Item 5 - Appendix 2
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 February 2024
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 21 February 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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AssessmentNo 875 Owner amanda.kean Resource Regeneration, Environment and Growth Service/Establishment Regeneration First Name Surname Job title Head Officer Amanda Kean Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) Officer (include job titles/organisation) Members Rachel Moir, Climate Change and Energy Coordinator; Ricardo Rea, P and S Officer (Please note: the word 'policy' is used as shorthand for stategy policy function or financial decision) Policy Title Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) 2024-2029 The aim, objective,purpose and intended out come of policy Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) are at the heart of a place based, locally led and tailored approach to the heat transition. The LHEES Strategy for West Dunbartonshire will underpin an area- based approach to heat and energy efficiency planning and delivery. An LHEES Strategy sets out the strategic framework for decarbonising heat and improving energy efficiency within buildings in West Dunbartonshire. The LHEES and LHEEDP will affect buildings in the local authority – both domestic and non-domestic, for example by targeting areas in which energy efficiency projects and heat pump rollouts may be carried out. This Strategy is the first for West Dunbartonshire, and will be required to then be updated at intervals of no more than five years. Service/Partners/Stakeholders/service users involved in the development and/or implementation of policy. Housing, Planning, Asset Management, Roads, Communities Does the proposals involve the procurement of any goods or services? Yes If yes please confirm that you have contacted our procurement services to discuss your requirements. No SCREENING You must indicate if there is any relevance to the four areas Duty to eliminate discrimination (E), advance equal opportunities (A) or foster good relations (F) Yes Relevance to Human Rights (HR) Yes Relevance to Health Impacts (H) Yes Relevance to Social Economic Impacts (SE) Yes Who will be affected by this policy? Members of the public, community planning partners, businesses in WDC, Council staff, community organizations Who will be/has been involved in the consultation process? An internal stakeholder consultation process across Council services was undertaken to obtain feedback the baselining data and proposed Strategic Zones. Finalised Delivery Areas were interrogated at an external stakeholder consultation with key contributors ITEM 5 - APPENDIX 2
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including: RSLs; NHS; Police Scotland; Scottish Water; and low carbon heating specialists. The draft Strategy was also presented to Chief Officers for initial comment. Following the approval of the draft Strategy, a full public consultation will commence over a six week period. The Consultation plan will be developed to ensure meaningful and targeted engagement with groups and organisations of interest through surveys and social media. Comments from the consultation will be included in revisions to the final Strategy. Please outline any particular need/barriers which equality groups may have in relation to this policy list evidence you are using to support this and whether there is any negative impact on particular groups. Needs Evidence Impact Age Young people should be engaged in the Strategy. The needs of older people and their carers should be addressed. In the UK in 21/22, Working age people are slight more likely (1 in 5) to be in poverty compared to pensioners (1 in 6). A key driver for LHEES is our statutory target for fuel poverty, that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty, facilitating the targeting of support to help alleviate fuel poverty. Cross Cutting We should examine Intersectional impacts. For examples, poverty and fuel poverty higher for women, BME, disabled people multiples negative impacts for people who are members of more than one of these groups. Potentially beneficial if fuel poverty is reduced. Disability Disabled people are a priority group of tackling child poverty Disabled people are more likely to be income deprived/be in relative poverty. This is partly driven by higher costs correlated with being disabled A key driver for LHEES is our statutory target for fuel poverty, that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy
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efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty, facilitating the targeting of support to help alleviate fuel poverty. Social & Economic Impact We have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy. We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe Businesses are struggling to meet rising fuel costs and still recovering from impact of the pandemic. More than 1 in 5 people in the UK (22%) were in poverty in 2021/22 – 14.4 million people. This included: 8.1 million (or around 2 in 10) working-age adults 4.2 million (or nearly 3 in 10) children 2.1 million (or around 1 in 6) pensioners. Poverty rates have returned to around their pre- pandemic levels, as middle-income household incomes rose at the same time as a range of temporary coronavirus-related support was withdrawn. The LHEES Strategies and Delivery Plans will help target public and private funding and finance into local heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. LHEES will provide a platform for local community engagement in the heat transition, creating opportunities for communities to help shape the net zero heat transition in their locality. Sex Women who comprise 90% of single parents for example, are a propriety in terms of tackling child poverty Women are more likely to be income deprived/be in relative poverty. A key driver for LHEES is our statutory target for fuel poverty, that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty, facilitating the targeting of support
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to help alleviate fuel poverty. Gender Reassign All homes and buildings need to be safe and accessible for all people No evidence there would be any impact Unlikely to be any differential impact Health Physical activity and social interactions are required to improve health and wellbeing for all, and specifically for young and older people. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty within a local authority area. By supporting planning for net zero in the context of alleviation of fuel poverty and facilitating planning for investment in more energy efficient homes, LHEES will contribute to warmer, healthier environments for people to live in. The strategy will help to deliver energy efficiency improvements and heat decarbonisation across all building sectors Human Rights In line with the UN Convention on Rights of the Child children and young people should be able to participate in the Strategy Process. The human rights act gives people the right to freedom of expression, freedom from discrimination, and freedom to enjoy property. Article 8 also protects participation. Children and young people tend to be an under represented group in consultation and engagement. In line with the statutory duty to engage with the public at large and certain under represented groups, including children and young people, we will enable people to express their views on LHEES. Marriage & Civil Partnership All homes and buildings need to be safe and accessible for all people No evidence there would be any impact Unlikely to be any differential impact Pregnancy & Maternity Women tend to be impacted financially by pregnancy and maternity, and are often more involved in care for children Women more likely to be income deprived/be in relative poverty. A key driver for LHEES is our statutory target for fuel poverty, that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible,
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no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty, facilitating the targeting of support to help alleviate fuel poverty. Race BME Groups are a propriety in terms of tackling child poverty People from most Black Minority Ethnic groups, and Gypsy/Travellers are more likely to be income deprived/be in relative poverty A key driver for LHEES is our statutory target for fuel poverty, that in 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty. LHEES will have a particular focus on understanding where poor energy efficiency is a driver of fuel poverty, facilitating the targeting of support to help alleviate fuel poverty. Religion and Belief All homes and buildings in WDC need to be safe and accessible for all people No evidence there would be any impact Unlikely to be any differential impact Sexual Orientation All homes and buildings in WDC need to be safe and accessible for all people No evidence there would be any impact Unlikely to be any differential impact Actions Policy has a negative impact on an equality group,but is still to be implemented, please provide justification for this. Will the impact of the policy be monitored and reported on an ongoing bases? The outcomes and impacts of LHEES will be reported to and monitored by the Climate Change Action Group on a monthly basis. The Strategy will be reviewed and updated at least every five years. Q7 What is you recommendation for this policy?
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Intoduce Please provide a meaningful summary of how you have reached the recommendation EIA 875 has identified a range of positive impacts for equality groups. There are likely to be significant positive Health and Socio-Economic Impacts. We will consult with a wide range of community organisations including the West Dunbartonshire Equality forum on the draft LHEES and update EIA 875 accordingly, based on the outputs of the consultation.