Scottish Government

LOCAL AUTHORITY

EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE/ISSUES

Aberdeenshire

• Multiple task-oriented workshops with public/professionals;
• Parallel structure and local plan consultation to emphasise links;
• Training with community forums/pack provided enabling community councils to run consultation exercise;
• Officer prepared consultative draft (unapproved);
• Interactive web site (DPs)

Argyll & Bute

• Area focus - 6 administrative areas each with all purpose committee;
• Planning surgeries; use of Post Offices
• IT - forms can be downloaded from web site;
• Best Value - questionnaires/surveys; DC user groups
• 'Mini' training exercise with Planning Aid

Angus

• Planning surgeries; objectors can speak at committee/procedure notes;
• Involved in Clear Project on joint structure plan;
• Area Forums - public can raise issues and used to get feedback on early drafts;
• Best value - 'Servequal' as part of DC review;
• Youth Congress - Development plans/transport.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
(CnES)

• Planning for Real around Port of Entry Enhancement with Enterprise Company;
• Stepping Stones project - early Community Planning initiative around community needs;
• Establishment of Development Companies (with places for community) to implement Plans (e.g. via landfill tax);
• Development plans - mail drop/workshops hosted by CCs;
• Public meetings around major proposals e.g. causeway links to promote awareness early on involving developers or council as developers;
• e-mails weekly lists.

East Dunbartonshire

• Business seminar on development plan;
• Involved in Clear Project;
• Floating Open Forum.

East Lothian

• Pilot project in Tranent and Ormiston/NOORD;
• MAATCHED Project with young people/Youth Parliament reactivated;
• Annual consultative forum with CCs;
• Moving towards council-wide service standards (Environmental Health pilot surveys);
• IT - UK Planning online pilot; IT audit;
• Objectors can request/speak at site visits.

Edinburgh

• Conservation Area Character Appraisals - community ownership;
• IT partnership with BT/aerial photography;
• Service Charters developed with customer focus groups;
• Best practice packs for staff on public interface.

Falkirk

• Development plans - Planning for Real on structure plan;
• Area forums used for consultation (including planning);
• Consulted on Planning Briefs (e.g. around hospital site) leading to Master Plan including workshops;
• Considering Building Quality forum building upon best value consultations;
• Links with LA21 via Community Planning/extensive involvement in Biodiversity Action Plans.

Fife

• Development plan - Prize draw; Planning for Real;
• Decentralised to area level;
• Hearings if development is contrary to development plan;
• Best Value - customer focus groups/surveys; Customer Quality Charter;
• Proposed community forums
• Link to Community Planning.

Glasgow

• Design-based Master Planning (computer modelling & CD Rom public exhibition);
• Use of citizen panel to establish heritage/design priorities;
• Development plan on web/CD Rom;
• Development control - regular meetings with key stakeholders/'Scotlis' project (IT);
• Best Value - surveys/focus groups;
• Links with SIPs/Local Housing Partnerships;
• New neighbourhoods - community-led working groups.

Highland

• Development plans - Planning for Real (11 public meetings/ 26 local surgeries/ 2 additional meetings) including primary schools; usability questionnaire sent out with Plan; use of alternative venues e.g. Airport; media coverage;
• Award for youth involvement in structure plan;
• Organised public consultation around Scottish Executive Consultation exercises;
• IT initiatives including 'Thinknet' (interactive around issues);
• Use of hearings system;
• Area committee system with substantial delegation;
• Pilot partnership arrangements for Community Planning (from the bottom up);
• Best Value - Customer 'phone poll.

Midlothian

• Development plans - video/slides/workshops (3-year process); use of consultants/in-house staff;
• Community forums to be set up.

Moray

• Development plans - moved to workshop approach; ran structure plan and local plan processes together;
• Plans on web;
• Council-wide initiative on Community Planning but geared to agencies

North Ayrshire

• Development plan - CD Rom Plans;
• Established links with Schools;
• Neighbour notification on development plan;
• Link with SIPs;

Scottish Borders

• Development plans - planners working way round 70 communities;
• DC - delegation to area committees

Stirling

• Development plans - Household mail-shot of easy to read version/questionnaire;
• Workshops and Planning for Real on issues e.g. housing growth;
• Youth forum - workshops and planning for real on issues;
• Stirling Assembly - workshops and planning for real on issues;
• Development control - weekly recommendations on the web with councillors/officers (& public indirectly) requesting items on agenda;
• IT initiatives;
• Enhanced role for CCs (e.g. organising public meetings/involving excluded groups/training).

West Dunbartonshire

• Development plan - offered to visit community councils but only 2/3 took up offer; Plan on web;
• Development control - clear procedures for requests to be heard at committee;
• Experimented with area committees but still evolving.

West Lothian

• Development plan - workshops with Planning Aid;
• IT - moving to interactive;
• Identified need for Consultation Strategy;
• Development Briefs - already notify neighbours;
• Structured consultation around Community Planning areas to ensure consistency/avoid overload.