: Literature Review (SG 21/12/07)
Provides the literature review for the principal retail planning techniques covered in the current research.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/20105342/0

Town Centre and Retailing Methodologies: Final Report (SG 24/12/07)
SPP8 Town Centres and Retailing, published in 2006, sets out the Scottish planning policy framework for town centres and retailing. The SPP identifies a range of techniques that can be used to support planning for town centres and retailing and indicates that updated guidance for these techniques, notably for each of town centre health checks, town centre strategies and retail impact assessment, will be published in the form of a Planning Advice Note (PAN).
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/24105030/0

Timetable for Implementation of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (SG 21/12/07)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/21115813/0

Preparation of the Second National Planning Framework (NPF2): Participation Statement (Updated December 07) (SG 04/01/08)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/04135306/0

National Planning Framework Newsletter: No.4 Winter 2007 (SG 21/12/07)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/20105114/0

National Planning Framework 2 SEA Environmental Report: Non Technical Summary (SG 08/01/08)
Reflects the content of the Environmental Report, which in turn describes and evaluates the likely significant environmental effects of the National Planning Framework 2 Discussion Draft.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07141815/0

Building Integration of Low and Zero Carbon Technology Systems including Micro-renewables (SBSA 21/12/07)
This report  details the findings of a research project into the building integration of low and zero carbon technology systems (LZCT), which use renewable energy sources to generate electricity or heat.
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/research/research_build_low_carbon_tech_systems.htm

Sustainable Development Action Plan 2007-08 (DCLG 09/01/08)
This document is the first Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) published by the new Communities and Local Government. Its purpose is to look forward. In preparing it, we have built on the foundations set in the 2006 SDAP and have learned from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) review of SDAPs.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/sustainabledevelopment2007-08

Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change (DCLG 17/12/07)
Planning and Climate Change sets out how planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to the climate change now accepted as inevitable.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppsclimatechange

Report on carbon reductions in new non-domestic buildings (DCLG 17/12/07)
The Communities and Local Government 'Green Commercial Buildings Task Group' commissioned the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) to investigate the costs and benefits of raising the energy performance standards in new non-domestic buildings above those currently set out in the Building Regulations all the way to zero carbon.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/carbonreductions

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Scottish Government News Releases

£30 million for urban regeneration (SG 26/12/07)
Three urban regeneration companies which are helping to transform some of Scotland's most deprived communities are to receive Scottish Government cash totalling £30 million. The Scottish Government's investment in Riverside Inverclyde URC, Irvine Bay URC and Clydebank Rebuilt over the period 2008-2011 comes just weeks after the announcement of £62 million to support the Clyde Gateway project.http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/12/24091849

Sustainable seas task force (SG 03/01/08)
A new task force has been set up to consider proposals for legislation to protect Scotland's marine and coastal environment. The body will reflect a broad spectrum of opinion and will represent the main users of Scotland's seas. The first meeting of the Task Force will be on January 23, 2008 when the group will consider the work undertaken on marine legislation up to now and a work programme. The detailed work of the group will be undertaken at 5 workshops over the following months with a final group meeting in April. The Scottish Government will undertake a full consultation on a Marine Bill shortly thereafter.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/03100237

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News Releases

CABE gives £1.8m to inspire local demand for great architecture (CABE 20/12/07)
Twenty-one architecture and the built environment centres from around the country will receive funding from CABE over the next two years. The funds will help them deliver inspiring projects that encourage communities to get actively involved in the changes occurring in the built environment around them.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=2230

Minister's response to HEACS Reports (HEACS 08/01/08)
HEACS has received written responses from the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani, to three of the four reports it produced in 2006, at the end of its first term. The reports and recommendations covered the following topics: whether there is a need to review heritage protection legislation in Scotland; the role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment; and the criteria that should be used to assess whether a property should be taken into state care. Full text of responses available at:
http://www.heacs.org.uk/newsreleases/2008/response0801.htm

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Recent Parliamentary Questions

Written questions awaiting answer are given below. See 'recent parliamentary answers' for new questions (raised since circulation of BEFS e-Bulletin 10) that have already been answered.

S3W-7959 Johann Lamont (SP 18/12/07) To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the issue of trustee remuneration and the provision of trustee indemnity insurance under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

S3W-7975 Alison McInnes (SP 19/12/07) To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the introduction of the Climate Change Bill to the Parliament.

S3W-8224? Christopher Harvie: (SP 08/01/08) To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward its commitment to publish a revised National Planning Framework in accordance with the requirements of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006.
 

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Recent Parliamentary Answers

S3W-7499 Answered by Stewart Stevenson (13/12/07): The consultation draft of SPP 11, published in August 2006, proposed national minimum quantitative standards for open space for several categories of new development. Many respondents commented in some detail on this proposal. Whilst there was much support for minimum standards, significant concerns were raised about the inflexibility of imposing the same standards on developments throughout the country regardless of local circumstances. Concerns also centred on the potential impact on brownfield development, regeneration proposals and affordable housing. The planning system is operated largely by local authorities, and decisions about protection of and investment in local open space are generally best left to local authorities and local communities. The Scottish Government believes that locally determined open space strategies, rather than nationally imposed standards, are the best way of ensuring the provision of open space across Scotland is sensitive to local priorities and circumstances.

S3W-7512 Answered by Stewart Maxwell (14/12/07): The Scottish Government recognises that in recent years there has been an undersupply of housing across Scotland, in many rural areas as well as pressured urban settlements, and is committed to increasing housing supply significantly. Our consultation Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland can be accessed online at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/30153156/0 or in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43970). It invites comments on a proposed aim of increasing house building to 35,000 new homes each year by the middle of the next decade across rural and urban areas. We are also taking action now to try to overcome the obstacles, such as land supply and planning issues, which stand in the way of new development in rural areas, through the work of the Housing Supply Task Force. The task force has identified rural housing supply as an early priority and met to discuss rural housing supply on 27 November. Further information about the task force can be found online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Housing/Housing/housing-supply-task-force.

S3W-7526 Answered by Stewart Maxwell (13/12/07): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7524 on 13 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

S3W-7590 Answered by Stewart Maxwell (20/12/07): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7589 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

S3W-7637 Answered by John Swinney (13/12/07): It is the responsibility of individual public sector procuring bodies to monitor and evaluate their own PPP contracts and this is carried out through the payment mechanism which is contained within the contract documentation. The payment mechanism consists of performance and availability indicators and are tailored for each individual contract. Standardised PPP contract documentation is available for the main sectors such as schools and health on the Scottish Government Financial Partnerships Unit's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/ppp under the publications menu. In addition, there is a pre-financial close Key Stage Review which focuses on project management and monitoring during the construction and operational phases, and new operational guidance in the form of 2 Briefing Notes. These are also available on the website.

S3W-7719 Answered by John Swinney (20/12/07): It depends on the individual circumstances of the case.

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Motions, Debates and Bill Progress

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Events

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Training

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Job Vacancies

New Lanark Conservation Trust Trustees
New Lanark Conservation Trust seeks to recruit several new Trustees to help guide policy and strategy. Expressions of interest are invited from individuals, especially those with proven management and directorial experience in conservation, architectural heritage, planning, business, finance, tourism, education, or housing. It is important that Trustees have a strong interest in the conservation and economic development of New Lanark. Trustees are not remunerated but expenses can be paid.
For additional background information visit www.newlanark.org.
To apply, please send a letter of interest and your CV to Dr Jim Arnold, Director, New Lanark Conservation Trust, New Lanark Mills, Lanark ML11 9DB or e-mail to trust@newlanark.org
Closing date for expressions of interest: 31st January 2008

St Kilda World Heritage Site Management Planner, the National Trust for Scotland
Location: Edinburgh/Inverness/Western Isles
Salary: £24 314   Fixed term: 18 months
The St Kilda Management Planner will be responsible for reviewing the current management plan and delivering a new management plan for St Kilda World Heritage Site.  St Kilda is inscribed on the World Heritage Site for both its cultural and natural heritage. The role will identify best practice and work with specialists within the Trust, together with key stakeholders and communities to produce the plan.
For further details e-mail: joinus@nts.org.uk or telephone 0131 243 9417
Closing date 10am 18th February 2008
Interviews to take place in Edinburgh on Tuesday 11th March
Post supported by Historic Scotland and the Scottish Government.

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Information in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites; including the Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS); Historic Scotland (HS); Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG); Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA). For further information, links are provided to the relevant documents.

If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Jo Robertson jrobertson@befs.org.uk or call the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.