The primary purpose of this report is to draw on the literature on joint planning focusing on practice in England and Wales with a view to identifying potentially useful lessons which might be of value in a Scottish context. The report is in five sections. Section One provides a general background for joint planning as it has evolved since the mid-1970s; Section Two sets out how theories of how organisations operate can assist in understanding the conditions under which joint planning can either succeed or fail. Section Three examines the principles obstacles encountered in joint planning, and Section Four examines factors making for success in joint planning. Finally, Section Five reviews the implications for policy in the light of the material presented in Sections Two to Four.