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Dear Consultee

CONSULTATION ON DRAFT WEST EDINBURGH PLANNING FRAMEWORK 2006

I enclose a copy of consultative draft West Edinburgh Planning Framework 2006 together with a Background Report and invite your comments on this document.

The draft guidance has been prepared with the assistance of a stakeholder group.

The draft West Edinburgh Planning Framework 2006 and its Background Paper are also accompanied by a draft Environmental Statement under the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations. Comments on any aspect of the policy are welcome. To aid our analysis of responses, we would be grateful if you could clearly indicate, where relevant, the paragraphs of which document to which your comments relate. This consultation, and all other Scottish Executive consultation exercises, together with the draft Environmental Statement, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Scottish Executive website at Scottish Executive consultation web pages by 31 March 2007. We will check all responses where agreement to publish has been given for any potentially defamatory material before logging them in the library or placing them on the website. You can arrange to view responses by contacting the Scottish Executive Library on 0131 244 4565. Responses can be copied and sent to you, but a charge may be made for this service.

What happens next?

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help us reach a decision on the contents of the finalised policy. We aim to issue a report on this consultation process later in 2007. This will be published on the Executive's website at draftwepf2006@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or to:

Sandra Carey

Comments and complaints

If you have any comments about how this consultation exercise has been conducted, please send them to:

Tom Williamson

Yours sincerely

Tom Williamson
Assistant Chief Planner

RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM

THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CONSULTATION PROCESS

Consultation is an essential and important aspect of Scottish Executive working methods. Given the wide-ranging areas of work of the Scottish Executive, there are many varied types of consultation. However, in general, Scottish Executive consultation exercises aim to provide opportunities for all those who wish to express their opinions on a proposed area of work to do so in ways which will inform and enhance that work.

The Scottish Executive encourages consultation that is thorough, effective and appropriate to the issue under consideration and the nature of the target audience. Consultation exercises take account of a wide range of factors, and no two exercises are likely to be the same.

Typically Scottish Executive consultations involve a written paper inviting answers to specific questions or more general views about the material presented. Written papers are distributed to organisations and individuals with an interest in the issue, and they are also placed on the Scottish Executive web site enabling a wider audience to access the paper and submit their Scottish Executive consultations.

The views and suggestions detailed in consultation responses are analysed and used as part of the decision making process, along with a range of other available information and evidence. Depending on the nature of the consultation exercise the responses received may:

• indicate the need for policy development or review
• inform the development of a particular policy
• help decisions to be made between alternative policy proposals
• be used to finalise legislation before it is implemented

Final decisions on the issues under consideration will also take account of a range of other factors, including other available information and research evidence.

While details of particular circumstances described in a response to a consultation exercise may usefully inform the policy process, consultation exercises cannot address individual concerns and comments, which should be directed to the relevant public body.

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