Working Groups and Time Frame

The working groups comprise approximately 10-15 individuals. Each working group has been assigned a Chair who is a member of the SLA Executive Committee and a Deputy Chair and Secretary from other members of the working group.

Working groups are meeting frequently (4-6 weeks intervals) for a period of 6 months. A joint meeting to share progress and experience will be held in November 2019. The Executive Committee will oversee collation of the working group reports for final publication in February 2020.

In order to provide some consistency of approach each group will be asked to address the following questions within their agreed priority topic areas:

1. What does landscape contribute to this function?
   • What more could it contribute?
   • Are there good examples of this contribution in action (here or elsewhere)?
2. What is currently shaping (impacting) our landscape?
   • Are there other emergent forces/agendas that we should monitor/address?
3. Where does landscape fit within policy for your area of discussion?
   • How is landscape defined?
   • In what context(s) is landscape referenced?
4. What are our recommendations and future agenda for landscape policy in Scotland?

Each of the groups will also be tasked with exploring from the perspective of their ‘function’:

1. the role of landscape in placemaking (including the contribution of culture and design to the development and sustaining of high quality places)
2. the importance of stewardship and management to sustaining landscapes and places (including the current and potential roles for communities)

Membership is open to any organisation or individual with relevant knowledge and experience. Chairs are appointed by the Executive Committee. The Chairs of the working groups are responsible for ensuring there is appropriate balance of knowledge and experience including representation from third sector, private, community and public sectors.

Three time-limited working groups have been established. The scope of their work is framed by an overarching principle of landscape and placemaking for public benefit and underpinned by recognition of the need for effective stewardship and management of landscape and place.

It is difficult to draw clear boundaries around issues, but to make the work more manageable three streams of ‘health’, ‘environmental resilience’ and ‘economy’ have been identified.

Within these broad themes, it will be for the working groups to decide on which specific topics they will focus.

To help with this process, the SLA commissioned two pieces of research: ‘Issues and Challenges Facing Scotland’s Landscapes’ and ‘Current Policy and Legislative Framework for Landscape in Scotland.’

The working groups will comprise approximately 10-15 individuals . Each working group has been assigned a Chair who is a member of the SLA Executive Committee. The Chair may select a Deputy Chair and Secretary from other members of the working group. Working groups are expected to meet frequently (4-6 weeks intervals) for a period of 6 months. All three working groups came together in November to share progress and experience. Chairs update the Executive Committee at their quarterly meetings. The Executive Committee will oversee collation of the working group reports for final publication in February/March 2020.