Commentary on Sections Accountability Section 28: Strategic plans
44.Section 28 requires the Commissioner to prepare and publish a strategic plan covering a four year period, and to lay the plan before the Scottish Parliament before the beginning of the said four year period. The first four year period is to commence on 1 April in the year following the coming into force of this section, and then each subsequent period of four years will also be covered by a strategic plan. Section 40(4) includes a power to allow the commencement regulations to amend this section to specify the date on which the first four year period is to begin, so that the section will act as an easy reference point.
45.Each strategic plan must set out the Commissioner’s objectives and priorities for the four year period and how they plan to achieve them, what the costs will be, and the timescale applicable. The Commissioner is able to review and revise the strategic plan at any time, and any such revised plan is subject to the same rules on publication and laying. However, it should be noted that revising a plan will not alter when the four year period begins and ends. Accordingly, a revised plan only needs to contain information relating to the remainder of the four year period in question, but it must cover the same topics. Before publishing a plan or a revised plan, the Commissioner is to consult on a draft on it with the SPCB and anyone else the Commissioner considers appropriate. This gives the SPCB an opportunity to comment on the strategic objectives and priorities of the Commissioner before a strategic plan is published and laid before the Parliament. Who else it will be appropriate to consult will likely depend on the proposals under consideration.