Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart confirms the Scottish government will give careful consideration to setting out the purpose of planning in the Bill.

He warns a checklist could be limiting but he recognises the desire to have an overarching purpose.

The Bill will increase scrutiny of the National Planning Framework to 90 days and I am certain that that is adequate, Mr Stewart insists.

The minister explains he wants a simplistic and easy way for people to get involved in planning.

He argues this cannot be done without decluttering the landscape and reducing the number of plans, including removing the need for strategic development plans.

Turning to rights of appeal, Mr Stewart expresses concern that changing this would act as an disincentive to those wishing to invest in communities and limit engagement at the start of the process.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins wants the statutory purpose on the face of the Bill rather than in policy.

Mr Tomkins says it is right to argue the provisions on Simplified Development Zones must go further.

He says changing the name of of SDZs to Master Plan Development Zones "is not the improvement we are all seeking".

He brands this "Orwellian rebranding of jargonistic gobbledygook".

It is striking how many times members have described this Bill as a missed opportunity, he tells the chamber.

He says it is a mistake to remove Strategic Development Plans from the proposed legislation.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon says it is clear this Bill is "at best underwhelming".

She argues "tinkering around the edge" of the planning system will not resolve the housing "crisis".

Scotland's planning system is permissive, states the Labour MSP, highlighting the number of consents given.

But how many of these planning consents go nowhere, she asks.

She questions the decision to abolish strategic development plans, arguing "it doesn't really make much sense" to make them voluntary.

Turning to equal rights of appeal, Ms Lennon says the imbalance of power between communities and developers is unfair.

We need to look at this more closely, she insists, confirming Scottish Labour will bring forward amendments.

Ms Lennon welcomes the opportunity to work with others to improve the Bill going forward.

Image source, Ronaldo Schemidt AFP

The World Press Photo Exhibition 2018 is coming to the Scottish parliament with some of the most powerful images taken across the globe.

These will include the aftermath of an attack that shook the heart of London; a rioter on fire running from police in Venezuela; a young boy being pulled alive from rubble in Mosul; and concert goers hiding from a gunman at a country music festival in Las Vegas.

Image source, Ami Vitale/National Geography

The free exhibition opens at Holyrood on Wednesday 1 August and will run until Saturday 25 August.

The travelling exhibition includes more than 100 award-winning photos from countries all around the world in what is truly a global exhibition of talents.

The images depict stories from a range of categories including contemporary issues, sport, people and nature.

Image source, Thomas P. Peschak

Announcing the exhibition, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said: “This is press photography at its best and the exhibition captures not just the news events of one year, but all the sorrow and the joy that makes our world."

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party will stand alone against the fundamental principles of this Bill at decision time.

Mr Hamilton argues that ministers and officials are not better placed to make decisions than local councillors.

He says this Bill is "somewhat of a disappointment", born of a review with no real objectives.

The Lib Dem MSP tells the chamber his party has the most problem with centralisation and the National Planning Framework.

He cannot accept the unfettered level of power being taken by the minister in not allowing parliament to amend the NPF.

Image source, bbc

Small music venues are at risk due to rate rises and complaints, according to the UK's first live music census.

The Edinburgh University survey suggested a third of small venues had issues with property development and complaints over noise pollution.

The music census also found that a third of venues felt increases in business rates had a negative impact.

The Scottish government said new planning guidance should help tackle the issue of noise disturbance.

The census found live music contributed £78.8m to Glasgow's economy.

Read more here.

Green MSP Andy Wightman says the planning process is "complex" and the legislation "even more so".

I struggle to define with any clarity what the general principles of this Bill are, he adds.

Mr Wightman welcomes the intention to enshrine the purpose of planning in law.

He expresses disappointment that the national planning framework will not be subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny.

On local place plans, the Green MSP says that without statutory footing these risk raising community expectations.

He also calls for the Bill to be amended to reform the current appeals system.

Planning can and must be a force for good, Mr Wightman states, and he adds that this Bill needs "substantial amendment".

He warns that if this were the final Bill, his party would be voting against it - but as there is room for improvement, the Greens will support the general principles tonight.

Image source, bbc

Ms Lennon raises concerns that the Bill is very difficult to follow, which won't enhance engagement.

The most fundamental flaw in the legislation is that it lacks definition, she says.

The Labour MSP calls for a purpose for the planning system at Stage 2.

Ms Lennon argues: "We have to equalise appeal rights."

This Bill has been a missed opportunity, she says.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon says without planning there would be "chaos", but the system has embedded some inequalities in communities.

It can be improved, she argues.

Planning policy and strategy cannot be looked at in isolation, she adds.

It is about trying to celebrate the culture in our communities, such as protecting grassroots music venues, Ms Lennon explains.

The Labour MSP says we need to get better at explaining what planning is because decisions have an impact on the long-term future.

Mr Simpson tells the chamber there is a deeply worrying section on performance, councillors and training in the Bill.

These are probably the "most Draconian measures" the government wants to impose, he says.

The Tory MSP states the government wants to create a planning performance coordinator who would snitch on councils if they aren't up to scratch.

But what constitutes poor performance is poorly defined and leaves the way open to make planning more political, with ministers being able to order councils to change their ways.

Image source, bbc

For example councils may reject windfarms for good reason, but governments may define that as under-performing he argues.

Mr Simpson tells the chamber the government wants councillors to undergo training but the minister will not do the same.

"The committee thinks this rather barmy idea should be dropped and we agree."

"There is little in this Bill that we like."

The Local government and Communities Committee said the current proposals in the Planning Bill were not enough to soothe frustrations felt by local people over the existing planning system.

They wrote: "It is clear to the committee that many communities feel frustrated by the planning system. Previous attempts to front-load the system have not been successful. The committee is not persuaded that proposals in this bill go far enough to address that."

Image source, bbc

MSPs said that planning appeals "should only be allowed in certain circumstances", and also said there should be rules to "limit or deter" repeat appeals and repeats of applications which have previously been refused.

They also called for a section on monitoring the performance of planning authorities to be scrapped outright, saying there was "no need or justification" for it.

And they called for protection for music venues which ministers have pledged to include in development plans to be added into the legislation.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson recalls his "bruising" time as a councillor, where planning and engagement was frequently on the agenda.

He warns the Planning Bill is "very centralising".

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart points to more decisions being sent to local review bodies, stronger alignment between spacial and community planning, co-production of the NPF and the establishment of Community Place Plans.

"This Bill is a power grab," responds Mr Simpson.

The Tory MSP also questions the purpose of the Bill, arguing it does not contain provisions to build more housing or protect the environment.

He confirms his party will table an amendment to establish a purpose.

Members of the Local Government and Communities Committee questioned powers which would be handed to ministers by the bill, saying it was not clear how or if they would be used.

They wrote that "it is not good legislative practice for powers to be granted only for them to either lie on the statute books unused or for subsequent governments to seek to use them many years later, potentially in ways not originally envisioned.

In particular, MSPs said they were "concerned" about powers the bill would give ministers to redistribute funds from an infrastructure levy around the country, saying funds should be spent in the local areas where they are collected.

Image source, bbc

They suggested adding a "sunset clause" to parts of the bill, so that powers would expire after a certain amount of time if they are not renewed.

Committee convener Bob Doris said: "A clear theme running through our report is the importance of empowering communities to have a meaningful say on the kind of place they want to live in. Communities being able to help shape their area by working with planning authorities early on makes for better places.

"It remains the case that more disadvantaged communities could lose out on shaping their local areas because of a lack of money, time and capacity, which we think may widen inequality. That's why we've called for communities to be supported so that planning works for everyone."