Committee
Communities Committee, 06 Sep 2006
06 Sep 2006 · S2 · Communities Committee
Item of business
Planning etc (Scotland) Bill
On general landscape issues, what constitutes an NSA is a matter of judgment. In fact, it can be an ever-changing picture. Does the current suite of NSAs represent the best of the scenery in Scotland? Do the public see being designated as an NSA as an accolade?
In the same item of business
The Convener (Karen Whitefield):
Lab
I open the 22nd meeting of the Communities Committee in 2006 and remind everyone that mobile phones should be turned off. The first item on this morning's ag...
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
I will make a brief statement.I am grateful to the committee for inviting us today because I am keen to explain our proposals for national scenic areas. The ...
The Convener:
Lab
I am sure that you have reviewed the evidence that the committee has heard to date on national scenic areas. You will therefore know about the concern that t...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
As you know, the NSA proposals address a gap in the legal provisions for NSAs, through the regularisation of an anomaly in the powers that are available to S...
Sally Thomas (Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department):
When the white paper was prepared, the proposals were not regarded as being a major issue for the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill. We felt that including them i...
The Convener:
Lab
Do you accept that if the proposal had been included in the white paper, there would have been considerable consultation on it, as there has been on much of ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
There was not a large number of people saying that they were unhappy with the consultation, although I can understand your view about the proposal not being ...
The Convener:
Lab
I accept that people might not have expressed concern about whether the Executive has consulted thoroughly on the proposal, but concerns have been expressed ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
One reason why the legislation was not introduced sooner was that, when the Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive partnership was established, a major commitment...
The Convener:
Lab
My final question is about the financial implications of the proposals. As the proposal was not included in the bill, there is obviously no mention of its fi...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Local authorities already have to factor into their work costs that are associated with NSAs. There will be financial support from SNH in developing manageme...
Sally Thomas:
I should just say that no direct financial implications will arise from the amendment.
The Convener:
Lab
Is the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities satisfied that there will be no financial implications for its members, which will have to implement the legi...
Sally Thomas:
There was no response from COSLA to the consultation.
The Convener:
Lab
Have you had any discussions with COSLA?
Sally Thomas:
No, we have not had any direct discussions with COSLA following the consultation.
The Convener:
Lab
Do not you think that it might be helpful for the Executive to be sure that local authorities in Scotland are satisfied that there will not be additional fin...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I can only assume that if COSLA were "extremely exercised" about the financial burdens that will be associated with the amendment it would have responded to ...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I have a supplementary question about whether the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill is the appropriate vehicle for the proposal. I note that for the most part the...
Judith Morrison (Scottish Executive Legal and Parliamentary Services):
Planning control is one of the main proposed protection measures for NSAs, so it is appropriate that the bill contains the platform for designation of NSAs. ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
I want to pursue the point that Christine Grahame made about the appropriateness of including the measure in the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill. I accept entir...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The key point was to regularise the anomalies that surround NSAs. The flagship legislation related to national parks, but we were keen to get to NSAs when we...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
I would like clarification on one point. Are you saying that, when deciding whether to take a statutory or a non-statutory approach to management strategies,...
Sally Thomas:
The scope of the bill must be a consideration when lodging an amendment. At the stage that we have reached in developing the amendment, we must be mindful of...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
In essence, we must seek a range of advice on what measures we can introduce. At this stage, we are comfortable with moving forward with management strategie...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
I am sure that the committee will consider that closely if the Executive stops fiddling with our remit so that it can give us more bills.
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
I will ask only a brief question. In retrospect, would it be fair to say that, irrespective of when the decision was taken to include the proposals on NSAs i...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The decision was taken by the Cabinet last winter. It seems to me that it is rather unfortunate that the committee was not kept better informed about that, s...
Scott Barrie:
Lab
It came as a surprise to all committee members.
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Yes—I corrected myself.