A wide variety of skills are required of individuals delivering planning services. Central to the majority of people’s jobs are generic skills such as team working, written communication, time management, problem solving and customer focus, which are generally well developed, although further development is still required.

Development management skills are the technical skills most required and are also generally well developed. Smaller numbers require specialist technical and management skills. This research sought to identify gaps in skills and knowledge within Scottish planning authorities.

An inception report was produced to guide the project, summarising key issues underpinning the Executive’s modernisation agenda for the statutory planning system and highlighting the skills and knowledge required to achieve this.

The report also summarised other skills reports commissioned by:

The inception report helped frame the survey that was subsequently undertaken, the results of which are contained within this report.

Two principal survey methods were used in the assessment, questionnaires with individuals and interviews with managers. After an initial pilot, a web-based questionnaire was distributed to all staff working within the core planning services of the 34 Scottish planning authorities and the 2 structure plan teams.

Senior planning managers were interviewed in 29 authorities, to supplement the individual surveys with a more strategic view of the skills base and training priorities. Overall, 661 individuals completed a web-based survey, a 45% completion rate across a cross-section of staff.

There is a wide range of topics that staff and managers have identified as priorities for training and development, which are not so well developed:

A lack of opportunity was identified as the great majority of authorities operate a staff appraisal system, but not all systems are working as well as they should.

Staff also identified barriers to training and development eg workloads. Methods of training delivery and their effectiveness were also raised, along with the potential effects of planning reform on people's daily jobs.

Asset Skills
enquiries@assetskills.org

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/01/2007

Herriot-Watt University in conjunction with Oxford Brookes University

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment

Urban economy, Training