Chamber
Plenary, 17 May 2006
17 May 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Planning etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I echo Patrick Harvie's and Christine Grahame's thanks to the clerks, witnesses and Communities Committee colleagues for their excellent support.
I declare an interest as a former Scottish Water manager.
When the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 19 December last year, I did not think in my wildest dreams that I would be standing here opening this debate for my party. I was probably teaching S2 maths at the time. I am a recent addition to the Communities Committee, and I have found the legislative process stimulating and interesting. I give much of the credit for this speech to my predecessor, good friend and long-term mentor, Mary Scanlon, and I thank her for all her input and the hard work that she, like all members of the committee, undertook in scrutinising this large and complicated bill, which has culminated in an excellent stage 1 report.
The Scottish Conservative party supports thorough reform of the planning system and welcomes the bill as a positive move for Scotland, which we have long called for. The planning system in Scotland must be streamlined where it is cumbersome, made faster where it is slow and inefficient, and simplified where it is prohibitive to development. The planning system should reach and maintain the high standards of service that are necessary for 21st century Scotland.
It is particularly essential that the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill heralds improved community involvement through the principles of wider accessibility and transparent communication and the use of modern technology. The bill, once amended, must address public cynicism and uncertainty for developers and local communities. The Scottish Conservatives welcome the flexibility that will be introduced by different levels of planning applications and provisions such as permitted developments.
As the Communities Committee acknowledged, there must be a real culture change for the bill to function as it should. It is essential that we move from an adversarial process to an inclusive one with recognisable public participation. The introduction of annually updated local plans is a positive step in that direction, and I join the majority of the committee in welcoming the front-loading of the system to provide individuals and communities with the opportunity to input earlier in the planning process.
On third-party right of appeal, we have great sympathy with the many organisations and individuals who are concerned about how the planning system currently operates with respect to rights of appeal. We want comprehensive consultation to take place with local communities, more transparency and the distribution of more pre-planning information. We will look with an open mind at lodging stage 2 amendments to improve community involvement and influence.
We have concerns that local authorities might not have the resources to meet the targets for local plans. The new system will be a drain not only on monetary resources but on council planners. We recognise that planners are in short supply, and we encourage councils to look to the private sector to recruit and attract more planners in the short and medium terms. In the long term, we should consider how to improve retention levels among planners who commit to the public sector.
On the period of scrutiny for the national planning framework, we agree with the majority of the committee that 60 days is a good compromise. We do not agree with having an unlimited period.
I declare an interest as a former Scottish Water manager.
When the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 19 December last year, I did not think in my wildest dreams that I would be standing here opening this debate for my party. I was probably teaching S2 maths at the time. I am a recent addition to the Communities Committee, and I have found the legislative process stimulating and interesting. I give much of the credit for this speech to my predecessor, good friend and long-term mentor, Mary Scanlon, and I thank her for all her input and the hard work that she, like all members of the committee, undertook in scrutinising this large and complicated bill, which has culminated in an excellent stage 1 report.
The Scottish Conservative party supports thorough reform of the planning system and welcomes the bill as a positive move for Scotland, which we have long called for. The planning system in Scotland must be streamlined where it is cumbersome, made faster where it is slow and inefficient, and simplified where it is prohibitive to development. The planning system should reach and maintain the high standards of service that are necessary for 21st century Scotland.
It is particularly essential that the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill heralds improved community involvement through the principles of wider accessibility and transparent communication and the use of modern technology. The bill, once amended, must address public cynicism and uncertainty for developers and local communities. The Scottish Conservatives welcome the flexibility that will be introduced by different levels of planning applications and provisions such as permitted developments.
As the Communities Committee acknowledged, there must be a real culture change for the bill to function as it should. It is essential that we move from an adversarial process to an inclusive one with recognisable public participation. The introduction of annually updated local plans is a positive step in that direction, and I join the majority of the committee in welcoming the front-loading of the system to provide individuals and communities with the opportunity to input earlier in the planning process.
On third-party right of appeal, we have great sympathy with the many organisations and individuals who are concerned about how the planning system currently operates with respect to rights of appeal. We want comprehensive consultation to take place with local communities, more transparency and the distribution of more pre-planning information. We will look with an open mind at lodging stage 2 amendments to improve community involvement and influence.
We have concerns that local authorities might not have the resources to meet the targets for local plans. The new system will be a drain not only on monetary resources but on council planners. We recognise that planners are in short supply, and we encourage councils to look to the private sector to recruit and attract more planners in the short and medium terms. In the long term, we should consider how to improve retention levels among planners who commit to the public sector.
On the period of scrutiny for the national planning framework, we agree with the majority of the committee that 60 days is a good compromise. We do not agree with having an unlimited period.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-4270, in the name of Malcolm Chisholm, on the general principles of the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill.
The Minister for Communities (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I thank the Communities Committee for its thorough consideration of the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill. I welcome the committee's endorsement of the bill's pri...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
In his comments on the national spatial planning frameworks, will the minister reflect on the fact that we are still awaiting—and have been for a very long t...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
A draft Scottish planning policy on renewable energy will be coming out very soon. Indeed, I had another meeting about that yesterday.
Mr Swinney:
SNP
How soon?
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
In the next few weeks.Perhaps we have not been clear enough about the process for preparing the national planning framework and about the opportunities that ...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I shall give way in a moment.Stakeholders, the public and members of Parliament will have the opportunity to participate in the debate on the framework at se...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I will not make it now.
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Okay. In that case, I will read out that part of my speech.The committee's report rightly drew attention to the lack of affordable housing that is creating s...
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I had better make progress, given that I read out that extra section of my speech because Christine Grahame did not make her intervention.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
You have seven minutes, minister.
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
In that case, I will give way.
Dr Jackson:
Lab
What is the timescale for the working party on affordable housing?
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
It will hold its first meeting in June.The second pillar of our reforms is to ensure greater rights for communities to participate in the planning system. Mu...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Will the minister give way?
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I want to make some more progress before I give way.There are key non-legislative aspects to participation, including lessons to be learned and disseminated ...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
The system and the process sound good, but does the minister agree that, no matter how good the process, mistakes will be made, human nature being what it is...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Obviously there has been a full debate in the committee, which I am sure will feature during this debate. The committee took a great deal of evidence and—cor...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
It is not unusual for a Green to be outside even "a strikingly broad consensus".I am sure that I will not be the only member of the Communities Committee to ...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
The member suggests that the committee did not support him but, to clarify, the recommendation in the committee report is that the Executive extend the consi...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
My point is that to impose any limit completely removes the flexibility.There will be situations in which there may be little change in a national planning f...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I begin by adopting Patrick Harvie's opening remarks on the work of the Communities Committee, the clerks and the witnesses who gave evidence. I have less ti...
The Deputy Minister for Communities (Johann Lamont):
Lab
Is it not the case that a third-party right of appeal would involve more decisions for ministers? Those who advocate it have to recognise that more decisions...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
No, the community right of appeal—which I will allow Sandra White to develop—would bring people back into the process. For instance, the example that I gave ...
Johann Lamont rose—
Lab
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I have one minute.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
You have two minutes.
Christine Grahame:
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer.To return to the curate's egg, I will focus on the most concerning issue in the bill—the national planning framework and the pro...