Stakeholder Engagement

5.1 Overview

5.1.1

Engaging with Consultation Authorities from the beginning of the SEA process is important as each organisation brings their individual environmental expertise to the assessment process and ensures that the consultation process undertaken by a Responsible Authority is more robust. This in turn means that the public can gain a better understanding of the likely effect of a plan on the environment and meaningfully contribute to the plan’s preparation process by offering an informed view (Scottish Government, 2013).

5.1.2

Consultation with the wider public is also undertaken at different stages in the SEA and is crucial for ensuring transparency in the SEA decision-making process.

5.2 Environmental Steering Group

5.2.1

An Environmental Steering Group (ESG) has been established for the A96 Corridor Review. The ESG members and terms of reference broadly follow the approach taken for other Transport Scotland projects, such as the A9 and A96 dualling programmes and their respective SEAs. The first ESG (virtual) meeting took place on 22 April 2022.

5.2.2

The ESG members comprise the following organisations:

  • Transport Scotland;
  • Jacobs / AECOM;
  • The SEA Statutory Consultation Authorities (NatureScot, HES, SEPA);
  • Scottish Forestry;
  • Local council representatives.

5.2.3

The ESG aims to:

  • provide an opportunity for participating organisations to influence the A96 Corridor Review and review emerging design proposals;
  • facilitate efficient and effective two-way communication between the A96 Corridor Review project team and the organisations participating in the group;
  • provide an opportunity for the organisations participating in the group to discuss any issues relevant to the A96 Corridor Review and SEA.

5.3 Wider Engagement and Public Consultation

5.3.1

Consultation specific to the SEA is required at several stages in line with the Scottish Government’s SEA Guidance (2013). As a minimum, the SEA Consultation Authorities listed in Section 1.5.6 are consulted on the need for SEA and the scope of the SEA. The findings of the assessment are outlined in the Environmental Report and a public consultation on the plan (in this case the Corridor Review) and the report must be carried out before any plan can be adopted. The principal consultation requirements are outlined in Figure 5.1.

Step one

Decision on scope and level of detail of assessment

Consultation requirements

Consult consultation authorities (five week statutory minimum)

Step two

Environmental report and draft plan or programme

Consultation requirements

  • Consult consultation authorities (six-eight weeks)
  • Consult the public

Step three

During preparation of plan or programme

Consultation requirements

Take account of Environmental Report and opinions expressed (produce second draft of Environmental Report that incorporates these changes)

Step four

Adopted plan or programme: statement and measures concerning monitoring.

Consultation requirements

    • Consult consultation authorities
    • Consult the public
Figure 5.1: SEA Consultation Requirements. Adapted from European Commission guidance, paragraph 7.2, and ODPM (2005): A Practical Guide to the SEA Directive (Fig. 3, p.17)