e-Bulletin no.15  10th March 2008

Short-cut to sections:-  Consultations | Publications | Scottish Government news releases | News releases | Recent parliamentary questions | Recent parliamentary answers | Other parliamentary activity | Events | Training  | Job vacancies

Consultations 

Forthcoming Consultations:

Scottish Climate Change Bill building measures consultation - winter 07/08

Forest Enterprise Scotland Framework Strategic Plan and Forest District Strategic Plans - winter 07/08

Implementing the Housing Scotland Act 2006 (Parts I and II) - winter 07/08

Current Consultations:

Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP): Consultation: The Marine Historic Environment (HS 05/03/08)
The consultation on the Scottish Historic Environment Policy on the Marine Historic Environment sets out proposals for Scottish Ministers policy for the Marine Historic Environment and proposals for new legislation in this area. Deadline for response: 30th May 2008.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/consultations/currentconsultations.htm
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news-full-article.htm?articleid=28078

Permitted Development Rights for Domestic Microgeneration Equipment: Consultation Paper (SG 04/03/08)
Seeks views on the extent to which planning control can be reduced for domestic buildings by making microgeneration equipment 'permitted development' and thus removing the need to apply for planning permission. Deadline for response: 12th May 2008.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/04090052/0

Permitted Development Rights for Domestic Microgeneration Equipment Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report (SG 04/03/08)
In accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, a SEA has been undertaken to assess the environmental effects of the Consultation Paper and Draft Order for Permitted Development Rights for Domestic Microgeneration Equipment. The Environmental Report sets out the findings of the assessment.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/04140845/0

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Publications

Firm Foundations - The future of Housing in Scotland: Consultation Responses (SG 05/03/08)
This page contains copies of the responses received to the discussion document, Firm Foundations - The Future of Housing in Scotland.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/04141319/0

Scotland's Budget Documents 2008-09: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2009 (SG 25/02/08)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/21153821/0

The Code for Sustainable Homes: Setting the standard in sustainability for new homes (DCLG 27/02/09)
The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) was introduced to improve the overall sustainability of new homes by setting a single national standard within which the home building industry can design and construct homes to higher environmental standards and offers a tool for developers to differentiate themselves within the market. This document sets out the assessment process and the performance standards required for the Code.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/codesustainabilitystandards

 

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Scottish Government news releases

Design excellence for Scottish schools (SG 25/02/08)
Scottish schools have designs on a good looking future - thanks to a Scottish Government school design programme. The Architecture and Design Scotland Schools Programme will give all councils access to specialist, one-to-one, advice on their school building projects. The three year scheme will involve: A Schools Design Champion promoting and inspiring good design in schools; Tailored assistance for all councils to provide impartial advice on their school projects; Design evaluations of some projects, reviewing the design process at key stages.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/25120248

Rural Homes for Rent (SG 29/02/08)
Rural landowners and community buyouts will be able to apply for Scottish Government grants under a new pilot scheme to boost the number of new affordable homes for rent. Rural Homes for Rent, supported by £5 million over three years, was announced by Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell during a speech to the Rural Housing Service Conference 2008 in Dunkeld. Under the scheme, rural landowners across Scotland, including community buyout groups, will be able to apply for housing grants to help them build new affordable homes for rent on their land.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/29082638

Housing Statistics for Scotland 2007 update (SG 26/02/08)
Updated housing statistics have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. The on-line Housing Statistics for Scotland information resource includes comprehensive time series data on housing activity in Scotland. The quarterly data series have now been updated to September 2007. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/26103348

Building Standards Advisory Committee (SG 05/03/08)
Seven new members have been appointed to the Building Standards Advisory Committee. The appointments have been made for a period of two years only, from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009 and have been made to meet statutory requirements and ensure that the Committee is quorate. However, the Committee is to be abolished in line with the Government's approach to reducing the number of Advisory Bodies established to advise Scottish Ministers. Expert advice on building standards will be obtained in other ways. This change requires legislation and in the interim, the Committee is required to discharge its function in line with the legislation creating the body.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/03/05152120

Support package for third sector (SG 06/03/08)
Details of how more than £30m of support from the Third Sector Development Programme is to be allocated have been announced. The network of 57 Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS) will receive £11.85m from the Scottish Government over the next three years for Third Sector development. The role of Volunteer Centres in enabling people to find volunteering opportunities has also been recognised with a £11.5m award. £3.7m has been allocated to the Voluntary Action Fund to encourage volunteering. A further £4m has been allocated to help the Third Sector become more enterprising and deliver more public services.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/03/06115639

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News releases

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Recent parliamentary questions

Answers will appear in a subsequent Bulletin, with questions reproduced.

S3W-10398 George Foulkes: To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for introducing Scottish charitable incorporated organisations under the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005. (SP 27/02/08)

S3W-10528 Mike Rumbles: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch its consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings. (SP 29/02/08)

S3W-10533 Mike Rumbles: To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be best practice in stakeholder engagement and whether such practice has been followed in the forthcoming introduction of energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings. (SP 29/02/08)

S3W-10562 Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make recommendations to Her Majesty's Government regarding an exemption in VAT rates for the renovation of listed buildings. (SP 29/02/08)

S3W-10591 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to conduct research to review the performance achieved in use and any issues found for buildings designed to be low energy, low carbon, zero energy or zero carbon, as recommended in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland. (SP 03/03/08)

S3W-10597 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set up a working group to look at reducing carbon emissions in existing domestic buildings, as recommended in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland. (SP 03/03/08)

S3W-10599 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce primary legislation to allow Scottish ministers the opportunity to extend the provision and type of energy performance certificates, as recommended in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland. (SP 03/03/08)

S3W-10771 Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any change in the department and minster with responsibility for architecture policy. (SP 07/03/08)

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Recent parliamentary answers

Q    S3W-9247 Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07. (SP 31/01/08)
A    Answered by Linda Fabiani (26/02/08): Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS's) revenue expenditure for these years, including salary costs, was: (a) £101,735 in 2005-06 and (b) £117,871 in 2006-07. HEACS had no separately identifiable capital expenditure in these years. Historic Scotland provides accommodation for the secretariat.

Q    S3W-9251 Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive who will provide independent strategic advice to Scottish ministers on issues affecting the historic environment after the abolition of the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland. (SP 31/01/08)
A    Answered by Linda Fabiani (26/02/08): We value the input of individuals with strong experience and understanding of the historic environment and would wish to retain access to such advice in the future. Historic Scotland is responsible for advising ministers on the historic environment and will ensure expert advice is provided. Historic Scotland will continue to ensure that external expertise is brought to bear on particular issues as appropriate and to consult with the public and stakeholders groups, as and when the need arises.

Q    S3W-9497 Keith Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers that the role of Historic Scotland should be in planning applications near sensitive historical sites. (SP 06/02/08)
A    Answered by Linda Fabiani (03/03/08): Historic Scotland's role in planning applications near sensitive sites is to provide advice to planning authorities on the potential impact of a proposed development on historic sites of national interest. These are scheduled monuments and their settings, category A listed buildings and their settings and sites included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Where it considers that there would be sufficient adverse impact on the national importance of one or more of these historic sites, Historic Scotland will object on behalf of Scottish ministers. Where it considers there is a lesser impact, Historic Scotland may recommend that the planning authority impose appropriate planning conditions to mitigate the impact.

Q    S3W-10338 Helen Eadie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accept the recommendations of the Association of British Insurers and withdraw planning permission for any developments where approval has been given to build on sites designated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as being at high risk of flooding. (SP 27/02/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (06/03/08): The Scottish Environment Protection Agency flood map shows an estimate of the areas of Scotland with a 0.5% or greater probability of being flooded in any given year - in other words the areas estimated to have a 1 in 200 or greater chance of being flooded in any given year. It provides an indication of areas likely to flood but is not appropriate for assessing risk to individual properties and cannot replace studies at a local scale. The Scottish Government has no plans to revoke planning permissions because they have been granted in the areas shown on SEPA's flood risk maps.

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Other parliamentary activity

Motions

*S3M-1460 Jamie Stone: VAT Relief on the Renovation of Listed Buildings-That the Parliament asks the Scottish Executive to make representations to Her Majesty's Government to end VAT on the renovation of listed buildings and recognises that VAT on the renovation of historic buildings is a disincentive to properly maintain our cultural and architectural history. (SP 29/02/08) 

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Events

BEFS Workshop: Healthy Places - towards a mentally flourishing Scotland
Monday 17th March 2008, Edinburgh 9.30 - 1.45pm
The Government is currently developing its future direction on mental health improvement and is seeking views via the discussion paper 'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland'  In partnership with the Scottish Government Health and Wellbeing Directorate and the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health, the workshop will provide an overview of the discussion paper and research evidence.  It will seek views from stakeholders on how, from their perspective, the built environment contributes both positively and negatively to achieving good mental health. Having identified these aspects, it will go on to explore enablers and inhibitors towards achieving healthy places in Scotland.  This is your opportunity to input into the forward agenda on improving mental well-being in Scotland - from your perspective as a practitioner working with the built environment.
For further details and to register interest, email info@befs.org.uk or call 0131 220 6241.

Action on Skills Training and Education for the Historic Environment
A 2 day conference to be held at The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, London, 29th - 30th April 2008: ICOMOS-UK, in collaboration with Construction Skills, National Heritage Training Group, Institute for Historic Buildings Conservation, English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw, COTAC and the Carpenters' Company. The conference will launch two new National Heritage Training Group Research Reports: Review of Traditional Building Craft Skills in England, 2008, and Current Skills and Future Training Needs of Building Professionals working in the UK Built Heritage Sector. The outcome of the Conference will be a Skills Action Plan to define ways for active engagement of higher and further education providers, heritage organisations funding bodies and development agencies in delivering flexible skills training to meet current and future demands. Fees: £165/£215.
For further information contact: Sezis Okut, 0207 613 8508, education@princes-foundation.org; www.princes-foundation.org.

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Training

Scottish Lime Centre: April Courses for Building Professionals

P1 Introduction to Masonry Repairs in Traditional Buildings (April 14-16, £375 + VAT)
This is our most popular course and it provides an introductory guide to the use of a range of traditional materials used for the effective conservation and repair of masonry buildings. A combination of lecture and practical teaching this course gives an understanding of traditional building technology.

Limewash and Traditional Paints (April 18, £95 + VAT)
This one day workshop aims to provide a sound understanding of limewash and other traditional paints, the materials used and application techniques. By the end of this workshop you will be able to determine different paint types assess their suitability for both interior and exterior use as well as gaining knowledge of surface preparation and successful application.

Plaster Patching and Repair (April 19, £95 + VAT)
This workshop is taught by lecture and practical demonstration by a leading traditional plasterer. Even the simplest plaster patch repair can have a profound impact on the final results achieved in the decorating and finishing of surfaces. This workshop is taught by demonstration by a leading traditional plasterer, Alex Hylands owner of the Plaster Restoration Company.

For further details contact: www.scotlime.org, admin@scotlime.org, 01383 872 744

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Job vacancies

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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. Back copies of the Bulletin are available approximately one month after publication on the BEFS website.

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.