Information Bulletin
17 March 2005
Planning Service Website A Hit
Shetland Islands Council has received a Commendation for Outstanding Performance and Quality for Development Control. The award was given for the Planning Service website, which allows anyone with access to the internet to examine and comment on planning applications as well as read the Council’s planning policies on-line.
The award was presented by Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities, at a ceremony in Edinburgh. In introducing the nomination, Jim McKinnon, Chief Planner for Scotland, commended the Council’s Planning and Information Technology Services in producing an effective system on a small budget.
The judging panel, which consisted of Joan Birnie, Paul Gregory and Fiona Moriarty commented:
"We were given a very clear and focused presentation. We were extremely impressed that such an efficient system could be set up with a small budget and considered it to be an example for other authorities. The value of the website to remote and island communities is particularly commendable. Overall, we considered the website to provide an excellent service and value for money."
Councillor Iris Hawkins, Council Spokesperson on Planning, said: “I’m delighted to learn of the commendation. This service has proved very popular since its introduction, in fact I understand that it usually receives more hits per day than any other part of the Council’s website apart from the home page. The fact that it has been done so economically is especially impressive.”
Alastair Hamilton, the SIC’s Head of Planning, said: “I want to congratulate and thank those involved in the creation of the website, Iain McDiarmid and Dawn Stewart of our Planning Control service and Michael Coutts, Internet Project Manager. They’ve come up with an imaginative solution that performs well and they’ve done so at minimal cost.”
The Planning Service website can be viewed at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/planning/.
ENDS
Note to Editors
A photograph (High Resolution) is attached.
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A suitable caption would be:
Iain McDiarmid, Planning Control Manager for Shetland Islands Council, receives the commendation from Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities.
The photo credit should read ‘Photo courtesy of The Scottish Executive’ or similar.
Further Information: Iain McDiarmid, 01595 744813