IMPLEMENTATION
61. 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:
62. The provision and management of open space resources for the community cuts across many local authority functions, including leisure and recreation; planning; 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. 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
63. Leisure and recreation departments will have a key role in assessing the adequacy of provision and in management of open spaces, recreational areas and playing fields.
Planning authority
64. Development plan policies and planning decisions must fully take account of the community's need for all types of open space and sports facilities and the responsibility to safeguard biodiversity, and resist the loss of existing resources. The 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 the need for particular types of new sports or recreational facilities is highlighted, the development plan should identify appropriate sites.
Education authority
65. Education authorities must ensure that they make adequate provision for sports facilities and playing fields in new schools, and, in planning such provision, may wish to refer to sportscotland's design guidance on school playing fields. The education authority should liaise with the planning authority and engage with the development plan process as far as possible.
Community involvement
66. The open space strategy, the development plan and the core path plan must reflect the aspirations of the community concerning the future design and use of open space. Community involvement should begin at the earliest possible stage and should include the opportunity to make input to the open space audit and influence the strategy. A PAN on community engagement in planning is under preparation, which takes account of Communities Scotland's National Standards for Community Engagement, and will highlight examples of best practice in effective consultation with communities.
Developers' responsibilities
67. Developers are expected to take account of this policy and the relevant development plan and open space strategy. They should apply the standards set out in the development plan at the design stage of any new proposal, putting forward a strategy which helps to meet communities' needs for open space. In some cases, a new development, especially a large scale residential development, may generate sufficient demand to warrant provision of new sports facilities or expansion of existing facilities. In such situations, developers may be asked to provide or contribute towards new or expanded facilities.
68. Depending on the type and scale of development proposed, developers may identify the potential to create or manage paths or other access routes. It may sometimes be appropriate to consider diverting a path or other access route, in which case the diverted route should minimise disruption to the flow of the route.