ACTION PROGRAMMES
89. Section 21 of the Act and regulations 25 and 26 deal with action programmes. Action programmes set out how the authority proposes to implement the plan, and SDPAs and planning authorities are required to prepare them for SDPs and LDPs. They must set out:
- A list of actions required to deliver each of the plan's policies and proposals;
- The name of the person who is to carry out the action; and
- The timescale for carrying out each action.
90. As such, the regulations do not attempt to specify particular types of action that should be included, though these may be expected to include the delivery of key infrastructure and the preparation of supplementary guidance. Actions are not limited to those by the planning authority.
91. In preparing action programmes, authorities are to consult and consider the views of:
- The key agencies;
- The Scottish Ministers;
- Anyone the authority proposes specifying by name in the action programme.
92. Proposed action programmes must be published and submitted to Scottish Ministers alongside proposed SDPs and LDPs. Then it is to be adopted and published within 3 months of the plan to which it relates being approved/adopted. Thereafter, the authority are to keep it under review and update and republish it at least every 2 years. Whenever an action programme is published, the authority are to send 2 copies to Scottish Ministers, place copies in local libraries and publish electronically.