SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

The main strengths of the planning system lie in the increased responsibility of themunicipalities for planning, initiatives and competences within different planning functions.At the same time many of the large number of municipalities in Iceland presents a challengeas the municipalities are small, with 2800 inhabitants on average (72 of the municipalities haveless than 1000 inhabitants), but all have same responsibility with regard to planning. Thenumerous local authorities in Iceland experiences difficulties in meeting the demands thatwere laid upon them with regard to increasing demands, both with regard to service, livingconditions and economic aspects. Another challenge laid upon the authorities is theincreasing demands to professionalism and procedural formality in governing. Many of themunicipalities have small authorities and low level of professionals. Increasingly inflexible andcomplicated rules for public governing present a challenge to small administrative units wherecommon sense has been used to tackle problems that appear on the surface. (Kristinsson,2002). At the same time does that state participate in public service to a greater extent inIceland than the Scandinavian countries (Kristinsson 2002). The state level is responsible for2/3 of public services in Iceland, while the figure is only 1/3 in Scandinavia. Howeversignificant development has taken place during the last decade with regard to the merging oflocal authorities, from 171 municipalities in 1994 to 79 municipalities in 2006(www.samband.is, 8 th December 2006).The two-tiered administration, i.e. the national and the municipal levels with regard tostatutory planning gives a good overview of the whole of the country and the relationshipwith the municipalities. The comprehensive municipal plan remains the most importantplanning instruments, with the largest geographical coverage, the clearest responsibility ofrole and functions as well as the longest experience. However, although the Planning andBuilding Act requires that municipal comprehensive plans shall be prepared so that the coverall the municipalities, there are still areas that are not covered by such as plan. However, thereare some aspects that are unclear with regard to the mandate and the instruments at thenational level, as well as the increased responsibility for planning at the municipal level wherethe role of the state has become more reactive, and limited to adoption of regional, municipaland local plans. The current Planning and Building Act no. 73/1997 opens up the possibilityof planning at the national level (Articles 11 and 15) which is an initiative that is likely to bestrengthened with the on-going revision of the planning legislation. Regarding other planninginstruments, the regional planning level is still under development with regard to the mainactors and their roles. The special planning committee that was established for planning ofthe central highland has been questioned with regard to the main actors, interests anddemocratic aspects. Another important issue raised in an analysis of the Icelandic Planningsystem, carried out by the Planning Agency (2003), is the need for coordination between thedifferent levels of statutory plans (tiering).5.7 Linkages to other environmental planning initiatives - sustainabledevelopmentStrategic Environmental assessment is introduced to a context of on-going work within theframework of Sustainable Development at both the national and municipal levels. The workcarried out at the national level includes an action plan and a strategy for sustainabledevelopment. At the municipal level, much of the work has been carried out as a part ofLocal Agenda 21, and a formation of sustainable development policies has in many instancesbeen integrated in the municipal comprehensive plan. According to the Ministry of theEnvironment (2003), the work carried out at the municipal level particularly in relation to theformation of sustainable development policies under the label of Local Agenda 21, has raisedawareness at the municipal level of environmental issues (Ministry for the Environment2003).75