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IMPLEMENTATION
Roles and Responsibilities
72 This section summarises the key responsibilities of local authorities, communities and developers in relation to open space. A brief outline of the remits of statutory consultees and stakeholders is provided in the Appendix.
Role of Local Authorities
73 The provision and management of open space resources cuts across many local authority functions, including leisure and recreation, planning, housing and education. It is vital that local authorities take a positive, strategic view of open space to ensure that its value is properly recognised in all local authority activities. National Park Authorities should work with local authorities to ensure a co-ordinated approach. The open space strategy is a cross-council strategy which may require input from a number of council departments. The local authority's main policy intentions on open space, biodiversity and physical activity should be among the key themes of the community plan and be reflected in the development plan.
Leisure and recreation department
74 Leisure and recreation departments, or other departments within the local authority providing this function, will have a key role in assessing the adequacy of provision and in management of open spaces, playing fields and other sports facilities including access and recreation provision in the countryside. This should be undertaken in accordance with the recommendations set out in the national strategy for sport, Reaching Higher.
Planning authority
75 Development plan policies and planning decisions must take full account of the community's need for all types of open space and sports facilities, of the responsibility to safeguard and enhance biodiversity, and of core path planning. Where a regional network of open space forms an integral part of a city-region's settlement strategy it will be appropriate to broadly identify this in the strategic development plan. The local development plan should accurately designate areas of existing open space, taking account of the open space audit and strategy. In order to plan appropriately for recreational space and sport, the local authority must have up to date information on levels of provision and any deficiencies. Where a need for particular types of new sport or recreational facilities is highlighted, the local development plan should identify appropriate sites.
Education authority
76 Education authorities must ensure that they make adequate provision for sports facilities and playing fields in new schools and, in planning such provision, should refer to sportscotland's guidance on school playing fields (see paragraph 51). The school estate should be included in sports facility planning and be managed to afford community use. The education authority should liaise with the planning authority and engage with the development planning process.
Developers' Responsibilities
77 Developers are expected to take account of this SPP and the relevant development plan and open space strategy. They should apply the requirements of the development plan at the design stage of any new proposal in a way which helps to meet communities' needs for open space. Adequate arrangements for quality long-term maintenance of open space within or associated with new development must be put in place. In some cases a new development, especially a large scale residential development, may generate sufficient demand to warrant expansion of existing or provision of new sports facilities. In such situations, developers may be asked to provide or contribute towards expanded, improved or new facilities.
78 Depending on the type and scale of proposal, developers may identify the potential to create or manage paths or other access routes. It may sometimes be appropriate to consider diverting a route, in which case disruption to its flow should be minimised.
Community Involvement
79 The open space strategy, the development plan and the core paths plan must reflect community aspirations concerning the future design and use of open space. Community involvement should begin early in the process and should include the opportunity to make input to the open space audit and influence the strategy. Engagement with the community and other stakeholders should be tailored to the issues under consideration and the relevant audience, publicising information widely and using methods which fit into people's everyday lives and engage all parts of the community. Further advice can be found in PAN 81 Community Engagement.
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