Overview of the Act PART 2 – MASTERPLAN CONSENT AREAS Schedule 5A of the 1997 Act: Masterplan consent areas Chapter 2: Powers in relation to procedure, etc.
125.Paragraph 21 gives the Scottish Ministers power to make directions about how the authority are to formulate their procedures for carrying out their functions under schedule 5A, and provides that planning authorities must comply with any such direction. Scottish Ministers may also make a direction specifying information that the planning authority are to provide to the Scottish Ministers, provided that information is required to allow the Scottish Ministers to carry out their functions in relation to MCAs under schedule 5A.
126.Paragraph 22 gives the Scottish Ministers powers to make regulations about the form and content of schemes, and the procedure to be followed in making or altering a scheme. The regulations may (amongst other things) set out requirements in relation to: publicity requirements; consultation, including specifying who should be consulted; and representations and how these should be made and considered. Regulations may also set out requirements in relation to the publication and inspection of any scheme that has been made, or to a document setting out alterations that have been made, or are to be made, to a scheme.
127.The regulations can also make provision in relation to copies of documents. Sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of paragraph 22(2) require a planning authority, in circumstances prescribed in the regulations, to give copies of documents which have been made public to anyone who requests those documents, and allows for the possibility of permitting the authority to impose a reasonable charge for providing such copies. Under paragraph 25(2)(g), regulations can also provide for the sale of copies of schemes, and any document that sets out details of alterations to a scheme.