Action Programmes

KAG / HoPS / PAD Workshop3rd March 2014

Overview

Overview• Aims & Objectives• Action Programme Requirements• Review of current practice • Good Practice

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Overview• Aims

– Improve delivery of development through planning– Develop better understanding & use of Action Programmes

• Objectives – Review requirements, policy and guidance– Review and discuss examples – Identify good practice…with further input today

Overview Requirements Review Best Practice

Requirements

• Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006• The Town and Country Planning (Development

Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008

• Planning Circular 6/2013: Development Planning

Requirements• How the authority proposes to implement the plan• They must set out:

– actions required to deliver plan policies and proposals;– the name of the person who is to carry out the action; and– the timescale for carrying out each action

• May be expected to include the delivery of key infrastructure and the preparation of supplementary guidance

• A key tool in instigating action and co-ordinating the activity of a range of agencies and organisations.

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Requirements• Consider scope and style of the Action Programme at an early

stage to ensure that deliverability guides the content of the plans themselves.

• Consult and consider the views of:– the key agencies– the Scottish Ministers;– anyone named in the Action Programme.

• Submitted to Ministers alongside proposed SDPs and LDPs • Adopted and published within three months of the plans, kept

under review and republish at least every two years

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Requirements - Summary• Action for each policy & proposal

– Grouping policies

– Focus on priorities

– Doesn’t apply to supplementary guidance

– Every policy should be used & so require action• Named person

– Name of organisation ok

– But advantages being as specific as possible• Timescale for action

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Review

Key Agencies Review

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

• Reference to the Plan and link the ‘Bigger Picture’ • SMART Principles should be applied• Clarity on roles and responsibilities• Benefits of early engagement and agreement

NPF2

• Action Number and Main Document Reference• Action Description• Link to Strategy• Milestones• Lead Partners / Delivery Bodies• Progress

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

NPF3

• Action Reference• Action Description• Lead Partners / Delivery Bodies• Progress

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

GCV

• Proposal Number• Proposal Description • Lead Partner / Delivery Organisations• Progress• Further Information

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

TAYplan

• Action Heading• Policy / Proposal

Ref• Proposal

Description • Phasing & Timing• Funding &

Responsibility • Priority• Progress

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

ACS

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

• Action Reference• Action Description• SDPA Role• Milestones• Lead Partners / Delivery Bodies• Resource• Deliverables

Falkirk Council

• Policy • Action reference• Actions• Lead agency• Timescale• Progress

Aberdeen City Council

• Action Reference• Timescale by quarter then year• Notes/infrastructure requirements

CEC

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

But what about the process of action programming?

Good Practice

Key issues

• Too much focus on product as opposed to process• Left too late in process to start thinking• Discussion with delivery partners needs timed correctly • Need to use AP to test plan and site effectiveness • Not linked to corporate/budget planning• Out of date before it is published• Just a status report – not driving delivery

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Good practice themes

Purpose- Stimulate delivery not just record actions

- Ensure plan is effective and deliverable = iterative relationship between DP/AP

- Key project planning tool

Scope- Statutory requirements – actions/persons/timescales

Consider scale: plan-wide/ location-specific/ site-specific

- Avoid overlap with other tiers

- Group similar actions

- Develop ‘SMART’ actions

Process- Early circulation/consultation

- Formation of a delivery group

- Corporate process/product – LAs and stakeholders

- Change wider decision-making and budget-forming processes

- Live updates and 2 yearly publication

Product- Table format most common

- Short and concise more effective

- Spatial emphasis rather than thematic

- Links rather than full details

- Proforma or clarity on statutory/commonly-used elements?

Action Programme - Product

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Essential (statutory)• Delivery Actions• Timescale for Conclusion• Named Person

(Organisation/Team/Individual)

Commonly Used• Table / List Format• Reference (page, policy, area etc.)• Delivery Lead / Partners / Stakeholders• Progress Updates

Additional Information• Priority Designation• Risk Designation• Funding Source / Position• Programme / Build Rate• Policy Theme / Area Groupings• Partner / Stakeholder Logos• Weblinks

• Location Plans• Contact Information• Completions / Approvals Update• Policy or Site per page • Report Format• Use of Colour / Symbols

Good Practice - summary

• PURPOSE (Focus on actions to deliver plan)• SCOPE (Statutory requirements + additional info)• PROCESS (link to corporate processes – LAs and

stakeholders) • PRODUCT (Different styles, concise, spatial, clear leads)

Focus on the process of action programming (not just publication of a document)

DISCUSS!

Overview Requirements Review Good Practice

Action Programmes

KAG / HoPS / PAD Workshop3rd March 2014