Aberdeenshire finely balanced as new Council meets
Pressure Mounts on Council over Flawed Plan
Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee will this week discuss the objections lodged against the Aberdeenshire Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP). The need to amend the Proposed LDP so that it complies with the requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 has emerged as a key issue (Note 1) - with the Scottish Government pointing out to the Council that its proposed LDP is deficient (Note 2).
Before the Council approved the Proposed LDP in June 2010, Cllr Martin Ford moved an amendment to its wording to bring the LDP into line with the climate change legislation. His amendment was voted down by Liberal Democrat, Conservative and SNP councillors.
During the consultation period on the Proposed LDP over the summer, Cllr Ford and Cllr Debra Storr lodged objections seeking the same alterations to the Proposed LDP as Cllr Ford had sought before the Council approved it (Note 3).
Separately, the Scottish Government also put in an objection pointing out that the policy the Council had approved on reducing carbon emissions from new buildings was inadequate to meet the requirements set out in legislation.
In the report to the Infrastructure Services Committee on Thursday, planners concede that there is uncertainty as to whether the Council has got the Proposed LDP right. But councillors are urged to resist amending the policy on reducing carbon emissions.
Commenting, Cllr Martin Ford said: "There is very little doubt the Proposed LDP does not comply with the requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 - and the Council is looking increasingly foolish in its attempts to avoid admitting that.
"What is in the Aberdeenshire Proposed LDP falls well short of any reasonable interpretation of the very specific provisions in the Climate Change Act.
"Not only is it stupid of the Council to have got this wrong, it is indicative of a lack of commitment to tackling climate change - something the Council claims to have as a priority. The policy in the Proposed LDP on the energy efficiency of new buildings is actually weaker than the policy currently in force. The Council is going backwards."
The next stage in the process of finalising the LDP is for the Proposed Plan to be examined by a reporter - who has the power to make changes.
Cllr Debra Storr said: "The Council cannot itself change the Proposed LDP at this stage. However, the Council seems unprepared to admit the Proposed Plan is deficient in any way at all.
"Where the Plan needs to be changed it would be sensible for the Council to ask the reporter to do this."
Notes
1. Item 17 on the Infrastructure Ssrvices Committee agenda, pages 56-59.
2. Objection number 2142.
3. Objections number 602 and 616.
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