Letter: Work together to improve planning

I READ CBI Scotland's comments on the planning system with some bemusement and much sadness (Business, 22 August). You would think from the comments made that the CBI were constantly on the phone to Cosla, complaining about planning and seeking ways to resolve the issues as they see them. In fact, despite being offered meetings on several occasions, they have chosen not to discuss their problems with me or my colleagues over the last few years.

You would think that developers were perfect in terms of their engagement with the planning system. In fact, over 30 per cent of applications are delayed simply because developers cannot, or perhaps cannot be bothered to, provide the requisite information. Guess who it is that has to expend unnecessary resources asking them to re-submit?

You would think that businesses would be delighted when their competitor's application is fast-tracked because of its economic and employment benefit. Strangely this doesn't seem to be the case.

Further, I read that the CBI is opposed to even the thought of a council tax rise. Perhaps their bonuses are such that they've missed the financial crisis enveloping the public sector - the same public sector that they came pleading to for support when times for them were at their toughest. Surely the CBI should admire local government's willingness to explore all of the options available to us as we continue to try to protect crucial local services.

But no, the CBI want their cake and to eat it. They want councils, despite facing cuts of a third in resources over the next six years, to continue providing services, including planning, simply for their benefit. I, on the other hand, continue to seek access to the best possible services for all of our communities. Specifically though, I too am seeking qualitative improvements to the new planning system and that is why I spend my time, rather than seeking cheap headlines, working with key people to achieve that. I therefore issue an open invitation to the CBI to sit down with me face to face and let's get a grip of the issues together.

Alison Hay, Cosla Regeneration and Sustainable Development spokesperson, Edinburgh