The future of planning in Fife has been considered by the council’s Executive Committee, following the disclosure of four potential options.

The four options set out in the Planning Review paper were:

Option 1 - A single Development (Planning) Committee for Fife Council.

Option 2a - Two committees based on the current SESPlan and TAYPlan boundaries.

Option 2b – Two Committees based on a north/south Fife split.

Option 3 – Three Committee structure based on West, Central and North Fife areas.

Option 4 – Planning Committee and the seven Area committees (current arrangements)

Option three was recommended by the Committee.

The discussion follows agreement in May this year at a full Fife Council meeting to review the planning functions of the Area Committees and the Planning Committee.

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The Council says this was to ensure "appropriate devolution of decisions to meet local needs and...tackle the economic difficulties and housing shortage facing Fife."

Keith Winter, Head of Enterprise, Planning & Protective Services said: "These options were presented around overall business efficiency, staff and councillor capacities and includes suggested consequential changes whichever option is selected.

"An internal committee consultation was carried out and representations have also been received from community councils and other organisations. To benchmark and identify good/best practice improvements, other Scottish Planning authorities have been surveyed."

Councillor Kay Carrington, executive member for Enterprise, Business, Economy & Planning said: "I am keen to see Fife as the easiest place to do business, this is a goal which has been set by the Fife Economy Partnership to secure investment opportunities for Fife. We have just approved the Fife Structure Plan and three local plans for the first time in a good number of years providing a good framework for investments. It is also important to have a balance with the requirements for communities to participate in the planning process."

The recommendation will be taken forward to the next meeting of the Full Council where the final decision will be taken.

(IT)