Chamber and committees

The current requirements for an authority to notify a neighbouring authority of any planning application that is likely to affect land in that authority’s area will remain, regardless of whether the development is or is not in an area covered by a strategic development plan. In addition, the Planning Bill places a specific requirement on the strategic development planning authorities, in drawing up their strategic development plan, to consult and have regard to the views of each neighbouring planning authority.

Provisions relating to the determination of boundaries for strategic development plan areas are included in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced in December. Section 4 empowers ministers to designate a group of planning authorities as a “strategic development planning authority” with the responsibility of jointly preparing a strategic development plan. Section 5 requires the strategic development planning authority to submit to ministers proposals for establishing the boundary for the strategic development plan area. Section 5 provides that ministers may determine the boundary of the strategic development plan area on the basis of the planning authority’s proposals or determine any other boundary as they think fit. Section 6 provides for the re-determination of the boundary of a strategic development plan area upon a material change of circumstances.

We will work in partnership with planning authorities to deliver the package of reforms and to support authorities where difficulties arise. Where serious failures occur, ministers will have powers in the Planning Bill to request information from planning authorities on the operation of their functions and to direct an audit of those functions with a clear process for making and following up on recommendations. Ministers will retain existing powers to take over from an authority the function of preparing a plan, although these will only be used where other measures have failed.

It is for individual planning authorities to determine the allocation of resources for planning enforcement within their overall planning budgets. We intend to publish further research, currently under way, into local authorities’ resourcing requirements in light of different proposals for planning modernisation. The issue of fees will be assessed in light of this research, as will the scope for local authorities to re-prioritise funding allocated to the different planning functions.

It is our intention to publish draft regulations defining the categories of major and local developments well before stage 3 consideration of the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, which has now been introduced.

Spatial planning issues relating to wind farms will primarily be considered through the current review of National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy. The outcome of this work will be reflected in the second National Planning Framework.

HM Treasury provided the resources to redeem £1,064 million of residual HRA debt, owed to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB), in respect of the three councils who transferred their housing stock to community ownership in 2003. Seven further councils have been accepted on to the Community Ownership programme and any residual HRA debt, owed to the PWLB, will similarly be redeemed at the point of transfer. No residual HRA debt has been or will be passed to the successor landlords.

I indicated in my reply to Fergus Ewing on 13 September 2005 (S2W-18471) that a summary of the progress and programme of major trunk road works will be published on the Scottish Executive website (under the section for Transport/Roads and Motorways/Trunk Roads Management and Maintenance) following the conclusion of each quarterly review meeting. The information from the review undertaken in September 2005 is now on the website which can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/05/TrunkRoads.

I should explain that responsibility for dealing with planning applications and planning matters generally rests initially with the planning authority. Scottish ministers would only consider intervening in the process, by calling in a planning application for their own determination, in the most exceptional circumstances, for example where a proposed development raises issues of significant national importance.

The following is a list of applications notified to the Scottish Executive and Historic Scotland by planning authorities in respect of school PPP projects. It covers the period January 1998 until November 2005. The list indicates whether the proposals were called in for determination by Scottish Ministers or cleared back to the local authority:

Planning Applications Notified to Scottish Ministers

Currently under consideration:

Cathkin High School, Cambuslang

Duncanrig Secondary School, East Kilbride

Wallace Hall Primary/Academy, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway.

Called in:

Lairhillock Primary School, Aberdeenshire

Cleared back to local authority

Colpy Road Secondary School, Oldmeldrum

Meldrum Primary School, Oldmeldrum

Banff Primary School, Banff

Longside Primary School, Inn Brae, Longside

Hill of Banchory Primary School, Banchory

Portlethen Academy, Bruntland Road, Portlethen

Rothienorman School, Rothienorman

Castle Road Primary School, Kintore, Inverurie

Fyfe Street Primary School, Forfar

Woodlands Caravan Park Primary School, Carnoustie

Thomas Street Primary School, Carnoustie

Kirkcudbright Academy, St Mary’s Wynd, Kirkcudbright

Ladyacre Primary School, Craigs Road, Dumfries

Kingspark Secondary School, Gillburn Road, Dundee

St Andrews Road Primary School, Anstruther, Fife

Beath High School, Foulford Road, Cowdenbeath

Queen Anne High School, Broomhead, Dunfermline

Roman Road Secondary School, Balfron

Station Road, Primary School, Buchlyvie, Stirling

Airthrey Road/Ballater Drive High School, Stirling

Old Doune Road High School, Dunblane

Williamfield High School, Torbrex Farm Road, Stirling

St Modans High School, Stirling

Secondary School at Bathgate Academy, Bathgate

Low Port Primary School, Blackness Road, Linlithgow

Secondary School at Whitburn Academy, Whitburn

Primary/Nursery at Linlithgow Primary School Annexe, West Port, Linlithgow

Broxburn Academy, Cardross Road, Broxburn

Doomsdale Primary School, Linlithgow Bridge

St Andrews Academy, Ben Nevis Road, Paisley

Primary School at Waid Academy, St Andrews Road, Anstruther

Secondary School at St Andrews Academy, Jacks Road, Saltcoats

Bellahouston Academy School Of Sport, Gower Street, Glasgow

Alterations to Bellahouston Academy, Lower Gower Terrace, Glasgow

Secondary, Primary and Special School, Grange Academy, Kilmarnock

Secondary School, Dingwall Academy, Dingwall, Ross-shire

Secondary School, Millburn Academy, Inverness

Secondary School, Strathaven Academy, Strathaven

School at Broomhead Park, Dunfermline

Beath High School, Foulford Road, Cowdenbeath

Queen Anne High School, Broomhead, Dunfermline

Tomatin Primary School

Pre-School Nursery, Kirkhill Primary School, Kirkhill, Nr Beauly

Raddery School, Fortrose, Ross-shire

Primary and High School, Kinlochleven

Portree High School, Portree, Isle of Skye

Extension to St Ninian’s High School, Giffnock

Primary and Nursery School, Ayr Road/St Vigeans Avenue, Newton Mearns

Extension to Mearns Castle High School, Newton Mearns

New School, East of Eaglesham Road, Clarkston

Extension to Cleveden Secondary School, 42 Cleveden Road, Glasgow

Extension to Hyndland Secondary School, Glasgow

Part Demolition and Erection of Extension, Holyrood Secondary School, Glasgow

Extension to Notre Dame High School, Observatory Road, Glasgow

Secondary School at Rosshall Park, Lade Terrace/Crookston Road, Glasgow

Primary School and Nursery, 36 Knightscliffe Avenue, Glasgow

School at Westland Drive, Jordanhill Glasgow

Primary/Nursery School, Berryknowes Road, Glasgow

Extension To Form Nursery School, 20 Mosspark Square, Glasgow

Tannochside Primary School, Uddingston,

Joint Campus Primary Schools and Nursery, Chapelhall

Secondary School, Palacecraig Street, Coatbridge

Primary School and Nursery, St Patrick’s Primary School, New Stevenston

Primary School, former St Catherine’s School Annexe, Uddingston

Primary School, Cumbernauld Road, Stepps

Primary School, Young Street/Loch Park, Wishaw

Primary School, Branchal Road, Cambusnethan, Wishaw

Williamwood High School, Seres Rd, Clarkston

Extension and refurbishment of St Josephs Primary School, Greenock

Development platform for school, Cumbernauld Road, Greenock

Development platform for school, Brachelston Street Greenock

Secondary School at Bothwell Road Park, Hamilton

Holy Cross High School, Muir Street, Hamilton

High School, Bridge Of Weir Road, Linwood

Primary School, Craigview Avenue/Beith Road, Johnstone

Secondary School, Linwood High School, Stirling Drive, Linwood

Primary School, Carlibar Community Centre, Carlibar Road, Barrhead

High School, Hawkhead Road/Ben Nevis Road, Paisley

Gliffer High School, Amochrie Road, Paisley

Extension to St Patrick’s Primary School, Coronation Road East, New Stevenson

Joint Campus Primary Schools, Chapelhall

Joint Campus Primary School, Our Lady and St Joseph’s School, Glenboig

Joint Campus Primary School, St Kevin’s Primary School, Bargeddie

Joint Campus Primary School, Plains, Airdrie

Secondary School, Airdrie Academy, South Commonhead Avenue, Airdrie

Joint Campus Primary Schools, St Patrick’s High/Dunbeth Park, Coatbridge

Joint Campus Primary Schools, Houldsworth Park, Wishaw,

Primary School and Nursery, Stepps

Secondary, Primary and Special School, Annanhill Primary School, Kilmarnock

Primary School, Motherwell Street, Airdrie

Secondary School, East Of Drumfork Road, Helensburgh

Primary School Development, Dingwall

Special Needs School, Drummond School, Inverness

Primary School, Cawdor, Nairn

Community Primary School, Inshes, Inverness

Primary School at Slackbuie Farm, Inverness

St Brides High School, East Kilbride

Douglas Academy Campus, Milngavie.

Other Applications notified to Historic Scotland

Banff Primary School, Aberdeenshire

The Royal High School, Edinburgh

Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow

Hillhead High School, Glasgow

Knightswood Secondary School, Glasgow

Notre Dame High School, Glasgow

Hyndland Secondary School, Glasgow

Holyrood Secondary School, Glasgow

Dalkeith High School, Midlothian

Bathgate Academy, West Lothian

Low Port Primary School, West Lothian

Our Lady’s High School, North Lanarkshire.

All applications received by Historic Scotland were cleared back to the respective local authority for determination.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

Householders, if they so wish, can install condensing boilers as an upgrade to the system provided under the Scottish Executive programme. Any additional costs would require to be met by the householder.

The central heating guidelines are continually assessed and many improvements have been made since the programme was introduced. The existing central heating programme in the private sector will be complete by April 2006, and options regarding future delivery are currently being considered. The details of any successor programme will be announced in due course.