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06 SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PLANNING
A RANGE OF TRAINING, SUPPORT AND ADVICE IS AVAILABLE TO PLANNING AUTHORITIES, DEVELOPERS AND THE PUBLIC.
86 The skills, knowledge and confidence of all stakeholders needs to be strengthened to sustain effective community engagement in the planning system. A range of training, support and advice is available to planning authorities, developers and the public. The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 provides many more opportunities for communities to get involved in planning. Consequently, local authorities are encouraged to invest sufficient resources in planning departments to help deliver a more participatory planning service and greater community engagement in the preparation of development plans and in decision making on planning applications. As well as ensuring staff have the necessary skills, planning authorities should consider giving assistance to communities, either though direct funding or support in kind to organisations such as Community Councils or to provide training and awareness raising events.
87 Local authorities provide a discretionary administration grant to the Community Councils in their area. Many provide supplementary grants for various projects and purposes, or supplement their support indirectly, such as producing newsletters, providing computers, accommodation, or typing and other administrative services.
88 Planning authorities should build on the support of existing council networks. Opportunities for planning authorities to share community engagement expertise and to use specialist facilitators for some activities should also be considered. The expertise of Community Learning and Development ( CLD) providers is a good resource which can used to help build the capacity of people to engage. CLD providers can be contacted through the local authority.
Planning Aid for Scotland ( PAS) deliver training workshops for Council planning authorities to develop the capacity of community groups to contribute and engage effectively. People from community councils, residents, tenants, community education networks and other local interest groups take part with PAS volunteers.
Training for Communities
89 Planning authorities have a role in providing training for their Community Councils, other community groups and individuals on how planning works, and in building effective communication channels. For example, Planning for People is a national training programme run by Planning Aid for Scotland ( PAS) and is available to community groups and individuals. The programme can be run in conjunction with planning authorities across Scotland. It is geared to promote the positive role of people in the planning system. It brings together for one day people from all walks of life within their area - to debate planning issues in their locality and consider how they can use their knowledge and work with planning professionals and others to create better places to live and shape their future. It is an effective and useful means of promoting active participation, instilling confidence and helping to create trust in the system.
90PAS is also developing a project to support training for community councils prior to local plan inquiries. Scottish Executive funding has also been agreed for Planning Aid for Scotland to develop a new "planning mentoring programme". This is designed to work in a sustained and in-depth way with communities by providing the opportunity through locally identified projects to shape the environment with professional assistance from planning mentors. Community councillors and other community representatives are encouraged to take advantage of training opportunities provided by planning authorities to support them in their engagement.
Training for Planning Authorities and Elected Members
91 The Scottish Executive Planning Development Programme ( PDP) is designed to help planning authorities address their skills and knowledge development needs through training and other learning opportunities. This is intended to help them deliver a more effective planning service, and to support better engagement between planning authorities and communities. Resources from the PDP will be targeted at helping planning authorities develop relevant understanding and engagement skills.
92 New Councillors serving on their Planning Committee need training and support to help equip them with the necessary skills to navigate the community engagement process and handle development plans and planning applications in an even-handed way. Through the PDP, induction material on the planning system is being prepared for newly elected Councillors. The induction pack will explain the planning system and the roles and responsibilities of elected members within it. It is anticipated that individual planning authorities will supplement the material with detailed information on their local arrangements. Councillors will also receive training on their roles and responsibilities in relation to planning.
Sources of Information and Advice
93 Some of the main sources of advice and information are noted below. Their contact details are noted in Annex 1.
The Scottish Executive's Planning Helpline is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. The Planning Helpline can provide advice and information about planning issues which are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. Scottish Executive planning publications can be ordered through the helpline. The planning website gives details of Scottish Planning Policies, Planning Advice Notes, and information on performance and good practice by councils. The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit can be contacted for enquiries relating to a planning appeal.
Planning Authorities, usually based within your local authority, can advise people on enquiries relating to a local planning issue, the development plan or an individual planning application. (See local telephone directory or websites for contact details)
Planning Aid for Scotland provides free and independent advice about specific planning issues for individuals and community groups across Scotland. Its two principal aims are to ensure that everyone has access to planning advice regardless of their ability to pay and to educate people to understand the planning system and their rights and responsibilities within it. Planning Aid for Scotland provides a range of information and briefing papers, some in other languages, as well as visual material on many aspects of the planning system. Its material is written with the lay person in mind and provides an explanation of technical terms and descriptions of the various planning processes.
Communities Scotland provides resources to Community Planning Partnerships through the Community Voices Programme, which aims to ensure that community representatives, volunteers and residents in the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland can get involved in influencing the services and regeneration activity in their areas.
The Scottish Mediation Network can advise on the use of independent mediation and consensus building techniques and on the appointment of mediators and facilitators.
The Environmental Law Foundation ( ELF) is a national charity which links communities and individuals to legal and technical expertise in order to help prevent damage to the environment. ELF also advocates and campaigns to secure improved rights for the environment.
The RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) is a chartered professional body and registered charity which works to promote good planning, shape policy affecting the built environment, raise the standards of the planning profession, support members through continued professional development, and provide education and training for future planners.
e-Planning Efficient Government Programme
94 The e-Planning Efficient Government Programme is another source of useful information. With an investment of between £10 million and 12 million during the course of 2007 and 2008, it will radically improve online access to planning information and, as a consequence, assist with community engagement. All planning authorities have committed to this project and are working with others in the partnership to ensure that e-planning systems are installed which provide people with enhanced access to planning information and consistent e-planning service delivery. People will be able to submit planning applications and appeals online, view recent applications and their plans, committee dates and decisions, submit representations via online forms and engage online with the local development plan process. This will reduce the need for people to travel into planning offices or libraries to view planning documents, making it easier for them to get involved in the planning process.
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