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1) Scottish Executive SEA Pathfinder Project
SEA Pathfinder Newsletter (July 2008)
Research Project Overview Report(August 2005)
The Scottish Executive is currently undertaking a review of current SEA practice in Scotland, known as the SEA Pathfinder Project. The research stage of the SEA Pathfinder Project is being led by EnviroCentre in partnership with Collingwood Environmental Planning.
The aim of the Pathfinder Project is to develop good SEA practice by examining, and learning from current practice in Scotland. During the lifespan of the Project, our SEA Pathfinder Newsletter will provide progress updates at key stages.
The Pathfinder Project is highly collaborative and is centred on a close working partnership between the Scottish Executive, a specialist EnviroCentre team, Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Environment Protection Agency; CoSLA and a number of Responsible Authorities. The Pathfinder Project will learn about current practice by examining up to 8 SEA case studies which have been volunteered by a number of Responsible Authorities. To date, these include:-
- Cairngorms National Park
- The Forestry Commission
- South Ayrshire Council
- West Dunbartonshire Council
- West Lothian Council
- The Orkney Islands Council
- Fife Council
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The Pathfinder Project is breaking new ground in many ways. Its collaborative approach is new and is in accordance with Scottish Executive policy on engaging stakeholders in the development of policy and practice. In addition, the Project has commissioned innovative bespoke research methods and SEA assessment criteria which are to be developed by EnviroCentre. To the best of our knowledge, the detailed assessment criteria which are under development are a new departure in the field of SEA assessment.
Further information on the overall aims of the project can be found by reading the Research Project Overview Report.
When assessing case studies' SEA performance, the focus will be on a wide variety of issues including:
- Quality and consistency of SEA processes and procedures
- Access to information, guidance an training
- Information sharing (e.g. within and between Responsible Authorities)
- Role of the SEA Gateway
- Role of the Consultation Authorities
- Quality of guidance (including the new Scottish Executive SEA templates)
- SEA integration within strategy/plan/programme preparation process
- Capacity building and practical application of guidance/ templates.
The above information is being collected through a series of evaluation pro-formas which the case studies complete themselves at the appropriate stage of their SEA. This information is complemented by a combination of formal and informal interviews, and desk-based evaluation of SEA documents. The SEA Pathfinder Case Study Evaluation pro-formas (below) have been designed to assist with the evaluation of current SEA practice in Scotland in collaboration with case study organisations. They aim to support identification of key issues and recommendations for development of good practice.
NB:These evaluation pro-formas should not be used as a checklist for compliance with SEA legislation. They have not been developed to focus on legal requirements.
Pro-forma 1: Background Information for Case Studies
Pro-forma 2: Preparation for Case Study set up meeting
Pro-forma 3: Screening Stage
Pro-forma 4: Scoping Stage
Pro-forma 5: Preparing the Environmental Report
Pro-forma 6: Consultation & Decision-Making
Pro-forma 7: Monitoring & Implementation
Pro-forma 8: Involvement in SEA
| Project Timescales |
Project Outputs |
Project Outcomes |
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The Research Stage of the SEA Pathfinder Project will take approximately 3 years (from 11th July 2005 to 31st March 2008). |
Include:
1) SEA Case study reports
2) Overall Research Findings Report including;
i) conclusions as to where improvements can be made in SEA practice
ii) recommendations as to what actions may be taken to facilitate improvements in those areas
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The desired outcome of the Pathfinder Project is that SEA practice will improve across Scotland as a result of the Project findings. |
2) SNIFFER: Practical SEA Guidance for Practitioners on How to Take Account of Air, Water & Soil (current)
EnviroCentre, in partnership with Collingwood Environmental Planning and the Scottish Institute of Sustainable Technology (SISTech), is currently developing Practical Strategic Environmental Assessment guidance for practitioners on how to take account of air, water and soil for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). The proposed guidance will encourage good practice by providing advice on environmental objectives in relation to soil, water, and air within the overall context of sustainable development.
A consultation period on the draft guidance began following two launch events in Edinburgh (9th June) and Belfast (11th June). The consultation is open for two months with draft Air, Soil and Water Guidance documents available from the SNIFFER "What's New" webpage (www.sniffer.org)
The consultation closes on 11th August 2008 and the final guidance documents will be launched in Edinburgh and Belfast in October abd November this year.
3) Scottish Enterprise: SEA of Strategic Investment Plan
EnviroCentre is currently supporting Scottish Enterprise for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Strategic Investment Plan.
4) South Lanarkshire Council: Lanarkshire Tourism Action Plan SEA (current)
EnviroCentre, with support from CAG Consultants, is currently supporting South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Lanarkshire Tourism Action Plan.
5) Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company: Business Plan / Master Plan SEA (current)
EnviroCentre, in partnership with Collingwood Environmental Planning, is currently supporting the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (Irvine Bay URC) for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their Business Plan / Master Plan. The Master Plan produced by Irvine Bay URC includes a draft framework for five Town Plans within the Irvine Bay area; Irvine, Kilwinning, Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan.
6)Deer Commission for Scotland: Management Strategy for Wild Deer SEA
EnviroCentre in partnership with Collingwood Environmental Planning, is currently supporting the development of the SEA for the Scottish Executive's Management Strategy for Wild Deer; led by the Deer Commission for Scotland in partnership with SEERAD, the Forestry Commission for Scotland and SNH.
7) Fife Council: State of the Environment Report
EnviroCentre, in partnership with C4S (part of TRL), prepared the Take a Pride in Fife State of the Environment Report detailing the current state of Fife's environment using existing national and local indicators. The State of the Environment Report will provide a baseline for undertaking SEA within Fife Council and enable monitoring of the Take a Pride in Fife initiative (TAPIF).
8) Fife Council: SEA Framework Implementation
EnviroCentre, in partnership with Collingwood Environmental Planning, assisted Fife Council in the implementation of their SEA framework. Key aspects of this project involved production of a Baseline Environmental and Methodology Report and a guidance 'toolkit' to set out standard practice for SEA within Fife Council. The EnviroCentre team also provided SEA training and awareness-raising for Council staff.
9) SEPA: SEA Verification for Lothian and Borders & Glasgow and Clyde Valley Area Waste Plan Alterations
EnviroCentre provided SEPA with an independent verification of the SEA for the Lothian and Borders & Glasgow and Clyde Valley Area Waste Plan Alterations. The alternatives generated by SEPA for the SEA of the Area Waste Plans were reviewed, taking into account the results of analysis of relevant baseline information and the record of the SEA process presented within the draft Environmental Reports.
10 ) CAG Consult for West Dunbartonshire Council: Community Plan SEA Environmental Baseline
EnviroCentre (sub-contractors to CAG Consultants) contributed to the SEA Scoping and Environmental Reports for the West Dunbartonshire Council Community Plan SEA. This involved production of draft indicators and baseline environmental information for the Scoping Report, and collation and analysis of baseline information and production of baseline report for the Environmental Report.
11) Borders Council: SEA Capacity Building & Training
EnviroCentre supported the Scottish Border Council with internal capacity building, including provision of SEA implementation training and awareness-raising for Council staff.
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