What is the Planning Development Programme?

The Planning Development Programme is a government funded initiative that supports improved training and development for staff in planning services and for elected members with planning responsibilities. The Programme was set up in 2006 and has funding until March 2011.

There are 34 planning authorities in Scotland - 32 councils and 2 national park authorities. The planning authorities are responsible for delivering Development Management (planning permission and other related consents) and Development Planning (Structure and Local Plans) functions within the statutory planning system.

The Programme provides support for skills and knowledge development in planning authorities in a variety of ways:

• Commissioning and funding workshops and other learning opportunities on a variety of technical subjects which have been identified as priorities by the planning authorities
• Providing grant support to authorities taking local action on training and development, and for individuals to access existing training courses including accredited planning qualifications
• Encouraging sharing of experience and good practice between authorities
• Promoting improved management of learning and development within authorities
• Supporting stakeholders in providing learning opportunities relevant to planning authorities

A short summary of the Programme is available to download. The funding available through the Planning Development Programme is primarily targeted at increasing the range of training and development opportunities for planning authority staff and elected members, and at subsidising local action to address identified training needs. More information on the grant support is provided in the funding section.

Information about the events arranged through the Planning Development Programme is circulated by email to the 34 planning services through the managers of the planning service, and to previous event participants. If you would like to be added the distribution list and receive information about the Programme and events, please email Fiona Dick.

Please note that Emma Richardson, the Planning Development Programme Manager, is currently on secondment. Until a replacement is in post, if you would like more information on the Planning Development Programme please contact Fiona Dick or Donna Wallace on 01506 775558