FOI Request - Local Development Plan

Request 101003819036

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This request relates to both Local Development Plan (LDP) progress and planning department staffing levels.

1. Local Development Plan (LDP) Progress
a) Has your local authority indicated in any of its six-monthly LDP progress updates to the Scottish Government that it is experiencing delays in preparing its new-style Local Development Plan under the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019?
b) If yes, please provide:
i) The estimated or reported length of the delay.
ii) The reasons given for the delay.
iii) Details of any support, guidance, or resources offered or provided by the Scottish Government to assist your authority in progressing the plan.

2. Planning Department Staffing
a) As of the date of this request, by how many full-time equivalent (FTE) planning officer posts is your planning department currently understaffed, based on your authority’s established or budgeted staffing complement?
b) What is the estimated annual cost (including salary, pension, and other associated employment costs) of filling these vacant planning officer posts to bring the department back to full staffing capacity?
c) If available, please break down the cost estimate by grade or role type, and indicate whether any of the vacancies are currently being covered by agency staff or consultants.