« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
9 Recommendations
9.1 Arising from this study the following recommendations are made for improved working and to assist Scotland's planning authorities to develop waste management policies which support the delivery of the National and Area Waste Plan objectives and required infrastructure.
Recommendation 1 - Production of Model Waste Management Planning Policies
9.2 Given that a considerable number of planning authorities are at an early stage of producing their local plans it is considered that there is an opportunity for the Scottish Executive to provide clear strategic guidance and assistance to build upon the provisions of Planning Advice Note 63 by providing model policies. This would expedite the policy-making process for authorities and avoid this important issue being protracted further at Local Plan Inquiries. It would also help to promote consistency in policy-making throughout Scotland.
9.3 It is considered that model policies could be readily produced building upon examples of positive policy promotion already developed in some parts of Scotland. In the National Waste Plan it was stated that
"during 2003 the Executive would work with Planning Authorities and
SEPA to identify model policies to promote a consistent and robust approach to development planning for waste management facilities." Such work should include clear direction from the Scottish Executive on the circumstances considered appropriate to specifically identify sites in local plans.
9.4 Use of guidance produced by the Forth Valley Waste Strategy Area Group could be made in the formulation of model policies for dealing with waste management within new developments and facilitating the new methods of waste collection.
9.5 Model policies should also consider how effective and enforceable planning policies seeking to promote waste minimisation and sustainability actually are. Reference could be made to Highland Council's example of seeking waste impact assessments with new applications which may be more effective than general wordings.
Recommendation 2 - Follow Up Correspondence with Local Authorities and Dissemination of Best Practice
9.6 Following on from this Study, in which local authorities have readily
co-operated, it is recommended that the Scottish Executive provide feedback on the report's findings, examples of best practice, some of which is highlighted within the summary checklist and highlights the need to actively promote and include waste management policies in emerging local plans and reviews. Production of model policies (Recommendation 1) would be an example of positive and helpful feedback from the Executive. Through forthcoming public consultation, a review of
NPPG 10 will consider this and other options. In disseminating such feedback it would also be necessary to monitor whether planning authorities have acted upon it in their plan production. If action was not taken then it is recommended that the Executive should consider further steps such as requiring planning authorities to alter their plans accordingly.
Recommendation 3 - Action to Prepare Effective Local Plans
9.7 Following on from Recommendation 2, once model policies are prepared it is considered important that the Scottish Executive take action to encourage those councils who are currently failing to either prepare effective policies or provide a timescale for updating, to do so now. Providing model policies would be helpful to them in making such progress. Particular priorities at this point are considered to be the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Waste Strategy Area, and the Lothian and Borders Waste Strategy Area, given the national importance of these areas as waste producers. Within these areas, the Executive may also as a matter of urgency as opposed to deferring this decision need to consider how to encourage the Area Waste Plan to develop to identify what technologies and infrastructure are needed,.
9.8 There are other local authorities where the need to provide timescales for policy preparation requires to be clarified, namely Stirling, Highland and East Ayrshire.
Recommendation 4 - Promotion of the Link between Employment Opportunities and Waste Infrastructure
9.9 As noted earlier within the majority of the Waste Strategy Areas the opportunity has not been taken to clearly express, either within planning policy or the supporting text, the link between employment opportunities and the provision of waste infrastructure. This is considered to be an important issue for improving public and councillor perception of the need for waste infrastructure and the potential for jobs.
9.10 Where this opportunity has been taken as by the islands councils there does not appear to be the same degree of public resistance to planning applications for such facilities. Whilst it is appreciated that the scale of, and issues related to, waste management in these areas may be different elsewhere in Scotland this is still considered to be a potential factor worth considering. It is also worth highlighting this issue to local authorities in any feedback correspondence (as noted under point 2 above) in addition to inclusion within the model policies.
Recommendation 5 - Follow-up Study of the Effectiveness of Current Planning Policies to Identify Barriers to Delivery of Waste Infrastructure
9.11 During the course of discussions with local authorities when undertaking this study there have been instances quoted of planning applications being resisted by both the public and Councillors despite supportive planning policies and other applications being supported where these relied simply upon national and structure plan policies in the absence of clear local plan policies.
9.12 In order to properly assess how effective the planning policies are in reality, it is recommended that a follow-up study be undertaken to assess how planning applications for waste infrastructure are assessed against planning policy, through to recommendation and final decision. This may assist in identifying the shortcomings or benefits of policy making in practice. The Executive are in the process of commissioning such a study.
9.13 A number of case study authorities could be selected based on some with clear, supportive waste management planning policies and some with no policies in order to compare how the system works. This should help to identify if planning policy is a barrier and also if there are other barriers within the planning system to the delivery of waste infrastructure. This is considered necessary to follow through the commitment to promote delivery of the Area Waste Plans in Scotland.
Recommendation 6 - Improved Recording Systems
9.14 Allied to recommendation 5 and in order to facilitate a study of planning applications it is recommended that the Scottish Executive require that planning authorities record waste related planning applications in their 6-monthly planning applications statistical returns to the Executive to more readily extract the details of such applications for future study.
Recommendation 7 - Notification Procedures
9.15 Partly related to recommendation 4, and the outcome of any findings, it is considered that there is a need for the Scottish Executive to now address the outstanding action as identified within the National Waste Plan that during 2003 the Executive would
"assess whether there is a case for requiring notification to the Scottish Ministers of planning applications where
SEPA has advised against granting planning permission or has recommended conditions which the planning authority do not propose to attach to the planning permission."
Recommendation 8 - Role of Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit in Planning Applications and Local Plan Inquiries
9.16 Some planning applications for waste infrastructure are the subject of appeals. Applications may also require to be notified to Scottish Ministers and if called-in, fall to Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit (
SEIRU) for determination or consideration of a recommendation to Ministers. Waste planning policies within development plans are considered at public local inquiries. It is important in all those three circumstances to ensure that
SEIRU is well briefed in policy on waste management planning, the role of the National Waste Strategy and the importance of supporting the delivery of National and Area Waste Plan objectives.
9.17 In addition it is recommended that an annual review of the Reporters Unit's decisions and recommendations on these type of applications and development plan policies is undertaken to assist in establishing and maintaining progress towards achieving these objectives. It is noted that
SEPA have committed to providing training to help support this objective.
Recommendation 9 - Consideration of Non-Municipal Waste Issues
9.18 A best practicable environmental option has not been identified for non-municipal waste within the Area Waste Plans and as such planning policies which simply require compliance with the relevant Area Waste Plan will not necessarily promote delivery of the waste infrastructure necessary to deal with commercial and industrial waste. Within any model policies (Recommendation 1) this issue requires to be addressed and guidance provided for the local authorities. As much of this infrastructure is likely to be industrial in nature this is not necessarily a particular problem and it may be appropriate simply to encourage such facilities at industrial locations. Many development plans now provide policies for economic development or employment land rather than dealing with industry and business as discrete issues. There is potential to 'promote' the employment generating element of waste management developments. There is also potential to investigate the possibility of dealing with municipal and non-municipal waste within similar facilities. Work by the Scottish Executive and
SEPA to produce a policy framework for business and commercial waste may also assist in providing background information/context.
Recommendation 10 - Encourage Joint working with Waste Managers
9.19 It is recommended that land use policy planners be encouraged to continue the practice of many of the authorities to work closely with their waste management colleagues in site identification and workable policy formulation. The role of the Waste Strategy Area Group could be re-emphasised together with the potential role of Planning Sub-Groups as a means of ensuring continued partnership working between authorities. The strategic options appraisals also provide vehicles to promote such liaison. Liaison with waste managers could also be used to promote and highlight the role of waste infrastructure in land use planning and form the basis for training exercises, ultimately involving Councillors and development management officers to highlight the importance of this subject. In this regard
SEPA have also identified a need to undertake awareness raising work in this field to help promote delivery of the infrastructure required to implement the Area Waste Plan objectives and are currently promoting, in consultation with the Scottish Executive, an awareness raising programme to be held in September 2005.
« Previous | Contents | Next »