The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Chapter 1: Introduction to the SEA Tool Kit

This flow chart sets out the key topics covered by this Tool Kit. The chapter you are now reading is highlighted.

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Purpose of the Scottish Executive SEA Tool Kit
• Background to strategic environmental assessment in Scotland
• Structure and contents of the Tool Kit
• Equality statement
• How to keep up to date with amendments to the Tool Kit

Welcome to the Scottish Executive SEA Tool Kit, the primary purpose of which is to provide practical guidance on the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 ('the Act').

Acknowledgements

1.1.1 The Scottish Executive wishes to acknowledge the wide range of organisations and individuals who have provided invaluable assistance during the development of this Tool Kit, including: Historic Scotland; the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA); Scottish Natural Heritage ( SNH); Council of Scottish Local Authorities ( CoSLA); Department for Communities and Local Government ( DCLG); Levett-Therivel Sustainability Consultants; NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Health Impact Assessment Network; and Cooper, L. M. (2004) Guidelines for Cumulative Effects Assessment in SEA of Plans,EPMG Occasional Paper 04/ LMC/ CEA, Imperial College London.

1.1.2 This Tool Kit draws on "A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive" (developed jointly by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ( ODPM, now DCLG), Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland, Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government. This Guidance, referred to herein as the ' SEA Practical Guide' ( ODPM et al, September 2005) is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1501988

Purpose of the Scottish Executive SEA Tool Kit

1.1.3 The Scottish Executive SEA Tool Kit provides comprehensive coverage and supports the commitment made by the Scottish Ministers to provide guidance on the Act.

1.1.4 The Tool Kit is designed to be comprehensive, but can only be considered as guidance and is not a substitute for the Act. Responsible Authorities who are in any doubt about compliance should refer to the Act or seek their own legal advice.

1.1.5 Specific guidance has been developed for certain types of plans, programmes and strategies ( PPS), to date land use ¹ and spatial planning and transport planning ². Users should refer primarily to the relevant specific guidance when preparing those PPS.

Background to strategic environmental assessment in Scotland

1.1.6 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 establishes a new framework for Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) in Scotland. SEA is a key component of sustainable development, establishing important methods for protecting the environment and extending opportunities for participation in public policy decision-making. SEA achieves this by:

• systematically assessing and monitoring the significant environmental effects of qualifying PPS;
• ensuring that expertise and views are sought at various points in the process from SNH, SEPA, Historic Scotland and the public; and
• requiring a public statement as to how the Environmental Report and the consultation comments have been taken into account

1.1.7 Scotland has in place a comprehensive SEA regime that represents a decisive step forward in environmental protection. In complying with the Act, Responsible Authorities ³ should also be aware that they must comply with European Directive 2001/42/EC (the ' SEA Directive'). The Act is the transposing legislation in Scotland, having replaced the Scottish Regulations. However, UK Regulations remain in force for certain UK-wide plans and programmes, and guidance on these is available in the SEA Practical Guide ( ODPM et al, September 2005). http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1501988

1.1.8 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 identifies three Consultation Authorities, who are: Scottish Natural Heritage ( SNH), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA) and the Scottish Ministers (Historic Scotland) ⁴. These three bodies were designated Consultation Authorities because of their environmental expertise.

Structure and contents of the Tool Kit

1.1.9 The Tool Kit comprises two main components, SEA guidance and SEA templates. The Tool Kit can be accessed via the Scottish Executive webpage (link below). Modifications to the Tool Kit will also be made available on this website for practitioners to print http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/SustainableDevelopment/14587

1.1.10 The Tool Kit reflects commitments made by the Scottish Ministers to provide guidance on particular issues and aims to meet a variety of customer needs, ranging from the individual with a general interest to practitioners carrying out an SEA.

1.1.11 The Tool Kit includes a set of SEA templates for practitioners, which offers a guide on the structure of the SEA documentation. To meet practitioner needs, two sets of templates have been included - one set with guidance notes and the other without. A CD with the SEA templates is included with the Tool Kit and is attached to the inside of the front cover. The templates may also be downloaded from the SEA webpage.

1.1.12 Each chapter of the Tool Kit is designed to stand alone. The purpose of this modular approach is to allow the reader to focus quickly on the area which best meets their needs. A full list of the chapters in the Tool Kit is provided at the start of this guidance.

Equality statement

1.1.13 SEA activities must comply with statutory requirements relating to equal opportunities (see Chapter 13, paragraph 13.3.19).

1.1.14 In particular, Responsible Authorities are encouraged to:

• include equality groups and groups who may be at risk of exclusion in their consultation, and to do so in a manner which lowers barriers to effective participation;
• refer to relevant publications when considering equality issues such as:
  "Equality in Scotland - Guide to data sources" - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/egds/egds.pdf
  The Scottish Executive Equality Strategy http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/social/wtem-00.asp
• provide documents in diverse formats and languages, at no extra cost and in such a way as to ensure the consultation period is not cut short for users of any such material.

How to keep up to date with amendments to the Tool Kit

1.1.15 The Scottish Executive SEA Gateway will amend the webpage version of the Tool Kit as required. All amended pages inserted into the Tool Kit will include a footnote stating the amendment version and date. When amendments are issued, they will be added to the list below.

« Previous | Contents | Next »