Climate Change (Stan Philips)
Argyll and Bute Council · 22 June 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 22 June 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Management Committee Date: 22 June 2023 Addressing the Climate Emergency in Argyll and Bute 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this report is to provide the CPP Management Committee with an update of the Climate Change Working Group. 2.0 Recommendations The CPP Management Committee are asked to: Note the approach and status of the project outlined in the report. Advise on aspects of the project as indicated in the paper. 3.0 Background Over the past year and a half, the Climate Change Short Life Working Group has been revived as a CPP sub-group, known as the Climate Change Working Group. It took a fresh look at its remit and potential outputs, which have ultimately centred on producing a Climate Change Action Plan for Argyll and Bute. The Action Plan is proposed to be produced by employing a Climate Change Project Manager to lead on the process. The Climate Change Working Group has been exploring funding options for such a post. This update sets out our current position. 4.0 Detail 4.1 Funding update The Climate Change Working Group are currently pulling together a funding package to support the post of the Climate Change Project Manager.
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The cost of a Project Manager post is estimated to be in the region of £120,000 over two years, which would include the salary of an appropriately qualified climate leader, associated employer costs, T&S costs, etc. Subsequent to previous calls for funding contributions, we had two firm contributions from partners: £20,000 NHS Highland - Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership £50,000 Argyll and Bute Council We have also the following bids in with the following organisations and are awaiting news on the success or otherwise of these bids: £15,000 NatureScot Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI) are also supportive of the proposal in principle and are exploring funding opportunities. 4.2 Next Steps The Climate Change Working Group have decided to start the project with the budget we currently have. We have decided that we would advertise the Project Manager post with options for: i) 0.75 Full Time Equivalent for two years, or ii) 1.0 Full Time Equivalent for 18 months …depending on the preferences of the successful candidate. In any case we would need to continue searching for funding for either a continuation of the project timeline, or to provide additional assistance for the part time set- up. However, it was felt that finding the shortfall in year two would be achievable. Given this decision and approach, we are currently finalising the legal agreements which will complete the governance arrangements. Once these are in place, we will move to advertise the post. 5.0 How to proceed There are a number of questions we need to bring to the Management Committee for approval and advice.
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5.1 Governance Background The following structure was approved by the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee in 2022: The post would be hosted by ACT (Argyll and Isles Coast & Countryside Trust) under a Memorandum of Understanding / Agreement with the CPP Management Committee. Ultimate responsibility for the project would lie with the CPP Management Committee, who would act as de-facto Project Board, with day-to-day management supported mainly by a sub-set of the Climate Change Working Group, called the Steering Group. Functions of Steering Group Project Manager management and guidance. Membership of Steering Group. The CCWG committed to the MC advising on membership of the SG: Does the MC have thoughts about specific skills from the MC that should sit on this group? Should the CCWG nominate members of this group, for the MC to approve? Current draft complement is:
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Name Designation Stan Phillips Chair, CPP Climate Change Working Group (NatureScot) Representative from the Community Planning team Community Planning team member, (Chief Executive’s Unit, Argyll and Bute Council) Sara MacLean CPP Climate Change Working Group (ACT – employing body) Angela Anderson CPP Climate Change Working Group (Plastic- free Helensburgh; ACPG) Tom Warren CPP Climate Change Working Group (BE_ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (Formerly Construction Scotland Innovation Centre) Impact Manager - Sustainability; DCC - Dunoon Community Council, Convener DAA - Dunoon Area Alliance (Dunoon Community Development Trust), Chair A&B Community Housing Network Forum for Circular Infrastructure (UK wide) 5.2 Future work of the CCWG The CCWG has been thinking about what our role will be once this project is up and running. There are still a number of tasks: Manage the functions of the Steering Group Continue seeking to meet funding shortfall for Project Manager post Report on progress to MC. Once the Action Plan is complete (in 2 years time): o Action Plan ownership, monitoring, reporting. But, what to do in the interim? Is the above enough? o Engagement activities? o Opportunity for Community Groups and Statutory Bodies to come together and share information and experiences [this has been noted as a valued element of the CCWG by current members]? o Need to be careful not to duplicate work occurring elsewhere.
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o Resources? 5.3 Climate Change Working Group Chair Stan Phillips to step down as CCWG Chair once Action Plan Project starts. Who to Chair? CCWG to nominate a candidate and MC to approve? What are the rules for nominations? Must be a member of the MC? Could the Chair be a member of the wider CPP network (e.g. ACPG)? 6.0 Conclusion 1. We propose producing a strategic Action Plan process as the building block to addressing the climate emergency in Argyll and Bute. 2. We have an approved governance arrangement for the Climate Change Project Manager post. 3. We are actively pursuing the recruitment of a Project Manager to start this Action Plan work and hope to have someone in post within the next two months. 4. MC advice on the questions posed in this paper would be much appreciated. 6.0 Implications Strategic Implications Consultations, Previous considerations Resources Prevention Equalities Stan Phillips, Chair, CPP Climate Change Working Group For more information, please contact: Stan Phillips, Operations Manager, NatureScot stan.phillips@nature.scot Nicola Reaney, Administrative Officer, Community Planning Nicola.Reaney@argyll-bute.gov.uk References Appendices