kintyre56 wrote:I thought I read in the news that Councils were proposing to stop publishing planning applications in the local papers and that they would then only be available on line - sensible for saving money of course but excluding anyone who isn't an internet user.
Hi kintyre56,
The SNP backed down on their plans to remove public information notices from newspapers on Wednesday last week. A sensible move but it did highlight the ridiculous amount of money the Councils pay to the newspapers for public notices. Local newspapers should run more editorials on public notices highlighting Planning Applications instead of merely copying and pasting the notices into their papers and earning a fortune.
The current set-up excludes many who do not purchase local newspapers too and as you touched on earlier on the whole process should be reviewed to ensure more people are aware of public information.
The following article appeared in the Stirling Observer this week.
http://www.stirlingobserver.co.uk/stirl ... -26060055/MINISTERS at Holyrood have backed down over plans to remove public information notices from newspapers such as the Stirling Observer.
Instead, the SNP Government is seeking alternatives to help councils reduce spending on advertising to redirect cash back into services.
The decision was announced this week after Scotland’s newspaper groups, including Observer company Scottish and Universal Newspapers, jointly opposed the move, supported along the way by readers and community councils.
The planned alternative to notices in our pages – using the Internet – was ruled out in the face of this opposition and a lack of support by politicians sitting in Edinburgh.
As things stand public information notices legally have to be published.
During an eight-week consultation, ministers said they had listened to the views of councils, the public, MSPs and the newspaper industry, and had decided not to go ahead with the plan.
But the Scottish Government said it would continue to develop the online advertising portal for the public sector in line with portals such as myjobscotland.gov.uk which advertises public sector jobs.
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, said: “We recognise this decision will be disappointing to councils, who wanted us to take action to help them at a time of spending constraints.
“We will continue working in partnership with local government and the wider public sector to support the use of the on-line portal to supplement newspaper adverts, and help realise the additional benefits offered by the portal to its users.
“But those who have opposed this move must recognise they have a duty to take a constructive role in creating the means by which local authorities can make economies in the future.”
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:36 pm
So you can see it at the following link;