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Planning and Regulations

Mike StewartHead of Service: Mick Stewart

Planning, Regulation and Countryside predominantly looks towards the future and plans for the area which we want. Major lead responsibilities include looking at the housing services and jobs to meet the growth of the area, and ensuring that the infrastructure to make the future City and surrounding area can work.
This involves working closely with the Roads and Transport division, other Council Services and many outside agencies.

The Scottish Government, through the National Planning Framework plans for the future of Scotland and Stirling, as one of the cities, plays an important role in the vision for Scotland. To ensure that development accords with the plan involves us in being both proactive in encouraging the right developments and infrastructure provision, and in regulating the activities of others, especially the private sector development industry. The regulation of planning development quality and building standards is done within this part of the Service.

However, regulation does not just relate to new development and the built and natural environment, but also for example to ensure that public health and the public safety are also safeguarded. The Food Safety and Community Health and Safety teams, operating within a framework of environmental health legislation carry this out. We also have Trading Standards who provide a fair and safe trading environment for consumers and businesses operating within the Stirling Council area. There is also the Licensing Team who implement the policy and processing of the Council's  licensing functions under the Local Government Act and other legislation. There is often common ground between the various parts of Planning and Regulation and the grouping of these functions allows for closer working and improved customer focus.

The economic Development team are also based with this part of the service and provide a range of services geared to promoting the growth of the local economy; supplying local and new businesses with advice and guidance; generating greater opportunities for people to move unto work; maximising the benefits of tourism and promoting rural development initiatives.