e-Bulletin no.18  17th June 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 

Protection of World Heritage Sites: Consultation paper (DCLG 27/05/08) This consultation document seeks your views on proposed measures designed to enhance the protection of World Heritage Sites in England. The Government gave a commitment to introduce two of these measures in its white paper Heritage Protection for the 21st Century, published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in March 2007.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/worldheritagesitesconsultation

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Publications

Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 14 Natural Heritage - Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report (SG 21/05/08) Sets out information on SPP 14 Natural Heritage to enable the Consultation Authorities to form a view on the appropriateness of the proposed consultation period and methods, and on the scope and level of detail that will be appropriate for the Environmental Report.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/21110058/0

Analysis of the responses to the consultation document 'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland' (SG 22/05/08) 'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland' discussion document was put forward as a consultation to determine the future direction of mental health improvement for 2008-11, focusing on what Local Authorities, NHS Boards and other key stakeholders can do to support the agenda. This report is an analysis of all the responses recieved to the consultation document.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/21122124/0

An Assessment of the Value of Planning Agreements in Scotland-Research Findings No. 11/2008 (SG 22/05/08) The report assesses the number and vale of planning agreements secured in Scotland between 2004 and 2007, highlighting trends in the use of agreements and forecasting the value of contributions that may be secured to 2010.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/31095120/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/05114332/0

Strategic Development Planning Authorities: Designation Orders and Statutory Guidance: Analysis of Consultation Responses (SG 02/06/08)
Analysis of consultation responses.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/22161818/0

Planning Advice Note: PAN 65 Planning and Open Space (SG 02/06/08) Provides advice on the role of the planning system in protecting and enhancing existing open spaces and providing high quality new spaces.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/30100623/0

Developing the New Planning Performance Assessment Framework: Analysis of Consultation Responses (SG 02/06/08) Analysis of consultation responses.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/22161857/0

Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland: The Scottish Government Response (SG 04/06/08)
 The Scottish Government Response.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/03113737/0

Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland: Consultation Analysis Report (SG 04/06/08)
Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/30140817/0

SPP3 Planning for Housing: Consultation Responses (SG 11/06/08)
Consultation responses.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/11095803/0

Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning (SCLG 04/06/08) Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS12) explains what local spatial planning is, and how it benefits communities. It also sets out what the key ingredients of local spatial plans are and the key government policies on how they should be prepared.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps12lsp

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Scottish Government news releases

Update on housing statistics (SG 20/05/08) 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.http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/05/20103741

Building for the future (SG 27/05/08) Unblocking major housing developments in the Lothians and the West of Scotland is a key challenge for increasing the supply of housing in Scotland, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell has said. Mr Maxwell was speaking as the Housing Supply Task Force outlined its forward programme in a mid-term progress statement.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/05/27111232

Investment in housing (SG 30/05/08) Planned investment of £1.5 billion is expected to create at least 21,500 new approved affordable homes by 2011, it has been announced.
Unveiling this year's Affordable Housing Investment Programme, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said the funding for the next three years was 19 per cent more than planned by the previous administration for the last three years.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/05/30104227

Sustainable Places Conference (SG 05/06/08) The collaborative planning approach developed by Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment has at it's heart precepts that can be applied across Scotland, First Minister Alex Salmond has said. Addressing the "Sustainable Places: A Scottish Future" conference, held in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the First Minister stressed the Scottish Government's determination to develop sustainable communities which match Scotland's lasting and distinctive character.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/05152416

Opening of Dumfries House (SG 06/06/08) The historic opening of Dumfries House to the public will have a positive economic impact on East Ayrshire and surrounding areas, First Minister Alex Salmond has said. The First Minister was speaking as he joined His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, at the official opening of Dumfries House, granting public access to the property for the first time in 250 years.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/06131923

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News releases

Minister urges more consideration of heritage in development (HS 03/06/08) Culture Minister Linda Fabiani MSP is urging the country's developers and architects to consider the built heritage as an avenue for future developments. Speaking after the Scottish Design Awards where she presented the award of Best Re-use of a Listed Building Award, sponsored by Historic Scotland, the Minister said: "I am greatly encouraged by the caliber of the shortlist in the category and enthusiastic about Scotland's heritage playing an integral part of a vibrant and modern nation.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=18709

Less talk, more action (CABE 04/06/08) CABE design reviews about 350 schemes each year and recently analysed those seen over the last two years to see how seriously sustainability was being taken. Fewer than 10 schemes made sustainability a genuine priority.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=2541
Heritage at Risk (EH 16/06/08) English Heritage is sharpening its tools for the protection of England's heritage at risk. It is creating the first all-encompassing register of the country's neglected or decaying historic treasures and introducing new ways to save them.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13844

UK's biggest national park set to get bigger (SNH 29/05/08) Scottish Natural Heritage will shortly launch a consultation programme aimed at reaching as many people as possible over the proposed boundary extension of the Cairngorms National Park. Scottish Ministers have decided to extend the boundary of the Park into Perth and Kinross and have briefed SNH to prepare a detailed proposal for the changes. The new boundary extension is expected to emulate the line in the Cairngorms National Park Boundary Bill, put forward in Autumn 2006 by John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside.
http://www.snh.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=1887

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Recent parliamentary questions

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

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Recent parliamentary answers

Q    S3W-12720 John Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review and simplify the process for applying for funding for the restoration of active churches. (SP 07/05/08)
A    Answered by Linda Fabiani (15/05/08): The Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme is run by Historic Scotland in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scheme was reviewed recently and an online application form is currently under development and will be available shortly.

Q    S3W-12831 George Foulkes: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since May 2007 with the National Trust for Scotland regarding Bute House. (SP 12/05/08)
A    Answered by John Swinney (21/05/08): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12833 on 21 May 2008. 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.

Q    S3W-13052 George Foulkes: To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have local design review panels. (SP 16/05/08)
A    Answered by Stewart Stevenson (30/05/08): Architecture and Design Scotland has a national responsibility to carry out design review, generally on projects of strategic significance, and this is set out in Scottish Planning Policy 20. It is for local authorities to determine the need for local design review panels and their scope and remit. The definition of what constitutes a local design review panel is thus open to interpretation. Currently, Glasgow City Council has a formal local design review panel which draws upon independent external expertise: City of Edinburgh Council has an internal design surgery, Scottish Borders Council has an internal peer review panel, and Dundee City Council has a design review panel for work specific to its waterfront regeneration project.

Q    S3W-13227 Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final report of the Sustainable Seas Task Force. (SP 21/05/08)
A    Answered by Richard Lochhead (03/06/08): The work of the Sustainable Seas Task Force is now complete, having fulfilled its remit to input into the development of Scottish Government's consultation proposals for a Scottish marine bill. There is no final report of the task force's work but the papers are available on the Scottish Government web pages. The work is being incorporated into the consultation document which will issue in the summer.

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Other parliamentary activity

Motions

*S3M-1924 Sandra White: Glasgow's Rich Architectural Heritage-That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that, after almost two decades of wrangling over ownership, the Egyptian Halls in Union Street, Glasgow, widely regarded as one of Alexander "Greek" Thomson's greatest commercial masterpieces, will, after years of neglect, see restoration work begin early in 2009, which in turn will serve to support the ongoing rejuvenation of Union Street and to highlight Glasgow's unrivalled eclectic architectural mix, and hopes that this positive outcome will serve as a catalyst to resolve other long-running disputes which threaten some of Glasgow's most iconic buildings, such as the Lion Chambers, an A-listed building in Hope Street famed for its dramatic "Scottish Skyscraper" style which was once the hub for the artisan community in Glasgow and which to this day still attracts international acclaim and interest. (SP 16/05/08)

*S3M-2011? Iain Smith: Enforcement of Planning Legislation-That the Parliament notes with concern the difficulties faced by planning authorities, such as Fife Council, in attempting to deal with breaches of planning legislation through enforcement and stop notices; considers that development without the appropriate planning approval undermines the rule of law and the planning process and that the present planning legislation does not provide a sufficient safeguard against unlawful development; believes that appeals against enforcement or stop notices should not be permitted on the grounds that planning permission for the development would have been granted or that a planning application for the development has been submitted; further believes that there should be a presumption against approval for any development that has been carried out without the appropriate planning approvals, and desires further debate on these proposals. (SP 30/05/08)

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Events

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Training

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Job vacancies

New Lanark World Heritage Site Co-ordinator
£32,428 - £39,410 (Band E) Ref: HSC/08/069 (Salary is performance related. This is a fixed term appointment which will be reviewed after 1 year.)
   In 2001, New Lanark was inscribed as one of only four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity, which will involve the development of a Management Plan for the site, including the management of a public consultation. You will work closely with key stakeholders including the New Lanark Trust, Historic Scotland Inspectorate and South Lanarkshire Council to promote the World Heritage Site and produce and implement interpretation, communication and education strategies. You will have proven experience of working in a related field; experience of working with a range of stakeholders at senior level and excellent negotiation, communication and presentation skills. The post sits within Historic Scotland's Policy Group but will be based at the New Lanark Trust which runs the World Heritage Site.
   For further details and an application form, please contact Historic Scotland Human Resources, Room 3.10, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH, email hs.recruit@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0131 668 8641 quoting the reference number.
Closing date: Friday 4 July 2008.
   Historic Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Ministers and is an equal opportunities employer. We operate a Guaranteed Job Interview Scheme.

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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.