Introduction
Since the last business plan was published, we have emerged from the global pandemic and seen the long-awaited arrival of National Planning Framework 4.
HOPS has challenged, contributed and helped shape NPF4 as it has gone through its various stages, ensuring that our collective voice was heard at the highest level through presenting to the Parliamentary Committee, discussions at the High-Level Group and dialogue with and submissions to Scottish Government. One of our key goals in this business plan will be to now focus our efforts towards the successful implementation of the NPF4.
Since the last business plan was published, we have emerged from the global pandemic and seen the long-awaited arrival of National Planning Framework 4.
HOPS has challenged, contributed and helped shape NPF4 as it has gone through its various stages, ensuring that our collective voice was heard at the highest level through presenting to the Parliamentary Committee, discussions at the High-Level Group and dialogue with and submissions to Scottish Government. One of our key goals in this business plan will be to now focus our efforts towards the successful implementation of the NPF4.
With the increased pressures on budgets and staff resources, it will be a significant challenge to drive the positive culture/societal changes necessary to deliver the sustainable, liveable and productive places set out in NPF4 and carry out the additional duties set out in the Planning Act. At time when there are great demands on planning to deliver, we need to ensure that we have the staff resources, the skills/knowledge and the capacity to meet these expectations. That is why the key themes of (1) fees and resources and (2) the Future Planners programme are critical for us and again these will continue to be active areas for the business plan to focus on this year.
The support of a vastly experienced Executive, along with the highly valued work of our Sub-Committees, is critical to helping achieve our goals. It is heartening to see the continued commitment and contributions of colleagues to HOPS and to sharing the positive benefits of planning and making a real difference to our places and communities.
HOPS will also continue to reach out this year to a range of stakeholders and professional bodies promoting the need for and willingness to work positively, collaboratively and in the spirit of collective endeavour.
Personally, can I say that it is a pleasure and, indeed, a privilege to be chair of HOPS for 2023/24 and that I am looking forward to what, I suspect, will be a very busy and interesting year.
Ian L Aikman
Chair of Heads of Planning Scotland
Contents
- Purpose
- Objectives
- Governance and Organisation
- Partnership Working
- Communication Strategy
- Roles and Key Areas of Work
- Constitution
Updated 28/09/23
HOPS 