What its position is on the importance of the planning gain mechanism to local authorities in developing their communities.

Planning gain or developer contributions are generally obtained through the use of planning agreements. Planning agreements have a limited but useful role to play in the development management process where they can be used to overcome obstacles to the grant of planning permission.
Scottish Government policy on the use of planning agreements is set out in the recently published Planning Circular 1/2010: Planning Agreements.
Planning Circular 1/2010: Planning Agreements can be viewed on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/27103054/0.