Item 8 - Appendix 1
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 21 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Appendix 1: Regulatory & Regeneration Delivery Plan 2024/25 – Economic Development Year-end Progress 1. Our Environment Our resources are used in an environmentally sustainable way 2023/24 2024/25 Performance Indicator Value Status Value Target Short Trend Long Trend Note Owner Tonnage of carbon dioxide emissions from Council operations and assets 19,342 Work to confirm the 2023/24 value is on-going, delayed due to vacancies and resourcing challenges. Data for 2024/25 will be available in November when all utilities bills and waste figures are validated in advance of preparing our annual mandatory climate change report for submission to Scottish Government. Elaine Troup Action Status Progress Due Date Note Owner Co-ordinate, monitor and report the progress of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan for 2024/25 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. The Climate Change Action Plan has been completed for 2024/25 and new actions developed for the 2025/26 Plan. Elaine Troup Develop a Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Delivery Plan 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. Public consultation on the draft strategy closed in June 2024 and the strategy, with outline delivery plan, was published at the end of September 2024. Work is ongoing to develop a detailed delivery plan, with publication due mid-2025. Elaine Troup ITEM 8 - APPENDIX 1
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Risk Description Current Assessment Target Assessment Date Reviewed Note Owner Inability to reduce carbon footprint in line with targets The risk that the Council will be unable to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, both in relation to mitigating carbon emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Net zero refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere. This target has been developed in a way that mirrors the emission reduction trajectory set by the Scottish Government in light of the Climate Emergency. 08-Apr- 2025 The risk of not delivering carbon emissions targets remains moderate. Progress is being made through the delivery of the Climate Change Action Plan; however, pace of delivery has been, and will continue to be, impeded due to lack of internal resource and additional funding to deliver. This risk will be reviewed again once the Scottish Government publishes the revised net-zero targets. Elaine Troup Our neighbourhoods are sustainable and attractive Action Status Progress Due Date Note Owner Promote the next phase of Queens Quay Housing 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. The Council continues to meet the owner and agent to progress opportunities for future housing development at Queens Quay. Under the terms of the Joint Venture agreement, the owner and agent of Queens Quay are responsible for the commercial discussions on future housing development. The challenges faced at the site have also been raised with senior officials at the Scottish Government. Elaine Troup
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2. Our Economy Our area has the infrastructure for sustainable and inclusive growth where businesses can flourish 2023/24 2024/25 Performance Indicator Value Status Value Target Short Trend Long Trend Note Owner Number of businesses given advice and assistance to start up through Business Gateway 200 190 180 190 clients were assisted to start- up a new business, exceeding the target of 180 set for the year. Gillian Scholes Number of business gateway start- ups per 10,000 population 22.54 21.41 19.78 There were 21.41 business gateway start-ups per 10,000 population, exceeding the target of 19.78 set for the year. Gillian Scholes Proportion of properties receiving superfast broadband 99.3% 99% 2024/25 data for this LGBF indicator will be available in December 2025 following publication by the Improvement Service. Based on the most recent LGBF comparative data for the previous year (2023/24), performance at 99.3% was better than the Scottish average of 95.9% with a ranking of 1st of 32 local authorities, consistent with the previous year. Gillian Scholes
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Action Status Progress Due Date Note Owner Implement, monitor and report the progress of the Economic Development Strategy 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. The Economic Development Strategy annual update was reported to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee in November 2024. This Strategy covers the period 2022/27 and will continue in the coming year. Elaine Troup Deliver key regeneration sites across West Dunbartonshire 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. Work has progressed on the key regeneration sites across the Council area that include the three town centres, and the strategic sites of Queens Quay, Exxon and the Carless site. Milestones relating to the Scottish Marine Technology Park, Exxon Infrastructure Project and our three town centres have been successfully completed. This is a multi-year action that will continue into 2025/26. Elaine Troup Explore commercial opportunities in our town centres and wider regeneration sites 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. The Planning Permission in Principle application for the Artizan redevelopment masterplan in Dumbarton was submitted to the Council in July 2024. This very complex application has taken significant time to process and will be considered by the Council later in 2025. The Long-Term Plan and the accompanying 3 Year Investment Plan for Clydebank were submitted to UK Government in October 2024. Following the general election in 2024, the programme has been reformed and renamed Plan for Neighbourhoods. A Regeneration Plan (which will replace the Long-term Plan and the Investment Plan) is due to be submitted to the UK Government in Spring/Summer 2025. Magda Swider
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Action Status Progress Due Date Note Owner Develop and implement business support interventions through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 31-Mar- 2025 Completed as planned. UK Shared Prosperity Fund interventions have been developed and widely promoted through the Council website, social media, partner organisations and directly to eligible businesses. The Business Support team are continuing to promote the grant support and appraise applications. Gillian Scholes Support town centre revitalisation 31-Mar- 2025 Overdue. We have made good progress with the development of projects in Dumbarton and Alexandria, including obtaining planning permission and appointing a contractor for the Artizan redevelopment (Phase 1) and appointing a design team for Mitchell Way project. However, the Alexander Street project took longer than anticipated due to prolonged consultations with stakeholders. The tender process has been delayed, and it is now expected that the contractor will be appointed in summer 2025. Magda Swider Risk Description Current Assessment Target Assessment Date Reviewed Note Owner Failure to deliver Queens Quay Masterplan Following completion of Council investment there is a risk the housing plot sales do not materialise in the next 3-7 years, with implications for the return on investment and the business case for the District Heating Network. 14-Mar- 2025 Risk remains unchanged. Focus continues on landowner agreeing a housing proposal with a potential developer. Delivery embedded into workstreams to promote development at site. Michael Mulgrew; Elaine Troup
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Risk Description Current Assessment Target Assessment Date Reviewed Note Owner Inability to meet demands of Council to progress regeneration projects within desired timescales The number and complexity of regeneration projects is putting considerable strain on the resources available which can be exacerbated by delays out with the control of the service and when pinch points on different projects occur at roughly the same time. 14-Mar- 2025 Risk remains unchanged. Individual projects continue to progress, reducing the likelihood of undesirable outcomes. Embedded into workstreams to ensure sufficient resource to support delivery of projects within required timescales. Michael McDougall; Michael Mulgrew; Elaine Troup Action Status Overdue Completed PI Status Target met or exceeded Risk Status Warning OK Long Term Trends Declining Short Term Trends Declining