Item 7 - Climate Action Conversation Event
West Dunbartonshire Council · 14 August 2025
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 14 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Report by Selina Ross, WDCVS Community Planning West Dunbartonshire August 2025 Subject: Community Planning Climate Action Conversation Session 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform CPWD Board members of the Climate Action conversation held in June 2025. This session was the most recent themed engagement session to take place 2. Recommendations 2.1 CPWD is asked to note the content and consider the suggested actions arising from the session feedback. 3. Background 3.1 To support the emerging Climate Action Hub function in West Dunbartonshire, WDCVS agreed to facilitate a community planning partner conversation. This session took place in June 2025 and was attended by 40 partner representatives including 15 third sector organisations. 3.2 The session featured two themed presentations around community energy followed by a round-table discussion on what future steps could be taken to progress climate action awareness and actions. Thanks are given to Amanda Kean (WDC) and Anna Philbrick (Community Energy Scotland) for their support and participation. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The session generated suggested actions for both the Community Planning Partnership and the Climate Hub function. 4.2 For the partnership, key issues raised included the following: The need for all partners to ensure that activity is taken forward on a cross- department basis to ensure there is a connecting of the dots on climate issues Creating an effective means of signposting to studies, costs and benefits across the partnership to facilitate effective responses to opportunities to increase climate action activity as they arise Ensuring climate-friendly infrastructure requirements are considered at the first spade of developments Both planning authorities to consider how best to increase climate ITEM 7
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requirements when considering new home building developments Consideration of how community windfarm development could be supported Generating a greater level of awareness/activity to develop green skills and green jobs. 4.3 Several potential project areas were suggested including: Thermal imaging training/project to demonstrate where homes are losing heat Community insulation initiatives Solar panel awareness raising Circular economy – reuse/recycle promotion. It was suggested that cross-sector activities could be reported via the Flourishing and Empowered DIGs. 4.4 From the hub perspective, it was agreed that the focus should be on connecting with and across, a wide variety of community and third sector organisation, and ensuring that benefits of engagement are promoted in a local context, to stress the immediate community and individual benefits available. It was also agreed that a high level of community visibility would be required. 4.5 As a result of the session, the planned actions for the Climate Hub, to be reported through the Empowered DIG during the current financial year will be: Facilitated monthly online ‘Climate Catch-up’ Teams calls of 30-60 minutes (focussing on themed Q&As, Ask the Expert Sessions and Meeting/Funding Follow-ups) to help develop the network Deliver 2 in-person themed meetings. Suggested inputs include energy efficiency, community growing, 20-minute neighbourhood developments and active travel Offer a seedcorn funding stream to support small grants of £500-£2000 to help local community and third sector groups explore climate action options/activities Provide a funding workshop to encourage external funding options. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no people implications. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no financial implications. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Failure to respond to challenges would risk delivery against policy priorities. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 No actions are required as this is an update report.
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9. Consultation 9.1 This report provides an update on recent activity and provides an outline of planned future engagement 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 The need for all organisations to take action to further their climate responsibilities is evident. This early consultation shows there is a clear appetite for coordinated activity across the Community Planning partnership. Person to Contact: Selina Ross, WDCVS, selina@wdcvs.com T: 0141 941 0886 Appendices: N/A Background Papers: N/A Wards Affected: All