Climate Change Reporting 2021/22
Argyll and Bute Council · 23 November 2022
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 23 November 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Integration Joint Board Date of Meeting: 23 November 2022 Title of Report: Climate Change Reporting 2021/22 Presented by: James Gow, Head of Finance and Transformation The Integration Joint Board is asked to: Note that the IJB is required to submit a Climate Change Duties Report by 30 November; Approve the proposed submission attached as Appendix 1; Endorse the partnership approach taken by the HSCP in respect of its Climate Change Duties. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 For a number of years all public bodies in Scotland have been legally required to submit and publish a Public Bodies Climate Change Report. This includes the IJB. This report provides the IJB with the proposed submission and a brief overview of how the HSCP is responding to Climate Change and Sustainability agenda, in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland. 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Climate Change legislation introduced by the Scottish Government requires all public bodies to report on their carbon emissions and provide information on how carbon reduction and climate change is governed. This report provides members of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) with an opportunity to review and approve the report for financial year 2021/22 in advance of its submission to the Sustainable Scotland Network by 30 November 2022. 2.2 Integration Joint Boards are unusual public bodies as they do not directly own assets or employ staff and therefore submit nil returns. This ensures that IJB returns do not double count emissions which are reported by Health Boards and Local Authorities. However, the submission does provide the opportunity to highlight some of the actions and projects which are intended to contribute to carbon reduction within the HSCP. This report also summarises some of the proposed developments which will improve HSCP’s approach to this agenda in the medium term. 3. DETAIL OF REPORT 3.1 The draft climate change submission for the IJB is attached as appendix 1. As stated above, this is a nil return in respect of the calculation of carbon
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2 emissions as these are reported by NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council. The IJB is therefore placing significant reliance on the actions both partners are taking. At the time of writing their submissions for 2021/22 were still in the process of being completed. 3.2 Argyll & Bute Council have a section on their web site which provides details on their approach to sustainability more widely as well as carbon reduction: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sustainable-development-and-climate-change They report a 27% reduction in emissions over the past 5 years and lay out a £1.2m investment plan to deliver on the net zero by 2045 goal. Several of the projects undertaken by the council will have a positive impact on emissions generated by HSCP activities. For example, these seek to reduce energy consumption and emissions relating to office accommodation, invest in the electric fleet and charging points and in renewable energy sources to power ICT infrastructure. 3.3 NHS Highland have also reported reduced carbon emissions. A recent Scottish Government summary indicates carbon emissions reported by NHS Highland reduced by 2.97% in 2021/22 in comparison with the prior year, slightly better than average for Health Boards in that year. Since 2015/16 NHS Highland have reported a 23% reduction which is below the average reduction made by Health Boards at 28.8%. A large proportion of this reduction is due to the improvement in the national electricity generation grid mix over this period. Their total (27,669 tonnes CO2) includes all the NHS sites within Argyll and Bute. 3.4 The Argyll & Bute IJB and HSCP does not have responsibility or delegated budget for capital investment. This has made it difficult for it to prioritise carbon reduction projects. Carbon emissions predominately relate to energy usage within buildings with travel and transport being the second focus of attention. Insufficient investment in the estate overall has impacted on the suitability and standard of buildings as well as their energy efficiency performance. The HSCP has taken a lead in progressing a number of projects including: Electrification of the Argyll and Bute HSCP fleet. Currently 36 vehicles are electric / zero emissions with orders place for a further 56. This will take the total to 28% of the fleet being electric within the next year and £118k of additional budget has been allocated for the cost of this; Direct funding secured for increasing electric vehicle charging points by 30 during 2023/24; Innovative project to pilot the use of drones in remote and island areas; Supporting increased use of remote / home working for patients, clients and staff; Business case submitted to implement a biomass generator at the Campbeltown Community Hospital; and Working with partners to consider feasibility of direct energy generation in Lochgilphead. Additionally the HSCP has recognised that its approach to the management of its infrastructure and estate requires improvement and it is in the process of recruiting a Senior Estates Development and Sustainability Manager. It is intended that the addition of this post to the management team structure will provide additional capacity and expertise to work with partners on Estates
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3 development and sustainability. The return seeks to outline some of the pro- active steps being taken by the HSCP as well as highlighting the lack of specific resource allocations to progress this agenda. 4. RELEVANT DATA AND INDICATORS 4.1 IJB Carbon emissions reporting places reliance on data provided by Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland. 5 CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 5.1 Addressing climate change is a Scottish Government priority and their declaration of a climate emergency underlines their commitment. Specific and ambitious targets have been set and the HSCP is seeking to contribute to these where it can within the resources it has available. 6. GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Financial Impact – the HSCP has very limited financial resources available to it to progress this agenda. It does not have delegated responsibility for capital budgets or investment. 6.2 Staff Governance – None 6.3 Clinical Governance - None 7. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS 7.1 None 8. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE 8.1 None 9. RISK ASSESSMENT 9.1 The steps outlined in this report are intended to provide assurance of the actions being taken by the HSCP to reduce emissions, comply with the requirement to submit a climate change report and ensure it is perceived as being pro-active within the resources it has available to it. There remains a risk that the HSCP and / or its partners are perceived as not taking sufficient action to address climate change. Likewise there is a risk that the focus of financial and management resource on carbon reduction adversely impacts on resources available to support other priorities. 10. PUBLIC & USER INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT 10.1 The Climate Change submission will be made publicly available in due course. 11. CONCLUSIONS 11.1 This report provides a draft Climate Change report and seeks IJB approval for its submission. It also outlines the reliance that the IJB places on both of its partners and the positive steps being taken by the HSCP to contribute to carbon reduction within the resources available.
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4 12. DIRECTIONS Directions required to Council, NHS Board or both. Directions to: tick No Directions required √ Argyll & Bute Council NHS Highland Health Board Argyll & Bute Council and NHS Highland Health Board AUTHOR NAME: James Gow, Head of Finance and Transformation EMAIL: james.gow@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Draft Climate Change Report