Executive Committee
The Executive Committee oversees the operation of HOPS and is made up of representatives from up to 14 authorities and the HOPS Project Manager. There are also three co-opted members representing external organisations (COSLA, RTPI Scotland and the Improvement Service). The Executive Committee will take an open and inclusive approach to its work, with members disseminating information to and being informed by the wider HOPS.
Role
- To provide leadership and direct the work programme for sub-committees.
- To provide support, guidance and advice to the sub-committees in respect of planning, environmental and other matters.
- To influence and develop opportunities to work collaboratively to make a positive contribution to planning and related matters.
- To develop, ensure delivery of and monitor a Business Plan.
- To agree and monitor the annual budget.
- To lead communication and liaison with the Scottish Government, public bodies, COSLA and the organisations relevant to the interests of HOPS.
- To make recommendations and take actions in relation to matters of policy.
- To direct public relations and stakeholder communications.
- To determine what relevant consultations should be responded to as directed by the HOPS sub-committees.
Performance & Practice
The Performance and Practice sub-committee is an opt in sub-committee made up of representatives from planning authorities, plus representatives from the Scottish Government Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division, COSLA, RTPI Scotland and Improvement Service.
Role
- To provide support, guidance and advice to the HOPS Executive in respect of Planning Performance and Practice matters and other relevant matters, which are not within the role or remit of the other Sub Committees. This includes areas of performance management, training, education and development, and planning finance and resources.
- To influence and develop opportunities to work collaboratively to make positive contribution to planning reforms and improvements by identifying good and best benchmarking across member authorities and representing the views of Scottish Local Planning Authorities.
- To act as an initiator of changes and improvements by consulting, lobbying, leading and challenging on behalf of the Executive Committee or for the Executive Committee
- Priority areas of work will include planning fees and financial management, planning reforms, resources and staffing, performance management and culture change.
- To to with the National Planning Improvement Co-Ordinator (NPIF) in particular, indicators, scope, content and methodology, in consultation with the other themed sub-committees on behalf of the Executive Committee and the wider HOPS membership.
Key Areas of Work 2024/25
- Oversee work on effective Digital Planning practices. This will seek to address the cessation of funding towards this initiative and seek to identify how this shortfall can be addressed.
- To act as the key liaison for HOPS in the implementation of the National Planning Improvement Frameworks (NPIF), taking lessons learned from the initial three tranches of work during the year and using this as a means of delivering best practice that demonstrates the positive contribution of Planning Services across the country.
- Continue to engage with the Scottish Government in relation to increasing the resources that are available to Planning Services and ensuring that any new duties and responsibilities that are placed on Local Authorities are supported by funding and support.
- Continue to engage and advocate for increased resources to be given to the development of skills in the Planning system to ensure that there is a workforce pipeline to deliver the increased role that Planners have in placemaking and delivering economic growth.
- Support and contribute to the activity of Partners in Planning, the Planning Officers Society, the RTPI and a range of other bodies involved in promoting the role of local authority planning activity across the UK to inform the wider membership of emerging issues and challenges.
Development Planning
The Development Planning sub-committee is made up of representatives from all planning authorities. In addition, there is representation from the Scottish Government Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division.
Role
- To provide support, guidance and advice to the HOPS Executive Committee in respect of Development Planning and related matters, which are not within the role and remit of the other Sub Committees.
- Consider key cross-cutting Development Planning and related issues across Planning Authorities and primarily with the Scottish Government, RTPI and the Key Agencies.
- Work with the Scottish Government in respect of any proposed changes to legislation.
- Share development of innovative work and good practice.
Key Areas of Work 2024/25
- Continuing to progress the work on evidence reports and data collection, particularly work with the Key Agencies Group and the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals.
- Continuing to progress collaborative work with Public Health Scotland and the NHS.
- Continue engagement with stakeholders on Housing issues.
- Continue sharing good practice and learning on Open Space Strategies, Play Sufficiency Assessments and Local Place Plans.
Development Management
The Development Management sub-committee is made up of representatives from all planning authorities. In addition, there is representation from the Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division, and the Enforcement Officers Forum.
Role
- To provide guidance the HOPS Executive Committee and the wider HOPS membership, on emerging development management and related issues.
- To represent local authority development management practitioners at the interface with Scottish Government and other stakeholders, including the Key Agencies.
- A forum for the consideration of current development management issues.
- Contributing to emerging planning law and procedure.
- Liaison with the Scottish Planning Enforcement Officers Forum.
2023/24 Key Areas of Work
- Continued work with the Scottish Government, providing Planning Authority feedback on the NPF4 policies
- Promotion and rollout of Scottish Government biodiversity net gain metric.
- Continued engagement with the Scottish Government on the roll out of Permitted Development Rights.
- Review of the need for Prior Notification Orders for Peatland Restoration for Nature Scot schemes
- Promotion of a validation standard across Scotland.
- Providing continued evidence to support the HOPS position on Full Cost Recovery.
Climate Change, Energy & Resources
The Climate Change, Energy and Resources sub-committee is an opt in sub-committee which can be made up of representatives from all planning authorities. In additional to this there is representation from the Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division, Scottish Government Energy & Consents Unit, Scottish Government Marine Directorate, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Historic Environment Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot
Role
- To provide support, guidance and advice to the HOPS Executive Committee, in respect of planning matters relating to energy generation and resources, including coal, minerals, oil, gas, waste, climate change, zero waste, carbon capture, and new technologies.
- To influence and develop opportunities to work collaboratively, representing planning authority interests in relation to climate change, energy generation and resources.
- Work with the Scottish Government in respect of any proposed changes to the legislation.
- Share development of innovative work and good practice.
Key Areas of Work 2024/25
- Continue work with the Scottish Government, providing Planning Authority feedback on NPF4 policies, particularly those associated with the Climate Emergency and renewables development.
- Continue engagement on Scotwind Policy and Minerals Planning, through both the working groups and wider sub-committee.
- Continue to lobby for energy applications of all scale to be dealt with under TCP(S)A.
- Contribute to any further work on guidance relating to battery storage (BESS) applications – continue to advocate the need for more guidance and support any efforts to produce this.
- Continue to engage with developments around Hydrogen.
- Continue to engage with developments around Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES).
- Keep appraised of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS).
- Keep appraised of developments around Circular Economy (Zero Waste).
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