6. Monitoring the plan and territorial observatories

Another basic problem consists of monitoring the development of the plan, whether inside, outside or on the margin of the planning. Given the speed with which some territories are changing these days, this issue has become a key one. In many cases it is essential to turn to what are known as territorial observatories, which perform ongoing real-time monitoring of the evolution of the plan in relation to the changes occurring in the territory in question as a whole (municipal district, group of districts, island, etc.) and its built stock with all the attendant rights. These observatories should have a certain decision-making capacity regarding specific determinations, for which they would have directly links not only with political and social actors but also with society itself. These means finding ways to introduce means of social participation into them, so that the decisions made are not only technical ones. Their mission should probably not be limited to monitoring but also include within their remit an educational role, such that they are the bodies responsible for explaining the plan to the public, together with its progress and the consequences of taking certain decisions. This educational mission of the observatories would be a fundamental one to ensure that the public-participation process is more than merely superficial, as it is at present. They should have a certain amount of independence, because in many cases several municipal districts would fall within their ambit of action. The could also be set up as the official entities responsible not only for monitoring and managing the plans but also for drafting tem. They would also, by means of the relevant impact indicators obtained, perform continuous assessment of the specific measures taken to achieve the long-term objectives.