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Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2003

Application form

This application form can either be completed by hand or electronically (pdf version) on the Planning homepage at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning . Please complete all four questions. The deadline is 12 September 2003. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the person who has completed this form.

Please provide a name and contact details of the organisation responsible for this work. If partners were involved, identify the lead organisation, and then list the other partners/bodies who had a key role.

Name of key partners (if appropriate)

Please complete the form by providing a brief summary (in no more than the space provided) of the piece of work you have entered. You must also conclude, with a key reason, as to why you think this work merits an Award.

Please tick the key criteria which relate to this entry:

You must describe in your written submission (below) how the criteria which you have ticked relates to your project.

Description of project

This project was designed to produce an effective 2nd Edition of Fife's local biodiversity action plan (LBAP), the main focus of which would be bringing about on the ground benefits for Fife's biodiversity. The project was implemented through various stages of assessment, review and consultation, and resulted in the launch of the 2nd Edition in June 2003.

The first edition of Fife's LBAP was the first LBAP to be produced in Scotland, and was recognised by SAQP in 1998. The Fife Biodiversity Partnership (FBP) has built on this exciting starting point, and has moved Fife's biodiversity process forward into implementation. This process has been mirrored across Scotland and the Uk as the theory of LBAPs becomes a practical reality.

However, the process of implementing LBAPs brings with it the requirement to monitor ongoing action. In turn this informs regular reviews and allows positive enhancement of the LBAP process. In Fife, this process has resulted in a complete refinement of the LBAP, which has now been re-published in its 2nd Edition as 'Action for Biodiversity 2003-2006'.

The project was implemented by the FBP, with input from a broad range of organisations and communities involved in Fife's wider sustainable development action.

Timescale (over which the project has developed)

A systematic review of the LBAP was carried out from June 2002 to January 2003. On completion of the review, the FBP set about developing and publishing 'Action for Biodiversity', which was launched in June 2003.

Context (the problem which had to be addressed)

The Fife LBAP has produced a number of associated documents as it developed from the public-friendly 1st edition. By 2001, there were 4 habitat action plans (HAPs) and 52 species action plans (SAPs), incorporating a total of 456 targets for action. These action plans were primarily based on the national targets identified for each species and habitat through the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. While the plan production represented a tremendous commitment and effort by the FBP, the review process highlighted the bias of the LBAP's structure towards process rather than practical action.

There was also a lack of strategic focus in the LBAP's development following the 1st edition. Although the LBAP had been integrated with the Fife Community Plan (published in June 2000) the LBAP's structure did not allow for full consideration of broader environmental and sustainability work in Fife. The various member organisations of the Fife Biodiversity Partnership, and indeed the wider Community Plan framework, each have their own work priorities. It was clear that the LBAP process needed to take account of the various priorities of these partner organisations, and the ongoing work they were involved in. This would allow the LBAP to adapt to the local situation, and ensure the process could bring about on the ground benefits for biodiversity as part of a sustainable environmental process.

Action taken

The project was implemented in five stages.

1) Monitoring and assessment

Working closely with the Fife Environmental Recording Network (Fife Council's local environmental record centre), information about the LBAP's 456 targets was collated in the database, producing the first full impression of the LBAP's progress since 1997. SMART targeting theory was then used to assess each of the LBAP targets.

2) Consultation

Following steps 1 and 2, the FBP agreed that effective implementation could only be achieved if the LBAP targets were rationalised to produce a smaller number of clear and achievable goals. Consultation with the FBP and wider environmental organ isations identified partners' ongoing work, future plans and targets that partners could lead on. Only SMART targets that had a lead organisation were taken forward into the 2nd Edition.

3) Fife-wide integration of the LBAP

The FBP recognised that the LBAP had to be integrated within the wider Community Plan framework if it was to be effective and sustainable in the longAerm. This integration was achieved through the FBP's membership of the Fife Environmental Network (FEN) Co-ordination Group. This strategic partnership within Fife's Community Plan framework implements the environmental theme of the Community Plan through the Take a Pride in Fife (TAPIF) Strategy. The LBAP and its implementation are now identified within the wider framework of the TAPIF Strategy, and LBAP implementation will directly contribute towards biodiversity milestones in TAPIF and the Community Plan.

4) Identification of the LBAP's core work areas

The extensive consultation and integration processes identified five core LBAP projects, with rationalised SMART targets and lead organisations for each. These are; Farmland, Urban, Coastal Fringe, Rivers and Monitoring & Information. These will be the focus of LBAP action until 2006 when the LBAP and its practical achievements will be reviewed.

5) Publication and launch of 'Action for Biodiversity

"Action for Biodiversity' was published on the 20th of June 2003, as part of a month long programme of 'Take a Pride in Fife' events.

Results achieved

The main outcome of the project was the development of an innovative and achievable 2nd Edition of the Fife LBAP, which will be sustainable in the long-term because of its integration within the wider Community Plan framework.

Practical projects have, and can be, effectively developed on the basis of the LBAP's SMART targets and strategic overview of goals. The LBAP has been involved in nine practical project so far, each of which was developed in partnership with relevant organisations. Project planning is currently ongoing for each of the targets included in the LBAP, with implementation scheduled for 2004.

The detailed planning of 'Action for Biodiversity' means it will achieve its targets on an ongoing basis. These achievements can then be publicised to help encourage further participation in the LBAP process. With increasing participation, an LBAP that can broaden its aims while retaining its focus.

The well-planned and co-ordinated approach taken to the project has resulted in the production of an LBAP that can demonstrate an awareness of quality planning and its benefits. This approach is also reflected in the practical projects initiated by the Fife LBAP. This demonstration of quality planning and an awareness of wider issues means 'Action for Biodiversity' will benefit from increased access to funding sources.

As a further benefit, the production of 'Action for Biodiversity' brought about a re-invigoration of the Fife LBAP process. This was a direct outcome of the inclusive consultation process, which broadened ownership of the LBAP by encouraging all relevant bodies to comment, whilst also providing an opportunity for the consultees to observe what the LBAP was capable of achieving.

Conclusion - Why does this piece of work merit an Award?

The development of 'Action for Biodiversity', and the structure of the LBAP itself, represents an original approach to the next stage of LBAP implementation.

This approach has demonstrated how an LBAP can exploit effective monitoring, review, planning and consultation to reach ambitious goals. In addition, the project has shown the value of integrating LBAPs into the wider environmental framework, including Community Planning.

The project is an excellent example of partnership working, with input from a wide range of partners from across Fife, and funding from four local and national organisations.

The project has resulted in the development of real, achievable targets, which can and are being implemented to bring about positive and measurable effects on Fife's environment.

Date
11 September 2003

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