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Survey of planning websites in Scotland
SECTION 2 KEY FINDINGS FOR THE SCOTTISH LOCAL & NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY WEBSITES
Of the 34 Scottish local authority and National Park authority websites surveyed:
2.1 12 met more than half of the 21 Pendleton Criteria and of those, 4 scored between 15 and 18 points. The remaining 22 authorities scored between 10 and 1 point, with all but 3 authorities meeting at least 5 of the 21 criteria. The mean criteria score for the Scottish authorities was 9.2. Figure 1 shows the level of e-planning information and services met by the Scottish Authorities.
2.2 East Lothian was the top ranking Scottish authority meeting 18 of the 21 Pendleton Criteria, followed closely by the City of Edinburgh with a score of 17. Clackmannanshire and Stirling were ranked in joint third position both with a score of 15. Aberdeen, Argyll & Bute, Dundee city, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire met just under two thirds of the criteria with scores of 13 and East Ayrshire, Shetland and South Ayrshire with scores of 12. Aberdeen City narrowly missed the half mark meeting 10 of the 21 criteria. Dumfries & Galloway, Highland, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National park, Midlothian and North Ayrshire met 9, Angus, Falkirk, Orkney, Renfrewshire and west Lothian met 8 and Fife met 7. The remaining 10 Authorities scored 6 or less criterion. See Figure 2 for a summary of the individual results.
2.3 94% of the 34 authorities had accessible planning websites and of those 72% had direct links from the council homepage to the planning pages.
2.4 79% had up-to-date online planning registers or weekly lists of planning applications online. 2 of the registers covered a period of 5 years or more.
2.5 15% of authorities enabled the user to view drawings and/or applications form and/or documents accompanying a planning application.
2.6 44% enabled the user to download or view details of appeals lodged against the authority. Of these, 4 authorities provided the information within the planning committee minutes.
2.7 44% enabled the user to submit representations about current planning applications online either by email or by completing an online comments form.
2.8 9% enabled the user to monitor the progress of an application by providing up-to-date progressive information from submission of the application, validation and consultation through to the decision.
2.9 29% of authorities provided online decision registers or lists of delegated and non-delegated decisions on the planning web pages or within the planning committee minutes.
2.10 9% enabled the user to view statutory decision notices online and a further 12% listed the conditions attached to planning applications/reasons for refusal as part of the application register/list.
2.11 88% had an online schedule of planning committee meetings, providing at minimum details of the forthcoming meeting. This was the most widely available type of planning information available online at the time of the survey. 67% enabled the user to download the officer's reports for non-delegated planning applications and 88% enabled the user to view planning committee minutes.
2.12 76% of authorities provided online help text - generally in the form of text on the website, downloadable leaflets and guidance notes, Frequently Answered Questions and links to external planning websites.
2.13 1 of the authorities enabled the user to submit planning applications electronically, submit application drawings and documents online or pay the statutory application fee online. However, 25 (74%) provided downloadable forms online.
2.14 71% of the authorities had their local plan text online and 65% had an electronic version of their proposals map online. Of those with proposals maps, 15% were interactively linked to the development plan text and 41% were classified as comprehensive and easy to read.
FIGURE 3: Total of Scottish Local & National Park Authorities Meeting Each Pendleton Criterion
FIGURE 4: Total of Pendleton Criteria met by Each Scottish Local & National Park Authority
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