This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Modernisation of planning system
12/11/2004
The Executive is providing £2.25 million to help reform
and modernise Scotland's planning system.
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said the money -
the first time that a Scottish Budget had provided such
funds - would assist local authorities improve the
operation of planning functions.
He told delegates at the Royal Town Planning Institute
Conference in Dunfermline that there was a clear need to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning
system for all involved.
The Minister said:
"The Scottish Executive is determined to help deliver
sustained, and sustainable, improvements in planning
authority performance, which will benefit all involved in
the planning process.
"The recent Scottish Budget focused in investing in
Scotland's economic future and investing in our people and
skills. The £2.25 million allocated to planning will help
deliver on these objectives.
"The money will support initiatives to address resource
difficulties and skills gaps experienced by planning
authorities.
"For example, the money could support targeted
programmes of professional training and education for
council planners in respect of specialist skills.
"This is a significant sum - the first time that
planning has received such direct investment from the
budget - and I believe it demonstrates the high priority we
attach to the reform and modernisation of Scotland's
planning system, and of the central role of the planning
authorities in making this a reality."
The Scottish Executive will, early in the new year,
begin to discuss options with planning authorities and the
planning profession before drawing up detailed proposals
for allocating the resources.