Edinburgh agglomeration: noise action plan

4. Governance of Noise Action Planning

4.1 Competent Authority

The Scottish Government is the Competent Authority for END in Scotland.

4.2 Scottish Environmental Noise Steering Group ( SENSG)

Delivery of the END Directive objectives in Scotland has been achieved through extensive partnership working. Scottish Government has assumed responsibility for co-ordination of the noise mapping and action planning exercises but this has been heavily supported by individual working groups dealing with each of the agglomerations, major airports and other transport systems. These working groups have benefited from a multi disciplinary membership including Local Authorities, other agencies and key partners.

The Scottish Environmental Noise Steering Group ( SENSG) comprises representation from organisations with varying responsibility for environmental noise, namely the Scottish Government, AECOM, Local Authorities, SEPA, Transport Scotland and airport operators. SENSG provides a forum for discussion on progression of the Noise Action Planning progression, with the governance arrangement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: END Governance Arrangements in Scotland

4.3 Edinburgh Agglomeration Noise Working Group

Production of the Edinburgh Noise Action Plan was overseen by the Edinburgh Noise Working Group (under the auspice of SENSG) and comprised The City of Edinburgh Council (chair), Midlothian Council, East Lothian Council and AECOM. The principle objective of the Edinburgh Noise Working Group was to comply with END and the Scottish Regulations in order to 'produce an Edinburgh Noise Action Plan containing clear tangible actions via collaboration and partnering'.