The EACC online event on 26 February profiles Planning Democracy’s Manifesto 2025. The call is for a radical overhaul of the planning system.
https://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Manifesto-.pdf
https://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/author/clarepd/
https://www.scottishcommunityalliance.org.uk/events/local-people-leading
More immediate for many community councillors is the challenge of getting to grips with front-line planning issues; getting through the door of the current planning system, if you like. How to interpret planning applications; where to step in; how to assess the case, and how to respond. There are things to know and route maps to use.
City of Edinburgh Council’s guidance here has been pretty rudimentary, although, as has been said, it’s not the Council’s job to teach community councils how to win where planning applications are disputed. (If you want to build your own case, you have to lay your own foundations.) We spoke with Planning Officers in early January about how they might offer additional help here. We’ve had a positive response.
We’re told a planned review of the Planning Division website should make the layout more user-friendly. There will be added information on service standards alongside a new overview of the planning system. There will be updated guidance on how comments on planning applications are handled and on how to make representations. We can expect Planning to host ‘customer engagement events’ in Q3.
The Planning Officers we spoke to are themselves in contact with the Improvement Service and Planning Aid for Scotland to discuss delivery of training to community councils by those two agencies.
** The Improvement Service (IS) directs its principal focus to Scottish Government, key agencies and local authorities. It hosts a Planning Skills Programme. You can access the content via this link:
https://www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and-services/planning-and-place-based-approaches/planning-skills
We would point you to two pieces of content: a) An Information for Elected Members handbook, and b) the comprehensive Planning Skills Series, particularly the chapters on Local Development Plans and NPF4 and on Communities. (I understand perfectly well that these are big bites, but that is the nature of the subject.)
** Planning Aid for Scotland (PAS) ‘is a voluntary organisation which offers an independent, free and professional advice service on planning applications and the planning process. It also runs training and education programmes designed to raise awareness and capacity on planning matters with elected members, community groups, seldom heard groups, children and young people’.
PAS has a strong and well-deserved reputation. Here is the link to the wide span of facilities it offers: https://www.pas.org.uk/resources/ . The Planning Information Sheets are crisply set out. The guidance on Local Place Plans is comprehensive. The SP=EED framework leads you through community engagement. The Placecheck tool may well be the ideal starting point for making local change happen.
PAS is offering a programme of free, open-to-all, online training over Q1 2026. There is a focus, for example, on electricity networks, renewable energy, community engagement and feedback, project management. Look here: https://www.pas.org.uk/what-we-do/free-training-2026/
We’re told the programme is available on catch-up via:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsxGgBg-Avuc3nhRmTYaKFoA1gZ5b5kZl
** Local Authority Guides
Two very useful references here:
Midlothian Council: The Scottish Planning System – A Handbook
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/downloads/file/4623/midlothian_planning_handbook
Highland Council: Guide to the Planning System for Community Councils
Search for this on https://www.highland.gov.uk/
At present, it is missing in a website upgrade, but it will reappear.
There is a lot to take on board. However, with the pace of change we are seeing in the city and with the next Local Development Plan (City Plan 2040) underway, if a community council wants to be involved, that’s the commitment it has to accommodate. (As an aside, this highlights the vulnerability of under-equipped (under-staffed) community councils to being overtaken by events. It points to what you could gain by closer collaboration with neighbours. Anyone care to contact me to illustrate for others good examples of this?)
That’s a quick run-through of practical support on planning training and skills. You might also want to add broad context by taking a look at the Scot Gov Chief Planner Letters which offer periodic guidance to planning authorities: https://www.gov.scot/collections/chief-planner-letters/
Wrapping up, we do expect CEC Planning Division to come through on guidance and support for community councils. It won’t be all at once, however. If you feel your community council needs to pick up the pace, it is a case of putting your best foot forward. The best way may be to join up with other amenity groups and bring in co-opts.
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