The Scottish Government

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E-PLANNING COMPACT: Current programme of action

ePG=ePlanning Group; HoP=Heads of Planning; LAs=local authorities; SE=Scottish Executive

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Achieved to November 2003:

• National planning homepage set up Jan 2000 [SE]
• e-planning group formed to begin co-ordination Sept 2001 [SE+LAs]
• Database of e-planning services in Scotland from Oct 2001 [ePG]
• Significant progress in some authorities [various]
• User views gathered in "Getting Involved in Planning" consultation & research 2002 [SE]
• Application details and plans online from early 2002 [E.Lothian]
• Online access to appeals forms, guidance and progress information from April 2003 [SEIRU]
• Public access to applications tracking online from May 2003 [Stirling]
• Co-ordinated approach by Scotland's planning officers June 2003 [HoP]
• Online Devt. Plan Progress from June 2003 [SE]
• Co-ordinated planning and building control services online from Oct 03 [Edinburgh]

Short term, by March 2004:

• Establish and maintain an E-PAN [SE+ePG]
• Hyperlinks between local and national planning websites [SE+LAs]
• Remove main legislative barriers to e-planning after summer consultation [SE]
• Remaining Scottish Planning Policy, NPPGs and PANs online [SE]
• Greater consistency in planning homepages in line with standards and targets to be developed urgently [LAs+SE via ePG]
• Develop online citizen's guide for planning, with FAQs, to backup co-ordinated service [SE+ePG]
• Develop a planning authority search facility with hyperlinks to planning authority websites [SE]
• Explore feasibility of interactive development plans [SE with LAs + software providers]
• Printable application forms online [LAs]
• All weekly lists online [LAs]
• Program set for public internet access to case-work progress across Scotland [LAs]
• Increase consistency in online development plans [SE+LAs]

Medium term, by end 2004:

• All Planning Registers online from an appointed day [LAs+SE]
• Systems for online tracking and monitoring of applications across Scotland, ideally on a GIS base [LAs+SE]
• Online submission of applications and planning fees [LAs+SE]
• Develop national application forms and make the forms available online with online help [SE+LAs]
• Tracking of SE casework, inquiry reports and decision letters online [SE]
• Agree standards for e-consultation with statutory consultees on planning applications [SE+LAs]
• All application documents made available online where possible [LAs]
• All planning decision letters and committee reports online [LAs]
• Recommend how best to make comments on applications electronically, and to make them publicly available, advice to be included in the E-PAN [SE+LAs via ePG]
• All development plans available online [LAs]
• Develop online development plans consultation facility [SE+LAs]
• RTPI, SSDP and Planning Schools encouraged to provide online professional, academic and educational information [SE+LAs via ePG]

Long term, by end 2005:

• Work with relevant bodies to display planning resources and constraints online [SE+ePG]:
  • Conservation Areas
  • Article 4 Directions
  • Listed Buildings
  • Scheduled Monuments
  • Environmental Designations
  • TPOs
• Examine feasibility of a national system for online submission of applications [SE+ePG]
• Develop online planning tools: Fee calculator & Which application form calculator [SE+ePG]
• Work towards online submission, processing and tracking of appeals [SE+ePG]
• Examine feasibility of a GIS based appeals search facility [SE]
• Explore standards for online property enquiry services [LAs]