Decision

The Council resolved:-

(i)             to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to submit the revised Evidence Report (Appendix 1), and appropriate supporting documentation to Scottish Ministers, subject to any necessary minor drafting changes to satisfy the requirements of the Gate Check process (as summarised in paragraph 3.7 of the report);

(ii)           to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning, as part of the minor drafting changes (outlined in (i) above), to complete the text describing the engagement undertaken on the revised Evidence Report, to demonstrate where any further areas of agreement and disputes have been concluded (as summarised in paragraph 3.8 below);

(iii)          to authorise the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to respond to any requests for further information or clarification issued by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government during the course of the Gate Check;

(iv)          in the event that the resubmitted Evidence Report is returned, instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to address any further matters arising from future Reporter assessment, and to submit a revised Evidence Report to Gate Check and respond to any further information requests from the Scottish Government Planning and Environment Appeals Division (DPEA) that may be required;

(v)           to approve the content of the updated Development Plan Scheme 2026 (Appendix 2) and instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to, subject to any minor drafting changes, publish it in accordance with relevant legislation; and

(vi)          to note that the Development Plan team had held sessions with Community Councils and the Community Council Planning Forum with regard to Local Place Plans and to request that elected members be invited to such sessions in the future.