Scottish Government

Foreword

RTPI Speech

In November, the Deputy Minister for Communities, Johann Lamont addressed the RTPI's annual conference in Paisley declaring that the planning system is fundamental to the achievement of all the Executive's priorities. The speech focused on the White Paper proposals, the importance attached to them within the Executive, and the need for similar commitment from stakeholders to ensure a high quality planning system.

Ms Lamont said that planning modernisation will be one of the biggest priorities for the Executive for the remainder of this Parliamentary session. Planning will be centre stage in the political debate over the next 12 months. She noted this is a key opportunity to put planning at the centre of public policy making, "perhaps as never before".

The Deputy Minister recognised that the new proposals will determine how Scotland looks in the future. In light of this responsibility, when drawing up the proposals, it was considered critical to strike a balance between the need to promote sustainable economic develop ment; create new opportunities for local people to be involved; and to deliver a more efficient system that promotes sustainable outcomes. She stated "there should be no doubting the level of our ambition to create a first class system".

The Deputy Minister emphasised the need for working closely with development planners, elected members and other stakeholders to "communicate what we want and learn from experience what is possible".

She discussed some of the key proposals from the White Paper, commenting that "of all our proposals to modernise the system, no single change is more important than making the plan-led system work".

However, as well as making the plan led system more efficient, the Executive wants to make planning simpler and more focused on different priorities at different levels. Introducing a new hierarchy into the system would be an effective way of doing this, and disentangling some of the many different issues involved.

The Executive's intention is to re-focus planning onto proactive, visionary and inclusive development plans. That is not to say that development control - or as it will be re-named , development management - is not to become less important. There are a number of proposals in the White Paper aimed at making development management simpler, more focused and more transparent. Above all, development management must be all about delivering outcomes.

Ms Lamont stressed that increased public inclusion is seen by the Executive as an integral and essential part of the system and a way of engaging people at an early stage in the most constructive way. Work is already in hand to produce a new PAN to promote best practice on how local people can be better involved in the planning system.

Ms Lamont reflected on the quality of talent available, the hard work that planners do, and that for any change to the system to work requires the support of the planning profession. The Deputy Minister noted that "we all want to be proud possessors of a modern, efficient, fit for purpose planning system. And with the White Paper we have now set out our ideas on what needs to be done to get there".

She concluded "We are committed to modernisation and ask you to be. With your support we can make the planning system fairer and more balanced, and fit for 21st century Scotland".

Malcolm Chisholm is MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith. He has been Minister for Communities since October 2004 after the post as Minister for Health and Community Care. Previously an English teacher Mr Chisholm graduated from Edinburgh University. He has experience of Westminster and Parliamentary Committees.

Johann Lamont MSP for Glasgow Pollock, was appointed Deputy Minister for Communities in October 2004, having been Convener of the Parliament's Communities Committee and a member of the Conveners Group. Ms Lamont was born in Glasgow and prior to becoming an MSP, she taught English and History after graduating from Glasgow University and Jordanhill College of Education.

Further information on the subjects covered in this issue, as well as an electronic version of the bulletin, are available at our website:www.scotland.gov.uk/planning