Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group: annual report 2024

Appendix D: PIPAG Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

D.1 Planning Infrastructure & place advisory group (PIPAG)

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted by the Scottish Ministers and published on 13

February 2023, following approval by the Scottish Parliament on 11 January 2023. Published alongside NPF4, the Delivery Programme (version 1 - November 2022) demonstrates the clear ambition to deliver on NPF4. The Delivery Programme will guide how NPF4 will be implemented by all relevant stakeholders.

The Delivery Programme set out an intention to establish a new core advisory group to play a critical role in supporting collaboration, alignment and delivery between planning, infrastructure and place.

D.2 Purpose and objectives

The strategic purpose of the group was agreed at the inception meeting of June 2023 as follows:

“To support joined-up, timeous, place-based delivery of development and infrastructure in Scotland based on data and evidence.”

PIPAG’s objectives are to:

• advise on the delivery of National Planning Framework 4.
• provide strategic input to the development of the next Infrastructure Investment Plan.
• advise on prioritisation and targeting of public and private investment to optimise outcomes and achieve place-based transformational change and identify gaps in funding and finance.
• guide improved alignment and integration of place-based and spatial approaches in public and private sector decision-making; and
• demonstrate what good infrastructure delivery looks like and promote innovation and best practice.

To achieve this, the group will:

• review progress in delivering the spatial strategy, National Developments and national planning policy set out in NPF4.
• visibly champion delivery and challenge decision-makers to consider new ways of working, in the spirit of public service reform.
• identify issues and blockers to development, regeneration and implementation of an infrastructure first approach in practice.
• identify, explore and share solutions and scope for innovation to overcome barriers to development and infrastructure delivery, including by applying the Place Principle in practice; and
• reflect on the impacts and opportunities arising from wider change, including the implications of wider Scottish Government policy and programmes as they evolve.

D.3 Measures of success

• The next Infrastructure Investment Plan reflects the findings of the group.
• Main barriers to development and infrastructure investment have been clarified with available solutions recorded and promoted to the relevant group/stakeholders to mainstream available interventions.

· National Developments are monitored, with both learning and key barriers to delivery tracked, and have informed the work of PIPAG.

D.4 Indicators and Methodology

The agreed indicators for PIPAG’S monitoring and evaluation are set out in Table 8 below.

D.5 Governance & review timeframes

PIPAG is expected to operate to 2025-26 and to align with the preparation of the next Infrastructure Investment Plan. To govern the activities of PIPAG throughout this period, an annual workplan will be developed with measures to demonstrate impact against objectives.

This will include:

• Identifying thematic areas to investigate, prioritised by PIPAG members.
• Agreeing action to further review following initial investigation, whether through a further targeted discussion, Short Life Working Group or onward referral to another governance structure.

There will be an annual report which will provide an opportunity to reflect on the group’s impact and any areas for focus and/or improvement. This report will be refined and reviewed through PIPAG member input, providing oversight and challenge of progress against the agreed objectives.