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Latest: Welcome to the BEFS e-Bulletin.
BEFS news: A reminder that we are currently seeking views on a
recommendation made by HEACS that BEFS should be invited to reconstitute
itself as a bespoke intermediary for the historic environment sector,
thereby adopting a narrower remit to its current wider 'built'
environment role with strategic focus on successful place-making. The
BEFS Board has put forward a preliminary position which can be viewed at:
http://www.befs.org.uk/issues.htm
If you would like to offer views on how your interests would best be
served at strategic level by a national intermediary body, we'd be
grateful for written comments by 28th February. For further
information on the role of intermediaries and the HEACS report itself
visit:
http://www.heacs.org.uk/newsreleases/2008/infrastructure.htm
And in the vacancies section, please note our co-ordinator Jo Robertson will be going
on maternity leave and we are currently advertising the post of Forum
Co-ordinator of BEFS as a secondment opportunity - deadline for
applications is 5th March.
For further information on BEFS, visit http://www.befs.org.uk/
.
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sections:- Consultations | Publications |
Scottish Government news releases | News
releases | Recent parliamentary questions | Recent parliamentary answers | Other
parliamentary activity | Events | Training
| Job vacancies
Consultations
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Publications
Scottish
Planning Series: Planning Circular 1 2009: Development Planning (SG 16/02/09)
Operation of the development planning system.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/13153723/0
Processing
Planning Applications for National and Major Developments (research
findings) No. 27/2009 (SG 16/02/09)
The research reviews existing processes for handling national and major
planning applications and identifies best practice and makes recommendations
for improving efficiency in this area.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/10131505/0
Processing
Planning Applications for National and Major Developments (research
publication) (SG 16/02/09)
The research reviews existing processes for handling national and major
planning applications and identifies best practice and makes
recommendations for improving efficiency in this area.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/10131548/0
Consultation
on the Modernisation of the Planning System with 'Seldom Heard' Groups -
findings (SG 10/02/09)
Part of The Scottish Government's ongoing consultation process to help
improve the evidence base for policy direction and implementation.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/09150350/0
Permitted Development Rights for Domestic
Microgeneration Equipment: Analysis of Consultation Responses (SG 09/02/09)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/06145853/0
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Scottish Government news releases
Extra
funding for affordable housing (SG 11/02/09)
Payments to Housing Associations are being increased to ensure construction
work continues in the current economic climate. The standard Housing
Association Grant assumptions are rising by an average of six percent. This
will mean an additional grant of between £4,000 and £5,000 per house.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/11112654
Changes
to Scottish Government (SG 10/02/09)
Changes to the Scottish Government Ministerial team have been announced.
The changes include: Alex Neil appointed as Minister for Housing and
Communities; Roseanna Cunningham appointed as Minister for the Environment;
Michael Russell taking responsibility for the Constitution as Minister for
Culture, External Affairs and Constitution. Stewart Maxwell, Linda Fabiani
and Maureen Watt leave the Government.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/10103636
Marine Scotland to manage
sustainable seas (SG 09/02/09)
A new marine management body is being created to help Scotland make the most of
its seas for future generations. Marine Scotland, which will be up
and running by April 1, will play a key role in managing Scotland's seas, with
direct responsibility for marine science, planning, policy development,
management and compliance monitoring measures.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/09163825
Domestic
microgeneration (SG 09/02/09)
Householders will be able to install their own energy generating equipment,
including solar panels, without planning permission following a Scottish
Government consultation on planning reforms aimed at increasing renewable
energy generation and cutting emissions.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/09103932
Regeneration
boost for historic communities (HS 06/02/09)
Nine historic communities across Scotland will benefit from more than £5
million, under the recent announcement of the latest round of Historic
Scotland's Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS).
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=21705
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News releases
Prize for
putting people, not cars first (CABE 09/02/09)
An era of car-dominated street design has finally come to an end, as
government guidance that puts pedestrians at the heart of street design has
won a prestigious planning award.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=3010
Are you
the owner of a scheduled monument or historic landscape at risk? (EH 06/02/09)
English Heritage has embarked on a project to contact all owners of
scheduled monuments and historic landscapes at risk to find out how they
can best help them to repair the national treasures in their care, ensuring
they survive for themselves, others and future generations to enjoy.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.15701
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Recent parliamentary questions
Answers
will appear in a subsequent Bulletin, with questions reproduced. Questions
marked with a triangle are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order to
facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
S3W-20776
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19953 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what steps it is
taking to ensure that the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical
Monuments will retain charitable status following any rationalisation. (SP 11/02/09)
S3W-20779
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19951 by Linda Fabiani on 2
February 2009, whether it has considered conducting a formal
consultation on the future of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments. (SP 11/02/09)
S3W-20780
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19952 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, for what reasons
the budget for the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments has
been reduced in 2010-11. (SP 11/02/09)
S3W-20745
Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken
place with local authorities and representatives of local planning officers
on the interpretation and implementation of the proposed permitted
development rights for domestic microgeneration equipment. (SP 10/02/09)
S3W-20706
Jeremy Purvis: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had
with relevant partners concerning the roll-out of the town centre
regeneration fund; which partners were involved, and when these discussions
took place. (SP 09/02/09)
S3W-20624
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the
responses to its consultation on Permitted Development Rights for Domestic
Microgeneration Equipment, which closed on 12 May 2008. (SG 06/02/09)
S3W-20659
Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assess the needs
of cities, towns and villages in relation to allocations made from the Town
Centre Regeneration Fund. (SG 06/02/09)
S3W-20729
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the
National Performance Framework to be a qualifying plan, programme or
strategy for the purposes of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act
2005 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter. (SP 09/02/09)
S3W-20733
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what practical policies
Forestry Commission Scotland has put in place to optimise the use of the
national forest estate for carbon sequestration and mitigation and what
policies it expects to continue. (SP 09/02/09)
S3W-20925
Mary Mulligan: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made
towards its target of building 21,500 affordable homes by 2011. (SP 12/02/09)
S3W-20943
Hugh Henry: To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria will be for
applications for funding from the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration
Fund. (SP 13/02/09)
S3W-21002
Mary Mulligan: To ask the Scottish Executive by what means local
authorities and others can access the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. (SP
13/02/09)
S3W-21013
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications
were refused by the Cairngorms National Park Authority on grounds of nature
conservation value (the Sandford principle). (SP 13/02/09)
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Recent parliamentary answers
Q S3W-19940
- Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer
to question S3W-19114 by Linda Fabiani on 7 January 2009, when it expects
to report on the outcome of its examination into the scope to rationalise
and streamline the activities of the Royal Commission on Ancient and
Historical Monuments, Historic Scotland and the National Archives of
Scotland. (SP 19/01/09)
A Answered by Linda Fabiani (02/02/09): I refer the
member to the answer to question S3W-19938 on 2 February 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
Q S3W-20307
Hugh Henry: To ask the Scottish Executive whether a further £60 million for
town centre regeneration will be allocated in 2010-11. (SP 30/01/09)
A Answered by John Swinney (10/02/09): The Scottish
Government has made clear its intention to introduce a new £60 million Town
Centre Regeneration Fund as part of the 2009-10 Budget package. We have no
present plans for provision in 2010-11.
Q S3W-20323
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal cases have been
heard or are outstanding in relation to right of access over rights of way
or other rights of responsible access under sections 13 and 14 of the Land
Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. (SP 30/01/09)
A Answered by Michael Russell (09/02/09): I refer
the member to the answers to questions S3W-20324 and S3W-20325, on 9
February 2009: Extract:
S3W-20324 Answered by Michael Russell (09/02/09): The Scottish Government
collects information on the number of written notices that access
authorities have served on land owners under section 14 of the Land Reform
(Scotland) Act 2003 requiring remedial action where obstructions must be
removed. Between 9 February 2005 and 31 March 2008, 19 section 14 notices
were issued to remove obstructions. In six of these cases appeals against
the notice have been made to a sheriff court. In addition, one court case
was initiated by a land owner under section 28 of the act. The outcome or
current status of these cases can be found on the Scottish Courts website.
S3W-20325 Answered by Michael Russell (09/02/09): The Scottish Government
does not collect this information. It is held by the 34 Scottish access
authorities.
Q S3W-20326
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to
ensure that landowners, land managers and access authorities comply with
their duties under sections 13 and 14 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act
2003. (SP 30/01/09)
A Answered by Michael Russell (09/02/09): I
refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20333 on 9 February 2009:
S3W-20333 Answered by Michael Russell (09/02/09): Yes, the Land Reform
(Scotland) Act 2003 places emphasis on the local management of access and
makes it the duty of the local access authority to uphold access rights
under the provisions contained within the act. Support for access
authorities and local access forums is provided in the Scottish
Government's written guidance on the implementation of the access
provisions of the act, and in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Local
access forums can also seek advice and support from the National Access
Forum.
Q S3W-20663?
Shirley-Anne Somerville: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to
lay before the Parliament the amendment order that will grant permitted
development rights for microgeneration on domestic buildings. (SP 09/02/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson (09/02/09): I am
pleased to announce that the relevant Amendment Order [the Town and Country
Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration)
(Scotland) Amendment Order 2009] was laid before the Scottish Parliament on
Friday 6 February 2009 [SSI 2009/34]. It will now be considered by the
Subordinate Legislation Committee and the Local Government and Communities
Committee. The Order will enable householders to install certain energy
generating equipment, such as solar panels, on their houses or in their
gardens without applying for planning permission. Removing the barriers of
cost and time will encourage greater uptake of micro-generation equipment,
which will increase renewable energy generation and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions. Removing the barriers will also support the development of the
micro-generation industry therefore contributing to the government's
efforts to ensure that Scotland's planning system increases sustainable
economic growth.
Q S3W-20664?
Rob Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for the
establishment of a new marine management organisation in Scotland. (SP
06/02/09)
A Answered by Richard Lochhead (09/02/09): Following
consideration of the responses on the recent consultation exercise on
Sustainable Seas for All a Consultation on Scotland's first Marine Bill and
related delivery arrangements, we plan to establish new integrated marine
management arrangements for Scotland - under Marine Scotland as part of the
core Scottish Government, as of 1 April. This will enable coherent
management of the seas with integration of policy alongside delivery
functions, as well as contributing to the Scottish Government's aim to
simplify the public bodies landscape. Our proposals signal our commitment
to a step change in marine management arrangements for Scotland. Marine
Scotland's role will be, in partnership with others, to deliver our marine
vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive, biologically diverse marine and
coastal environments within the overall Government's purpose of sustainable
economic growth. This will include, for example, working closely with
bodies such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish
Natural Heritage. It will manage Scotland's seas for prosperity and
environmental sustainability both by leading and working with others and in
carrying out its own functions of evidence-based policy development and
marine planning, streamlined marine licensing and consenting, sound science
and effective compliance monitoring and enforcement.
We plan to establish a Marine Strategy Board, to be led by Marine Scotland and
involving key partners with marine management interests, to deliver
strategic management of Scotland's seas.
Marine Scotland will have direct responsibility for core marine functions,
which include both the existing functions of the Marine Directorate,
Fisheries Research Services (Marine and Freshwater Fisheries) and Scottish
Fisheries Protection Agency, and also planned new functions of marine
planning, improved nature conservation measures and better integrated
licensing, consents and monitoring arrangements. There is strong support
for the establishment of such a body with the largest group to comment on
status supporting its establishment within government. It will build on the
success of the organisation involved and will enable a strategic approach
to marine management.
In light of the importance of the new body's science function we will, as
part of the new governance arrangements, also be establishing a Scientific
Advisory Board to assure its scientific objectivity and credibility. We
will also be developing appropriate appeals mechanisms with an independent
element.
We believe it is important to establish Marine Scotland quickly so that it
can begin the process of integrating and streamlining currently separate
functions and processes and so that it will be well placed to deliver new
functions and responsibilities, following agreement on new marine
legislation, effectively and efficiently. Decisions now about its role,
status and establishment will also remove uncertainties for the staff involved,
partner organisations and stakeholders and help us to gain the benefits of
better integrated, more streamlined arrangements more quickly.
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Other parliamentary activity
Debates
Parliamentary
debate on housing - official report: 12/02/09
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0212-02.htm#Col14986
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Events
Recycling
historic buildings: empowering local authorities and communities
The St George's Hotel, Llandudno, The Parade, Llandudno, Thursday 26th
March 2009
IHBC, The Prince's Regeneration Trust and Civic Trust for Wales
conference. A proactive approach to historic buildings at risk can
deliver important economic, environmental and social benefits. Those
attending the conference will see how a successful project can be delivered
and how statutory powers can be more effectively used to maximise the
potential of historic assets.
http://llandudno2009.ihbc.org.uk/
Holyrood
conference: Planning a route to national success; Holyrood's 9th annual
planning conference
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Edinburgh, 24th March 2009
The first course in the series 'Politics Explained'.
http://conferences.holyrood.com/content/view/910/142/
Holyrood
conference: The Scottish Parliament Explained
Holyrood MacDonald Hotel, Edinburgh, 30th March 2009
The first course in the series 'Politics Explained'.
www.scottishpolitics.co.uk
Holyrood
conference: Scottish Local Government Explained
Holyrood MacDonald Hotel, Edinburgh, 1st April 2009
www.scottishpolitics.co.uk
Scottish
Slate Issues: a half-day Seminar Launching the Latest Research into
Traditional Slate Roofing in Scotland
Stirling Council Chambers, 1st April 2009
Hosted by Stirling City Heritage Trust and the Scottish Stone Liaison Group
For further details contact: jane.milroy@sslg.co.uk,
01383 872006.
Second
International Conference on Whole Life Urban Sustainability and its
Assessment
Loughborough, 22nd - 24th April 2009
Keynote speakers: Peter Head (Director, Arup); Nigel Ingram (Director,
Joseph Rowntree Foundation); and Lynne Sullivan (Executive Director,
Sustainable Design Inbuilt).
www.sue-mot.org/conference
Great
Places, Great Cities 2009
Glasgow, 4th and 5th June 2009
This two-day conference will bring together an international audience to
discuss the role of public space and green networks in creating truly
sustainable cities - cities which have a reduced impact on the environment,
which cope better with the consequences of global climate change and where
people want to live and work. Early bird rate of £295 before 23rd March. Do
you want to be on the programme? The call for abstracts is now open - your opportunity
to present research findings and greenspace project outcomes relating to
the conference themes, through speed presentations and poster displays
www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/GreatPlacesGreatCities
International
Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal: Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony
London, 19th and 20th November 2009
Delegates to the event receive a free annual subscription to the Journal of
Neighbourhood Renewal. Free Places for Board Members and Volunteers of
Local Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.
A two day event, with a range of speakers from both the policy and academic
worlds debating and promoting good practice in the field of neighbourhood
renewal. There are two strands to this event; a practitioners
forum and a researchers forum.
For further information contact: neighbourhoodjournal@googlemail.com
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Training
Asbestos
Awareness Training
Apex International Hotel, Grassmarket, Edinburgh 26th February 2009
Workshop overview - Surveyors along with other building and construction
professionals are now legally required to have asbestos awareness training.
The training is specifically aimed at surveyors and other building
professionals who may encounter asbestos during building inspection or
maintenance works.
www.rics.org/asbestostraining
Scottish
Stone Liaison Group seminar series: Deconstructing Building Stone
There are still places available for the following events:
Stone As A Modern Material, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, 26th
February 2009
Contemporary Construction; Standards, Sustainability & Specification,
Glasgow City Halls, 18th March 2009
This seminar series, designed for building professionals, addresses the
sustainable use of stone in construction and is delivered in association
with Historic Scotland, RIAS, CIOB and the IHBC. For professionals working
in the urban environment, these seminars offer a reappraisal of the often
complex issues involved in procuring and using stone.
For further information contact: sarah.bailey@sslg.co.uk,
01383 872 006
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Job vacancies
Forum
Co-ordinator - maternity cover secondment opportunity (8 months), Built
Environment Forum Scotland
Grade and salary range: Pay band F, £20, 455 - £26, 105 (Full time
equivalent FTE £25, 253 - £32, 229)
BEFS is an umbrella organisation that brings together organisations working
in the built environment sector. We are looking for a Forum Co-ordinator to
run the Forum while our current Co-ordinator is on maternity leave. This is
an exciting opportunity to run a voluntary sector membership forum,
focusing on facilitating joint activity and engaging with the Scottish
Government and Parliament on policy and good practice issues relating to
the built environment.
For application pack contact: jrobertson@befs.org.uk,
0131 220 6241. Closing date: 5pm 5th March 2009.
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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 Anne Wilkinson awilkinson@befs.org.uk or call
the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241. We hope that you find the Bulletin
useful, however if you wish to be removed from the circulation list, please
get in touch.
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