Scottish Government

Ove Arup & Partners with Phil Allmendinger, Geoff Peart Consulting and Anderson Strathern WS ISBN 0 7559 2864 4
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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background
The aims of the research
Reform of the planning system
Cost recovery and fee income
The supply and demand for planners
Research methodology

CHAPTER TWO CONSIDERATION OF OPTIONS TO IMPROVE PLANNING SERVICES RESOURCES
Introduction
Central funding, fees and planning delivery grant
The basis for current fee charging arrangements
Overall justification for an applications charging regime
The balance of public and private interests in more detail
The equitable distribution of charges: value for money, progressivity, equity and cross subsidy
The impact of fees on the planning system
Principles and assumptions used to assess fee options
Conclusions

CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY
Methodology
Evolution of approach
Data requirements
Local authority structure (including staffing)
Local authority overheads (accounting)
Planning application fee income
Profile of applications including maximum fee cases and non-fee applications
Local Authority Interviews
Discussion Seminar

CHAPTER FOUR THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLANNING SERVICE
Introduction
Organisational structure
Staffing structure
Full-time and part-time planning staff
Planning staff grading/level
Planning staff roles
Summary of findings: staffing

CHAPTER FIVE PLANNING APPLICATION FEE INCOME
Introduction
Estimating planning application fee income 2004/5
Trends in planning application fee income
Summary of findings: planning application fee income

CHAPTER SIX THE COST OF THE PLANNING SERVICE
Introduction
Planning service budgets/accounting - survey findings
Overheads
Summary of findings: the cost of the Planning Service

CHAPTER SEVEN THE PROFILE OF APPLICATIONS
Introduction
Context
Response and Findings
Summary of findings: the profile of applications

CHAPTER EIGHT PLANNING PERFORMANCE
Introduction
Application numbers and profile
Factors influencing performance
Summary of findings: planning performance

CHAPTER NINE THE DEMAND FOR PLANNERS
Growing demand
Funding
Recruitment
Skills required by planning departments
Summary of findings: the demand for planners

CHAPTER TEN THE SUPPLY OF PLANNERS
Introduction
Planning professionals in Scotland
Planning education in Scotland
Supply of planning graduates
Skills and capability
Training
Mobility
Summary of findings: the supply of planners
Information sources used in assessing demand and supply

CHAPTER ELEVEN CHANGES TO THE BASIS OF FEE CALCULATIONS OR CURRENT FEE CHARGING ACTIVITIES
Introduction
Analytical framework
Fee coverage changes assessed
Possible extension of the fee to cover other currently non-fee planning activities
Possible extension of the fee to cover currently non-fee planning applications
Summary of findings: possible extensions to planning fees

CHAPTER TWELVE THE BALANCE FEES: MAXIMUM FEES
Current position
Scottish context
Options for charges
Summary of findings: maximum fees

CHAPTER THIRTEEN OTHER POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Introduction
Requirement for fees to be matched by performance improvements
Fee categories
Fees for online applications
Discretion in the local setting of fees and other charges
Registration and validation of applications
Areas of focus for the planning delivery budget
Summary of Other Policy Findings

CHAPTER FOURTEEN SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Costs and structure of the service
Changes to fees to achieve cost recovery
The supply and demand for planners
Maximum fees and wider policy considerations
Seminar Attendees, 10th February 2005

ANNEX A SURVEY DOCUMENTATION
ANNEX B SUMMARY OF PAULA GILDER STUDY (1999)
ANNEX C EXISTING RESEARCH INTO COSTS AND RESOURCES
ANNEX D LEGAL REVIEW
ANNEX E SEMINAR ATTENDEES
ANNEX F TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (FEES FOR APPLICATIONS AND DEEMED APPLICATIONS) (SCOTLAND) 2004: SUMMARY

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.