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1.2.1 Local government service provision has developed considerably over recent years with a new emphasis on demonstrable effectiveness, efficiency and community inclusion.

1.2.2 The ‘Best Value’ ethos has become the basis of service provision and requires Councils to show that quality services are delivered in a cost effective manner. This Local Plan endorses the Best Value concept by setting the context for the delivery of a quality planning service and spelling out the Council’s planning policies and known land use proposals in a clear and concise manner.

1.2.3 The Local Government Act modernises the government’s agenda and an emphasis has been placed on Community Planning which commits the Council to work with its partners, to agree a strategic vision for the area and collaborate on the delivery of improved public services which reflect this vision and are responsive to community concerns.

1.2.4 The Scottish Executive is also keen to promote opportunities for getting involved in the planning process (‘Getting Involved in Planning’ November 2001). To this end the Council undertook a major National Planning Guidance consultation exercise in the Spring of 2001 in which stakeholders were asked to help identify and comment on the key issues to be addressed in the local plan. In addition, an independently facilitated seminar was aimed at encouraging the business community to make a contribution to ensuring the plan made the most of opportunities to promote economic competitiveness. In order to facilitate a high level of engagement with community groups the Council undertook (in November 2000) an awareness raising exercise through ‘Community Local Environment Awareness Raising’ (CLEAR). This enabled a wide ranging discussion of the issues of community concern.

1.2.5 Modern local government services are customer focused and the local plan making process embodies inclusive principles by enabling stakeholders to participate in setting the planning agenda and influence development decisions.

1.2.6 The Council is committed to listening and responding to the wishes of the community in East Dunbartonshire, and ultimately the quality of service provided by the Council will depend on how well the plan reflects the aspirations of those it serves.

1.2.7 The National context for planning is set by the Scottish Executive through various Acts, Regulations and Circulars. The Council, and this Plan, are bound to act within this framework.

1.2.8 A series of ‘Scottish Planning Policy’ (SPPs) and ‘National Planning Policy Guidelines’ (NPPGs) provides statements of government policy on nationally important land uses and other planning matters.

1.2.9 Additionally ‘Planning Advice Notes’ (PANs) provide government advice on good practice and other relevant information. This Plan is drawn up within the context of and in accordance with the principles of the published SPPs, NPPGs and PANs. Where a policy or an approach is set at a national level, there is no need to repeat it in the Local Plan. The Plan will however set the local context and promote its implementation locally.

1.2.10 The European Union also issues Directions and Guidance, particularly relating to environmental issues, and the Plan has taken these into account.

1.2.11 As stated earlier, local plans are required to conform with the approved Structure Plan. This Local Plan has been drafted to comply with the recently approved Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan, produced jointly by all the partner local authorities. As the Structure Plan is a relevant planning consideration in its own right, there is no need to repeat the policies of the Structure Plan in this Local Plan

1.2.12 As well as setting policies for considering issues of strategic significance, the Structure Plan ensures that a consistent planning approach is delivered throughout the Glasgow and Clyde Valley area.

1.2.13 Important issues covered include the implementation of the metropolitan development strategy, particularly through protection of the green belt. It also establishes the strategic balance in the supply of and demand for land for housing, business and retail developments.

1.2.14 A Community Plan has been produced, led by the Council, but with the commitment and ‘ownership’ of the main service providers in East Dunbartonshire. The Community Plan is the overarching framework document for all the Public Sector Services and all of the Council’s plans and strategies require to conform to its framework, aims and objectives.

1.2.15 The Local Plan encompasses appropriate land use and development proposals of both the private sector and other service providers and agencies. In addition it outlines, where applicable, the ways in which the Council will work in partnership with others to achieve the Plan’s aims.

1.2.16 The Council has developed a constructive relationship with a wide variety of agencies, such as the adjoining authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage, Health Boards, Water Authorities, Communities Scotland (formerly Scottish Homes) and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire. The policies and intentions of these various agencies (where they have a land use implication) are reflected in this Plan and the Council will work with them in delivering quality services in an integrated manner.

1.2.17 The Local Plan reflects the vision and objectives of the Community Plan, in particular through the Guiding Principles as outlined in Section 2 of this Plan, and reflects the land use implications of proposed development through the various policies and proposals.

1.2.18 The Council also produces other documents which address the Council’s approach to other issues e.g. there is a separate Tourism Strategy, a Housing Plan, a Local Transport Strategy, an Economic and Social Strategy etc.

1.2.19 The shared interests of a range of service providers including the Health Board, Water Authority, Police, SPT, Communities Scotland and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire are also included in the East Dunbartonshire Community Plan.

1.2.20 This Local Plan therefore has to be understood in the context of the Council’s wider remit and responsibilities. The contents of these other documents are reflected, but not necessarily repeated in this plan.

1.2.21 The Council supports the implementation of ‘Metropolitan Glasgow – our vision for the Glasgow city region’ document, led by the Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership. This document sets out a long-term view of the development of the city region; focuses on key regeneration issues and seeks consensus on the pursuit of a regeneration agenda. It sets out an over-arching development context for the Glasgow City Region, which includes a number of projects and initiatives in East Dunbartonshire.

1.2.22 The Council has prepared a Sustainable Development Strategy as part of our contribution to achieving sustainable development. This sets out the local community’s vision for an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable future. As ‘sustainability’ impacts on such a wide range of social and economic issues, not just the natural environment, its precepts are reflected in the Guiding Principles and throughout the Plan. An independent Sustainability Appraisal of the existing adopted local plans and the Issues Report for this Plan was undertaken as part of the Plan preparation process. This identified a number of gaps and weaknesses in the existing policy coverage which have been addressed in the Plan and the Plan’s policies have been improved in the light of the Appraisal.

1.2.23 All of the Local Plan’s policies and proposals have been prepared in accordance with the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and aim to promote equal opportunities to all in terms of access to good quality housing, jobs, services, transport and the environment, particularly for those within the communities who are most disadvantaged. The policies and proposals are designed to present equity for all groupings in society. At an early stage in the preparation of the Plan, an audit was undertaken of issues raised by ethnicity, gender, age and ability.

1.2.24 This Local Plan takes forward the policies of the two Local Plans which it superseded. Whilst all planning policy was reviewed in the process of this Plan’s preparation, for many issues the general thrust of the previous Plans remained relevant. The Plan’s policies therefore include a high degree of continuity with previous plans.

1.2.25 Where appropriate, policies were updated to reflect changing circumstances and new planning approaches. This has particularly been the case where policies required to be modified to more accurately reflect the Council’s objectives on environmental sustainability, following the sustainability audit of previous local plans. The drafting of the Plan was also been subject to consultation, through public advertisements, press releases and the publication of an ‘Issues Report’ early in 2000. Around 300 organisations, businesses, Community Councils and private individuals were invited to contribute to the preparation of the Local Plan.

1.2.26 Over 100 letters of representation were received and considered by the Council prior to finalising the content of the Plan. Additionally, questionnaire leaflet consultation was undertaken and over 850 replies were received and analysed. The Plan and modifications were also subject to public consultation, and a Public Inquiry prior to being adopted.

1.2.27 The policies of this Plan are divided into five sections. Firstly and very importantly are the Guiding Principles contained in Section 2. All development proposals will be expected to generally accord with the four Guiding Principles, and proposals which conflict with these will not generally be acceptable to the Council. The Guiding Principles may therefore be used in these circumstances as reasons for refusing planning permission.

1.2.28 The four sections which follow contain the detailed policies for Strong Communities, a High Quality Environment, Economic Competitiveness and Integrated Transport. For ease of reference these are in the bold typeface. In each Section the policies are separated broadly into two types:

• firstly, the enabling and positive policies and proposals highlight the things that the Council wishes to see delivered for the benefit of the wider community. These are highlighted with a grey background.

• secondly, the controlling/restrictive policies and those which impose standards. These do not have the grey background.

1.2.29 The explanation and justification for each policy is in a lighter typeface.

1.2.30 There is also a series of Guidance Notes in Appendix 9. These give more detailed guidance on how the Council will assess certain developments.

1.2.31 Despite being divided into Sections, the Plan should be read as a whole, as development proposals may be assessed against a number of policies, e.g. a shopping proposal may be assessed against not just town centre/retail policies but also design quality, conservation and transport policies, where applicable.

1.2.32 The Council will therefore take a balanced view of development proposals based on the Guiding Principles and the policies contained throughout this Plan.

1.2 Planning in Context

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