Planning forum
A Development Planning Forum has been created to engage with the local community
on policy development and consider the function of the Planning Service. The Forum
is intended to make a significant contribution towards modernisation and improvement
of the Planning services in South Ayrshire.
At present the Forum comprises approximately one hundred
members who are drawn from the local community and represent a cross-section of
interests, including local civic, environmental and commercial interest groups;
and professional bodies who engage with the Planning service and the public at large.
The Forum, administered by Officers from the Council's Planning Service, aims to
meet around three times per year with twenty to thirty members of the Forum being
invited to each meeting. The Forum will assist the community in influencing policy
development with a particular focus on the
Local Development Plan. The Forum will also consider the quality of service
provided by the Planning section and where this can be improved to help customers.
Early and full community engagement is recognised to be a key part of modernising
the planning system and the Council feels that benefits from having a Planning Forum
include:
- Improving the quality of the Planning service through exchanging views and innovative
suggestions. If members of the Forum see changes resulting from their participation
this will help further engagement with the Service.
- Raising awareness of the issues that different groups face and coming to a better
understanding of other perspectives.
- By making planning more transparent the public will be aware of what the service
is trying to achieve, how they can contribute to the service and the factors involved
in the decision making. This should help foster trust in the planning system generally.
- Sharing updates and best practice.
- Providing a forum for members of the public to express their views on draft policies
and guidance.
- Highlighting areas where the Planning service can improve and offer feedback on
improvement initiatives.
- Assisting with understanding the trade-offs and balances required in making planning
policy, thereby developing realistic expectations of what can be achieved.
Agendas and presentations
Details, including agendas, presentations and outcome reports, as well as any other
relevant information, will be displayed on this website, and can be accessed by
clicking on the relevant Forum date, as below.