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Neighbour notification is only one of the publicity and consultation requirements associated with planning applications and is intended for those in the immediate vicinity of a proposed development. Others include a statutory requirement for pre-application consultation for certain categories of development, publication of weekly lists of planning applications, consultation with community councils and advertisement in a local newspaper in certain circumstances.

There is no standard buffer zone in operation between quarries and occupied residential housing. Where required, planning authorities may apply a buffer zone according to the circumstances of individual proposals.

If there are conditions or restrictions associated with a planning permission that an operation may only take place within or outwith certain hours, then operations which do not comply with these limitations may constitute a breach of planning control.

Decisions on whether there has been a breach of planning control and the action to remedy that breach are for the planning authority in the first instance.

Scottish Planning Policy states that authorities should not impose standard buffer zones between sites and settlements since distances will need to take account of the specific circumstances of individual proposals including size, duration, location, method of working, topography and the characteristics of the various environmental effects likely to arise and the mitigation that can be implemented.

Unless otherwise agreed by the planning authority, commencing operations at a time outside that specified by a planning condition or agreement is likely to constitute a breach of planning control.

Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority in the first instance. There is a wide range of enforcement powers in planning legislation. These include issuing a notice requiring the submission of a retrospective planning application and requiring the cessation of operations or the demolition of buildings.

Planning authorities have discretion to determine what power, or combination of powers, to use in any particular situation.

Agreements will be reached in line with guidance from the Early Years Taskforce.

The final breakdowns across portfolios and over time will be subject to local decisions between delivery partners.

COSLA, the third sector and NHS Scotland are all represented on the Early Years Task Force, which will oversee the use of the Early Years and Early Intervention Change Fund. The first meeting of the task force was held on 8 November 2011, as part of the ongoing discussion on how best to lead and implement a preventative spend approach in Scotland.