PART 4Other matters

Performance of planning authorities

46Annual report by planning authorities on performance

1

The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows.

2

After Part 12 insert—

PART 12APerformance of planning authority functions

Annual report

251AAnnual report on performance of functions

1

As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year, a planning authority are to prepare a report on the performance of their functions (or such of their functions as are specified in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers) during that year.

2

The planning authority are to—

a

submit a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and

b

publish the report.

3

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about—

a

the form of the report,

b

the content of the report (including about what quantitative and qualitative information is to be included in the report, and what outcomes are to be used to assess the performance by planning authorities of their functions),

c

the process to be undertaken in preparing the report,

d

how the report is to be published.

4

In this section, a financial year is the period of 12 months beginning with 1 April.

I147National performance monitoring

1

The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows.

2

After section 251A (as inserted by section 46) insert—

National performance monitoring

251BNational planning improvement co-ordinator

1

The Scottish Ministers may appoint a person (“the co-ordinator”) to—

a

monitor the performance by planning authorities of their functions, and

b

provide advice to planning authorities, and to such other persons as the co-ordinator considers appropriate, in relation to what steps might be taken by planning authorities or such other persons to improve the performance of their functions.

2

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about the appointment and functions of the co-ordinator.