BACKGROUND
1. In June 2002 Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, and Reinhold Bocklet, Bavarian State Minister for Federal European Affairs signed a co-operation agreement between the two administrations. This included a commitment to increase collaboration on land use planning and the design of development.
2. The planning element of the co-operation agreement has been taken forward in a number of ways:
- Ministerial visits, including a visit to the Scottish Parliament and participation in the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (March 2005) by Dr. Günther Beckstein, Bavarian State Minister for the Interior.
- Exchange of officials between the Oberste Baubehörde ( OBB) and the Planning Division of the Scottish Executive.
- Joint project on quality in new housing development (September 2004).
3. There is a willingness among both partners to continue and deepen the partnership through maintaining and developing links at Ministerial and official level and through practical, focussed project work.