Bid number (for EG use) | |
Lead bidder | Scottish Executive
Tim Barraclough
Planning Division 1,
2-H33, Victoria Quay
Tel: 0131 244 7081
Email: tim.barraclough@scotland.gsi.gov.uk |
Brief description of the aims of the project | To deliver services more efficiently and effectively to customers and stakeholders by an integrated e-planning service throughout Scotland that allows planning applications to be completed online and submitted electronically to planning authorities; online access to planning application information and drawings; electronic planning appeals; online development plans; and improved electronic links between planning authorities and other stakeholders. |
Clear description of what the EGF money would be used to buy | Computer software and hardware, project management and IT support for system integration. |
Partners to the project likely to commit resources | - Scottish Executive Planning Division
- Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Aberdeen City Council
- Aberdeenshire Council
- Angus Council
- Argyll and Bute Council
- Clackmannanshire Council
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee City Council
- East Ayrshire Council
- East Dunbartonshire Council
- East Lothian Council
- East Renfrewshire Council
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Falkirk Council
- Fife Council
- Glasgow City Council
- Highland Council
- Inverclyde Council
- Midlothian Council
- Moray Council
- North Ayrshire Council
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Orkney Islands Council
- Perth and Kinross Council
- Renfrewshire Council
- Scottish Borders Council
- Shetland Islands Council
- South Ayrshire Council
- South Lanarkshire Council
- Stirling Council
- Western Isles Council
- West Dunbartonshire Council
- West Lothian Council
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs NPA
- Cairngorms National Park Authority
(The level of involvement varies between organisations.) |
Names of other organisations with whom the project has been discussed (to assist the introductions process) | - Scottish Natural Heritage
- Historic Scotland
- Health & Safety Executive
- Scottish Building Standards Agency
- Glasgow & Clyde Valley Structure Plan Jt Ctee
|
Evidence that suggested approach has been deployed successfully elsewhere | A range of planning authorities across the UK have already successfully developed e-planning services. There is experience of developing integrated solutions for England and Wales through the Planning Portal and PARSOL (Planning and Regulatory Services Online). Rollout of a unified e-planning service in Northern Ireland is well under way. Joint working between the Scottish Executive and planning authorities has already been coordinated and developed through the e-Planning Group. Established software suppliers such as CAPS Solutions, IDOX, MVM and Sx3 have proven e-planning technology. BT, Hewlett Packard and IBM also have experience of e-planning project implementation. |
Are there any restrictions to enlargement of the project ( i.e. number of partners) | The project is open to all planning authorities and statutory consultees in the Scottish planning service. The project's co-ordinated approach to e-service delivery may also serve as a model for other consent regimes such as building standards. |
Benefits projected from the project | This e-planning project will form an integral part of the ongoing reform and modernisation of the planning service. Improved service delivery will benefit the Scottish economy, as planning has a critical bearing on property investment decisions. It will strengthen the involvement of communities, consultees and other stakeholders in planning and make for more transparent decision making. This project, which involves all planning authorities, will rapidly increase the rollout of e-planning services and remove some of the disparities in service standards between different council areas. Planning authorities, applicants, consultees and other interested parties will move from time-consuming and less efficient paper-based systems to much more integrated electronic working. This will reduce back-office duplication such as double keying, copying and collation of documents and ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is widely available, verified against accredited sources such as Corporate Address Gazetteers. It will support collaborative working which reduces duplication of effort and leads to increased consistency in planning service delivery for all users, while taking advantage of economies of joint procurement... |
Estimated financial projections | Total | 2005/6 | 2006/7 | 2007/8 | 2008/9 | 2009/10 |
Overall project cost (in 1,000s) | £5,941 | £3,011 | £2,930 | - | - | - |
Estimated projected benefits (in 1,000s) | £10,631 | £3,713 | £3,712 | £1,048 | £1,068 | £1,090 |
Is a pilot required - see guidance notes | No pilot is required as the e-planning technology is already tried and tested. Rollout of enhanced e-planning services will be phased. PRINCE 2 will be followed to manage the project and ensure adequate user testing. |
Additionally: why is EG funding required | Without EG funding it will take many years to achieve the e-planning targets jointly agreed by local authorities and endorsed by Ministers, set out in the e-Planning Compact. Fragmented e-planning enhancements result in serious disparities in the effectiveness of service across Scotland. Without a coordinated approach none of the benefits of sharing resources and joint procurement will be realised. Planning authorities have dedicated direct running costs to fund e-planning improvements, but the sums required to develop and implement separate systems are in excess of available resources. Stakeholders and consultees would require time and resources to interface with each system separately, and the NDPBs lack the revenue-raising capability of local authorities. The Scottish Executive's Planning Division does not have the funds available to develop a central online application submission system. It has explored the possibility of developing the systems with Executive ICT staff, but the expertise and resources needed are not available internally. |
Is this project complementary in any way to other EG work | The project will seek to link with relevant EG initiatives to secure joint procurement arrangements between local authorities. |