Annual Sustainable Development Progress Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 20 August 2025
Back to Climate Change and Sustainability Committee — 20 August 2025 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Climate Change and Sustainability Date of Meeting: 20 August 2025 Report Title: Annual Sustainable Development Progress Update Report Number: 25/205 Report Author: Angela Harris, Sustainable Development Officer Organisational Lead: Fraser Crofts, Strategic Lead – Environment and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to provide members with an update on Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) progress towards delivering Sustainable Development to fulfil its reporting duties, in line with Best Value requirements. It reviews overall performance and progress in relation to the areas for improvement 2024/25, as detailed in the Sustainable Development Performance Report previously approved by the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee in February 2023 (Report No. 23/45 refers). 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation(s) 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues 5. Proposals 6. Conclusion 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendices 2. Recommendation It is recommended that the Committee: - 2.1 Notes the updated performance position for the Council’s compliance with the Best Value Sustainable Development duty and the continued contribution Perth and Kinross is making towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Quality of Life Indicators Dashboard.
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3. Background/Context 3.1 The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 introduced a statutory framework for Best Value. It places a duty on all local authorities in Scotland to secure Best Value while discharging their duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development. 3.2 In February 2023, the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee approved the Sustainable Development Performance Report (Report No. 23/45 refers), which highlighted the Council’s existing performance and progress in accordance with revised statutory guidance. The report also included a number of proposals for main areas of focus for sustainable development in 2023/24. 3.3 A further report on Sustainable Development Performance covering the period 2023/24 was approved by the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee in February 2024, detailing progress made towards the areas of focus proposed previously. 3.4 An update on the performance and progress of outstanding actions from the areas of focus is included in Appendix 1. 4. Main Issues 4.1 This report covers the progress made towards the Best Value Sustainable Development duty from February 2024 onwards. The key points are summarised below. 4.2 Perth and Kinross Council continues to make steady progress in delivering sustainable development in compliance with the Best Value statutory guidance. There is a clear commitment to sustainable development as reflected in strategic priorities and objectives. This commitment is also represented by elected members and senior management adopting an integrated approach towards the impacts of decision-making on the delivery of sustainable development. Effective partnership working and engagement with stakeholders is helping to promote sustainable development within the community to raise awareness and encourage a shift towards more sustainable behaviours. Processes have been established and implemented to ensure sustainable development principles are integrated into all Council corporate and service level plans, as well as to increase awareness of sustainable development through operational practices. 4.3 The Impact and Value Assessment (IVA) was launched in May 2023 to screen the development of proposals (such as projects, strategies, policies and frameworks) against statutory and non-statutory environmental, social and economic requirements. In the 2023/24 Sustainable Development Performance Report (Report No. 24/55 refers) there was recognition that further work needed to be done to mainstream the IVA as a key stage of proposal development across the Council.
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In particular, work needed to be undertaken with Democratic Services to replace the existing Committee Report Annex template with a hyperlinked IVA summary report. 4.4 In January 2025, the IVA was included as a mandatory section of the updated Committee Report template. In the previously used annex, a report writer had to complete a number of different sections relating to impact assessments. Now by completing a single IVA form, an assessment report is automatically generated by pulling answered information directly from the form. At the same time, designated subject lead officers are alerted if an impact relating to their subject has been identified, allowing for further scrutiny, feedback, mitigation and improvement. 4.5 Another benefit to this approach allows for the report writer to be directed to the correct level of statutory assessment for both Equality and Fairness Assessment (EFIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). An Impact and Value Assessment page has been set up on the Council’s website to upload and view these reports. 4.6 The IVA process captures data in relation to the different impact assessments being screened for. From the implementation period January to June 2025, a total of 95 IVA reports were submitted through the committee process, with 28 reports representing a new policy or a change to an existing policy document. 4.7 Between January to June 2025, the IVA process identified a total of 183 climate change impacts. Impact identified Climate Change theme Positive Mixed Negative Business, Industry and Supply Chains 36 3 0 Energy, Buildings and Infrastructure 25 3 0 Land Use and Land-Use Change 18 1 0 Transport and Connectivity 46 2 0 Waste and the Circular Economy 15 1 0 Climate Resilience and Engagement 30 0 1 TOTAL 170 12 1 4.8 Some examples of likely positive climate change impacts recorded include: Supporting businesses through grant funding to minimise environmental impacts and promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and promoting sustainable construction skills to support skills and green jobs Encouraging sustainable and eco-tourism where activities seek to have a minimal impact on the environment and climate change – for example, tourism businesses seeking to reduce transport and encourage active travel, use renewable energy, conserve water and reduce waste
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Supporting nature-based businesses as part of the sustainable tourism economy – for example, fisheries by installing and repairing structures such as fish ladders to help with spawning, together with restocking of fish. Supporting the funding of riparian restoration and invasive species control projects to improve water quality by reducing pollutants and sedimentation, benefitting aquaculture and fisheries by providing healthier habitats for fish and other aquatic organisms Enhancing carbon sequestration through tree planting and woodland creation projects, while supporting local forestry-based businesses in providing timber and non-timber forest products Improving climate resilience in buildings through carbon assessment, building to energy reduction standards and installing energy efficiency measures – for example, the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre Implementing regulations to support the work of current allotment sites to cultivate otherwise disused areas of Greenspace and provide a habitat for increased biodiversity as well as diversifying soil organisms to create healthier and more resilient soils, while raising community awareness around sustainable crop production and food growing Reducing overall CO2 for the Council by using green fuels or electric vehicles and investigating new technologies for fleet utilisation Planning for the construction of new active travel infrastructure to allow people to use cycling, walking and wheel for everyday journeys - reducing the overall business carbon footprint by allowing businesses to use alternative modes of transport to delivery or receive goods, for example cargo bikes School exclusion zones encouraging and making it safer for active travel to and from schools and businesses will have a positive impact on low carbon economy Funding to support projects contributing to the circular economy – such as community fridge and allotments projects to help reduce food waste and encourage tool repair, encouraging reuse of school uniforms and renovating bicycles to promote active travel Supporting nature restoration projects with volunteer engagement that educates and empowers communities about biodiversity, conservation, and climate resilience. 4.9 Under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Council is required to carry out an assessment of the effects of a proposed plan, programme or strategy (PPS) on the environment (SEA).
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4.10 Through branched questioning, the IVA determines the level of assessment likely to be required. If significant positive or negative environmental effects are likely, a full SEA is required. If the IVA determines that the proposal is either exempt (civil emergency plans, financial or budgetary plans, or plans relating to an individual school) or does not qualify for the screening process, the proposal must still consider any likely impact to the natural environment (air and water quality; land, landscape and soil quality; and biodiversity, habitats, flora and fauna). 4.11 Between January to June 2025, the IVA process identified 4 pre-screening assessments had been undertaken with no likely environmental effects identified, 1 screening assessment with no significant environmental effects identified, and 1 full SEA to be undertaken for the Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy. 4.12 Of those proposals that were exempt or didn’t qualify for SEA, 5 identified likely positive effects towards the natural environment, including enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem health, contributing to species conservation and ecosystem resilience, encouraging sustainable land management practices, and commitment to maintaining wholesome water supplies, improving air quality and remediating contaminated land. No negative impacts were identified. 4.13 Under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, the Council has a duty to consider sustainable procurement as part of the procurement process. The Council is required to consider how in conducting the procurement process it can ‘improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the authority's area’. 4.14 Between January to June 2025, the IVA process identified a total of 18 positive impacts, with 4 promoting social wellbeing, 9 environmental wellbeing and 5 economic wellbeing. Examples include implementing regulations that support biodiversity through the procurement and use of peat free compost (as well as composting organic waste materials on site) to reduce the extraction of peat as well as reducing the practice of removing topsoil from other areas of land and prioritising the procurement of goods and materials from sustainable sources that do not harm vulnerable ecosystems – for example, only purchasing biodegradable tree tubes. No negative impacts were identified. 5. Proposals 5.1 The main area of focus for 2025/26 will be to maximise the efficiency of the IVA process by improving the internal consultation and feedback system triggered when an impact is identified.
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5.2 Action 1.2.2 of Appendix 1 - ‘training for members and senior management on how to use the IVA for more effective scrutiny of sustainable development’, has been unable to progress while waiting for the Committee report template to be updated to include IVA. Now this is in place, training is planned towards the end of 2025. 5.3 Work will also be taken to progress all outstanding actions listed in Appendix 1. A new action plan will be developed for 2026/27. 6. Conclusion 6.1 Perth & Kinross Council continues to make steady progress in mainstreaming sustainable development throughout the Council’s processes and practices, in-line with the statutory requirements of Best Value. Good progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals continues to be monitored across Perth and Kinross using the Quality of Life Indicator Dashboard. 7. Impact Value Assessment 7.1 This report has been classified as being an operational report and as such does not require a full Impact and Value Assessment. 8. Appendices 8.1 Appendix 1 - Progress on actions detailed in the Perth & Kinross Council Best Value & Sustainable Development Progress Report 2024/25