- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the respective roles of the Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture, the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters' Unit and officials of its Development Department in reaching decisions on whether notified planning applications and notices of intention to develop by planning authorities should be called in for determination and whether such decisions are taken sufficiently independently of its role in creating development policy and guidance to ensure that applicants are treated fairly by the planning system.
Answer
Decisions on planning cases coming before the Scottish Ministers may be taken either by Ministers or, under delegated authority, by officials. All decisions are, however, taken in the name of the Scottish Ministers. The power to take such decisions derives from the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and relevant subordinate legislation. I am satisfied that all such decisions are taken in a manner which ensures that applicants are treated fairly by the planning system.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that splitting the Transport and Environment brief into two departments does not militate against the achievement of its goal of integrating land use planning and transport policies.
Answer
The Executive's policy on delivering integrated transport and land use planning policies, as set out in National Planning Policy Guideline 17: Transport and Planning, remains in place. I will work closely with Sarah Boyack and other ministerial colleagues in taking forward this agenda.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters' Unit (SEIRU) or its Planning Audit Unit monitor the level of successful appeals against either refusal of planning permission or the imposition of planning conditions in each local authority area and what steps SEIRU or its Development Department have taken to assist any local authorities found to be experiencing unusually high levels of sustained appeals.
Answer
Neither the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit (SEIRU) nor the Planning Audit Unit undertake the monitoring described. As set out in Paragraph 65 of National Planning Policy Guideline 1, it is for individual local authorities to review their performance at appeal and take action as appropriate. In recent times, SEIRU has led a number of training seminars for both councillors and officers. These have been intended to enable more effective participation by planning authorities in the appeal process. More general training is also given by providing speakers from SEIRU for conferences and seminars attended by planning staff from both the public and private sectors.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all planning applications and notices of intention to develop notified to it in circumstances where a neighbouring local authority has lodged an objection; whether it will detail for each case whether the application or notice was called in for determination, and what the final decision was in each such case.
Answer
This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to audit the effectiveness of local authorities in using information and communications technology to receive planning applications and representations and to display relevant material on their websites as suggested in paragraph 75 of National Planning Policy Guidelines No.1 (revised 2000).
Answer
I have asked officials to review the scope for further exploitation of information and communications technology (ICT) in the planning system as part of the forthcoming consultation exercise to improve public involvement. The progress made by planning authorities in using ICT in the planning system is considered during audits of individual councils.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 5 February 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the City of Edinburgh Council has been asked to promote a Road Closure Order for Holyrood Road and, if so, how far such a request has been progressed by the council.
Answer
The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that the application for the closure of Holyrood Road was submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) on 17 October 2000. I understand that the application has been discussed by the CEC Development Control Sub Committee, who have in turn referred it to the Scottish Executive Transportation Committee for consideration.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 2 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities can safeguard land for longer term transport infrastructure possibilities, as stated in paragraph 18 of National Planning Policy Guideline 1, when routes can only be safeguarded in planning terms through local plans and only for the five-year lifetime of the plan.
Answer
Strategic transport safeguarding should be addressed in structure plans which are expected to have a time horizon of at least 10 years. Any local plans prepared during the currency of a structure plan would have to conform with it. There is no reason why development plan policies or allocations of land cannot be carried forward into new plans, thus allowing land to be safeguarded for as long as necessary.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 2 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5463 by Sarah Boyack on 4 April 2000, what the outcome was in relation to each planning application, notice of intention to develop, listed building consent application and scheduled monument consent application listed and whether it will list, for each category, all applications called in since 21 March 2000, specifying in each case what decision has been reached or, if no decision has been reached, what stage the application is at.
Answer
Updated information relating to the answer to question S1W-5463 is as follows:
| PLANNING APPLICATIONS |
| (a) Awaiting public local inquiry |
| Argyll & Bute | Housing and country park at Kilmahew Estate, Cardross | Refused. |
| East Ayrshire | Conversion of castle to hotel and leisure facilities at Rowallan Castle, Kilmaurs | PLI held. Decision awaited. |
| East Ayrshire | Motorway Service Area at Kingswell, Fenwick (inquiry sisted at request of developer) | Withdrawn |
| East Ayrshire | Motorway Service Area at Harelaw, Fenwick (inquiry sisted at request of developer) | PLI awaited |
| Highland | House at Achnaluin, Morar | Refused. |
| Inverclyde | Retail, leisure, residential etc at former East Glen and Scott Lithgow Yards, Port Glasgow | Approved |
| Midlothian | Biotechnology Park at Gowkley Moss Farm, Milton Bridge, Penicuik | Approved |
| Midlothian | House at Woodcot, Gowkley Moss, Milton Bridge, Penicuik | Refused |
| North Lanarkshire | Residential development at Mount Ellen Golf Club, Gartcosh | Refused |
| North Lanarkshire | Residential development at Torrance Park, Motherwell | Refused |
| Perth & Kinross | Camping and caravanning development at Balado, Kinross | No PLI as yet at request of applicant |
| South Ayrshire | Supermarket, filling station, restaurant etc at Bridgefield, Girvan | Withdrawn |
| South Ayrshire | Football stadium (Ayr United) and retail development at Ayr | Intention to approve stadium.-Retail element refused |
| South Lanarkshire | Tennis and fitness centre and associated sports facilities at Jackton (Inquiry sisted - possible withdrawal) | Withdrawn |
| West Lothian | Extension to Freeport factory outlet centre at Westwood, West Calder | PLI being arranged |
| (b) Public local inquiry complete and awaiting decision |
| Aberdeen | Industrial development at Peterseat and Altens Farms, Aberdeen | Approved |
| Argyll & Bute | Information centre at Clachan, Cairndow | Refused |
| Edinburgh | Extension of shopping centre (2 applications) at Gyle, Edinburgh | Approved |
| Edinburgh | Underground shopping mall at Princes Street, Edinburgh | Refused |
| Glasgow | Housing development at former St Augustines Secondary School, Glasgow | Approved |
| Western Isles | Proposed superquarry at Lingerbay, Isle of Harris | Refused |
| NOTICES OF INTENTION TO DEVELOP |
| (a) Awaiting public local inquiry |
| None | | |
| (b) Public local inquiry complete and awaiting decision |
| East Dunbartonshire | Travelling people site at Milngavie | Intention to approve |
| North Ayrshire | Landfill site at Bogside, Irvine | Approved |
| LISTED BUILDING CONSENT APPLICATIONS |
| (a) Awaiting public local inquiry |
| Glasgow | 105-107 West Regent Street, Glasgow (Category A Building) | No decision as yet (case subject to judicial review) |
| (b) Public local inquiry complete and awaiting decision |
| Moray | The Park, The Wyndies, Garmouth (Category C(S) Building) (report not yet completed) | Refused |
| SCHEDULED MONUMENT CONSENT APPLICATIONS |
| (a) Awaiting public local inquiry |
| Falkirk | Industrial units at Lochlands, Nr. Falkirk (impact on Roman camps) | No PLI as yet at request of applicant |
| Highland | Reconstruction of Castle Tioram, Moidart | No PLI as yet at request of applicant |
| (b) Public local inquiry complete and awaiting decision |
| None | | |
Information relating to cases called in since 21 March 2000.
| PLANNING APPLICATIONS |
| Aberdeen City | Retail development at Kepplestone | PLI awaited |
| Argyll & Bute | Redevelopment of Port Askaig Pier, Islay | PLI awaited |
| City of Edinburgh | Offices, hotel etc at Edinburgh Park | PLI held. Report awaited |
| East Lothian | Conversion of maltings building to form flats at Mill Wynd, Haddington | PLI arranged |
| Falkirk | Poolhall/Internet Café at Bo'ness (Conjoined PLI with case below) | PLI held. Report awaited |
| Falkirk | Housing at North Street, Bo'ness (Conjoined PLI with case above) | PLI held. Report awaited |
| Highland | Erection of Patio at Drumnadrochit Hotel | Site inspection proposed |
| Highland | Extension to quarry at Drumuie, Portree, Skye | Site inspection proposed |
| Highland | Dwellinghouse at Latheron, Caithness | Site inspection proposed |
| Midlothian | Hotel, restaurant etc at Straiton | Withdrawn |
| Midlothian | Workshops at Danderhall | Site inspection awaited |
| Midlothian | Dwellinghouse at Howgate | Site inspection awaited |
| Midlothian | Hotel at Milton Bridge | Site inspection awaited |
| Midlothian | Dwellinghouse at Rosewell | Site inspection awaited |
| Moray | House/garage at Wester Gauldwell Farm, Craigellachie, Aberlour | Refused |
| Moray | Mini farm and leisure trail at Knockandhu Farm, Craigellachie, Aberlour | Site inspection awaited |
| North Lanarkshire | Residential development at Kilsyth | PLI held. Report awaited |
| North Lanarkshire | Residential development at Cumbernauld | PLI held' Report received |
| North Lanarkshire | Hotel, restaurant, health club, car showroom, petrol station etc at Auchenkilns, Cumbernauld | PLI awaited |
| Perth & Kinross | Factory outlet centre at Levenfields, Kinross | PLI awaited |
| Scottish Borders | New single dwellinghouse, 2 new dwellinghouses, and conversion of mill to dwellinghouse at Hundalee Mill, Jedburgh (3 applications) | PLI held. Report received |
| South Ayrshire | Waste transfer station and civic amenity area, Girvan | Withdrawn |
| West Lothian | Extensions to retail element; provision of offices; formation of food unit; formation of golf driving range etc and erection of garden centre at Freeport factory outlet centre, Westwood, West Calder (5 applications) | PLI awaited |
| NOTICES OF INTENTION TO DEVELOP |
| None | | |
| LISTED BUILDING CONSENT APPLICATIONS |
| Aberdeenshire | 41 Duff Street, MacDuff | Report received. Decision awaited |
| Aberdeenshire | 39 Victoria Street, Fraserburgh | Report awaited |
| Dundee | Beach Shelter, Esplanade, Broughty Ferry | Report to be requested |
| SCHEDULED MONUMENT CONSENT APPLICATIONS |
| None |
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 February 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-10473 on 6 November 2000, what the basis is in law, in procurement guidance or in the Parliament's procedures for his response that information about the total value of any works package contract entered into by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in relation to the Holyrood Project would only be divulged with the consent of the relevant contractor.
Answer
My answer to question S1W-9469 set out the basis for the Parliament's position in relation to commercial confidentiality. The Parliament's tenders are issued and received on a commercially confidential basis, respected by both client and contractor, and the legitimate commercial interests of contractors might be prejudiced by unilateral disclosure of contract information by the Parliament. The Holyrood Progress Group therefore intends for contractors to be consulted, and for agreement to be reached, before individual contract details are released.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6864 by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000, what the outcome was of the tendering exercise in relation to the contract for UK trials of electronic tolling technology; what part of the cost of the contract was to be met from the Scottish Block, and whether proposals on the sharing of costs have been altered in the light of its decision not to proceed with electronic tolling trials at Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh.
Answer
I understand that the tendering for the UK electronic tolling trials, which is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, is expected to be completed later this year. The Executive inherited an agreement made in 1998 to participate in the trials and to contribute a maximum of £5 million towards the costs. Following our withdrawal we will not be contributing to the costs.
