Council Carbon Emissions 2022/2023
Argyll and Bute Council · 15 August 2024
Back to Policy and Resources Committee — 15 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD 15TH August 2024 COUNCIL CARBON EMISSIONS 2022/2023 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Scotland has some of the most ambitious targets and progressive legislation in terms of climate change in the world. Public sector bodies, including Councils, will play a key role in meeting the Scottish Government’s 2045 Net Zero target and have statutory climate change duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to: Cut greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for the impacts of climate change, and act sustainably. The most recent results from the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report for the financial year 2022/23 are now available online, and have been published in the Sustainable Scotland Network’s ‘Summary Analysis’ report in May 2024. 1.1 188 public bodies, including Local Authorities, NHS Boards, Educational Institutions, Transport Partnerships, and Integration Joint Boards across Scotland have reported via the 2022/23 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties. These reports include information on corporate emissions, projects, renewables, emission targets, and climate adaptation action. Total emissions reported in 2022/23 in Scotland via the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report is 2,786,823 tCO2e. 1.2 Argyll and Bute Council has reported a 6% decrease in its carbon emissions in 2022/23. The Council’s carbon footprint reduced by 1,705 tCO2e, from 28,217 tCO2e in 2021/22 to 26,512 tCO2e in 2022/23. Since the Council commenced reporting in 2015/16, there has been an overall 32.8% reduction in emissions. Further examination of figures shows that decreases across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emission sources have been achieved by the Council in the 2022/23 reporting period. 1.3 The Council’s key climate change document is the Decarbonisation Plan, which was adopted in December 2021, confirming the Council’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2045, in line with the Scottish Government’s target.
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2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS That the Policy and Resources Committee are asked to consider: 2.1 The publication of the Council’s 2022/23 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties report, confirming a 6% decrease in emissions reported for the year. The Council’s carbon footprint reduced by 1,705 tCO2e, from 28,217 tCO2e in 2021/22 to 26,512 tCO2e in 2022/23; and 2.2 the Full Decarbonisation Tracker update attached at Appendix A.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD 15th August 2024 COUNCIL CARBON EMISSIONS 2022/2023 3.0 INTRODUCTION 3.1 The ‘Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015’ as amended by the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, requires public bodies to report annually on compliance with climate change duties. Mandatory reporting began in 2015/16. Argyll and Bute Council is one of these organisations required to publish annual emissions data. The most recent Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report is now available on the Sustainable Scotland Network website, along with the 2022/23 ‘Summary Analysis’ report published in May 2024. 3.2 It is important to note that the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report records the corporate emissions of the Council, and does not reflect regional territorial emissions. The Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership is responsible for progressing the regional Climate Action Strategy. 3.3 The Climate Change Board reports progress to the Policy and Resources Committee on a regular basis. This report outlines overarching activities of the Climate Change Board to the Council, providing a snapshot of key contributors to Council emissions, progress and areas for improvement. The Council’s work on climate change continues to align with the Decarbonisation Plan, providing strategic direction on achieving net zero by 2045. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS That the Policy and Resources Committee are asked to consider:
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4.1 The publication of the Council’s 2022/23 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties report, confirming a 6% decrease in emissions reported for the year. The Council’s carbon footprint reduced by 1,705 tCO2e, from 28,217 tCO2e in 2021/22 to 26,512 tCO2e in 2022/23, and 4.2 the Full Decarbonisation Tracker update attached at Appendix A. 5.0 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC BODIES CLIMATE CHANGE DUTIES REPORT 5.1 Since 2015/16 Argyll and Bute Council has published data on its annual carbon emissions via the statutory Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Reporting mechanism. Consistent reporting criteria enables year on year comparison. Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in ‘tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent’ (tCO2e), allowing comparison of different emission types. Table 1 – Annual Emissions with Baseline Reference Year Year Scope1 Scope2 Scope3 Total Units Comments Baseline carbon footprint 2015/16 10,768 11,701 16995 39,464 tCO2e Year 1 carbon footprint 2016/17 9,146 9,790 16,594 35,530 tCO2e Year 2 carbon footprint 2017/18 9,438 7,798 19,569 36,805 tCO2e Municipal waste to landfill is the Council's largest contributor to its carbon footprint; despite a reduction in municipal waste to landfill, the significant increase in the relevant carbon emissions factor has caused an upturn in scope 3 emissions. Year 3 carbon footprint 2018/19 8,937 5,862 19,938 34,737 tCO2e This represents a 12% reduction in 3 years. Year 4 carbon footprint 2019/20 8,849 4,687 15,107 28,643 tCO2e
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Year 5 carbon footprint 2020/21 8,611 4,178 13,830 26,619 tCO2e Year 6 carbon footprint 2021/22 8,905 4,236 15,076 28,218 tCO2e 6% increase Year 7 carbon footprint 2022/23 8,701 3,780 14,031 26,512 tCO2e 6% decrease 5.2 Annual carbon footprint trend from 2015/16 to 2022/23 is shown in Graph 1 below. Graph 1 – Annual Carbon Emissions 5.3 Emissions generated from all Council activities is reported, therefore it is useful to examine emissions arising from different sources across Council teams – please see Table 2 and Graph 2 below. All Council services have a responsibility to monitor and reduce carbon emissions. 39464 35530 36805 34737 28643 26619 28217 26512 20000 22000 24000 26000 28000 30000 32000 34000 36000 38000 40000 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 tCO2e Year Argyll and Bute Council - Annual Carbon Emissions
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Table 2 – Breakdown of Council Emission Sources 2022/23 Emission Source Emissions (tCO2e) Comments Municipal Waste to Landfill 12,866 ~ 48% of total emissions Natural Gas 3,829 ~ 14% of total emissions. Gas used mainly as heating source in buildings. Grid Electricity 3,445 ~ 13% of total emissions Fleet – (petrol & diesel vehicles) 2,805 ~ 11% of total emissions Gas Oil & LPG 2,067 ~ 8% – mainly for building heating Street lighting 681 ~ 3% Business Miles (unspecified fuel) 358 ~ 1% All other activities 461 ~ 2% of total carbon footprint includes collections for recycling, water treatment, tyre processing, glass / WEEE recycling Graph 2 – Breakdown of Council Emission Sources 2022/23 48% 14% 13% 11% 8% 3% 1% 2% Argyll and Bute Council Emission Sources Breakdown 2022/23 Municipal Waste to Landfill - 48% Natural Gas - 14% Grid Electricity - 13% Fleet (petrol & diesel) - 11% Gas Oil & LPG - 8% Streetlighting - 3% Business Miles - 1% All other activities - 2%
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5.4 Emissions generated by different Council activities have remained fairly consistent for a number of years, and although small variations have been reported, percentage contributions remain broadly unchanged. Municipal waste disposed to landfill is responsible for approximately half of the total Council emissions figure, however compliance with the Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Ban will realise future reductions for that particular emission source. Additionally, continued decarbonisation of heat in buildings, installation of renewable technology and energy efficiency measures along with the Council’s fleet transitioning to electric and hybrid low-emission vehicles will support further reductions in Council emissions. 5.5 The Council continues to generate renewable heat and energy, with figures provided in Table 3 below. Table 3 – Generation, consumption and export of renewable energy 2022/23 Renewable Electricity Renewable Heat TECHNOLOGY Total consumed by the organisation (kWh) Total exported (kWh) Total consumed by the organisation (kWh) Total exported (kWh) Solar PV 950,000 0 Wind 15,000 135,000 Biomass 4,678,800 0 Air Source Heat Pump 130,000 0 5.6 Graph 3 below shows all 32 Scottish Local Authorities annual carbon emissions for 2022/23, with Argyll and Bute Council highlighted in red. Average emissions across all local authorities is illustrated by the dotted line. It is difficult to compare local authorities, with factors such as population, geographic area and internal processes (particularly waste treatment) all impacting reported emissions.
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Graph 3 – Scottish Local Authorities 2022/23 Annual Emissions 5.7 Looking ahead, there are anticipated changes to the data to be reported by Scotland’s public bodies in the coming years, with an increasing focus on Scope 3 emissions arising from supply chain and procurement activities 6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 It is a requirement for our Council to publish annual carbon emissions for the Scottish Government. This report highlights our overall emissions for most recent period 2022/23. 7.0 IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Policy – Meeting obligations and commitment to Climate Change. 7.2 Financial – No direct linkage. 7.3 Legal – Meeting requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, and the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019. 7.4 HR - None 7.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 7.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics - None 7.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - None 0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 Aberdeen City Council Aberdeenshire Council Angus Council Argyll and Bute Council City of Edinburgh Council Clackmannanshire Council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Dumfries and Galloway… Dundee City Council East Ayrshire Council East Dunbartonshire Council East Lothian Council East Renfrewshire Council Falkirk Council Fife Council Glasgow City Council Inverclyde Council Midlothian Council Moray Council North Ayrshire Council North Lanarkshire Council Orkney Islands Council Perth and Kinross Council Renfrewshire Council Scottish Borders Council Shetland Islands Council South Ayrshire Council South Lanarkshire Council Stirling Council The Highland Council West Dunbartonshire Council West Lothian Counciltonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) Local Authority Scottish Local Authorities - 2022/23 Annual Emissions
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7.5.3 Islands - None 7.6 Climate Change - Direct link updating activities of the Climate Change Board and projects that will address climate change 7.7 Risk - Not addressing impacts or causes of climate change can lead to increased cost or censure if targets are not met. 7.8 Customer Service – None. Douglas Hendry Executive Director with Responsibility for Commercial Services Policy Lead for Climate Change, Renewables and Net Zero, Councillor Luna Martin 15 August 2024 For further information contact: Ross McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Services Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre ross.mclaughlin@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix A – Climate Change Decarbonisation Tracker – August 2024
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Appendix A – Climate Change Tracker ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS W1 –Develop and Implement Waste Strategy (L) Roads and Amenity Services, Community, commercial customers Implementation of the Waste Strategy transitioning to Landfill ban compliant Residual Waste Recovery solutions by 2025. External funding and support being sought from the Scottish Government Please see Environment, Development & Infrastructure Reports – links below: WASTE PPP UPDATE.pdf (argyll- bute.gov.uk) Waste Update – EDI committee 1/6/2023 WASTE PPP UPDATE.pdf (argyll- bute.gov.uk) Waste Update – EDI committee 31/8/2023 WASTE UPDATE - EDI Nov 2023.pdf (argyll- bute.gov.uk) Waste Update – EDI committee 30/11/2023 WASTE UPDATE.pdf (argyll- bute.gov.uk) Waste Update – EDI committee 20/6/24 W2 – Promote the Waste Hierarchy through community Education (L) Roads and Amenity Services Evidence of community Education Not secured New Web content and Education materials for Primary and Secondary Schools were developed and delivered to online Education Environment Summit October 21 and the COP 26 Event on the 6th November 21. Advised that this action has paused/stopped. W3 – Reduce Council use of disposable and single use plastics across all departments and settings (L) Procurement and Commercial Services, all Council Services Adoption of new working practices and procurement No specific funding in place, research required to impact on operation costs A report on Single Use Plastic went to the Policy and Resources Committee on 9 December 2021, and the following recommendations were approved: • Note and consider that the various Services that
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS currently purchase SUP products consider whether these products are essential or if there is a potential alternative that would meet the Service requirements, prior to orders being placed via PECOS or contacting the Procurement, Commercial and Contract Management Team (PCCMT) for a procurement process to be carried out. • Note and consider that the Sustainable Procurement Policy will be updated to reflect the Climate Change Board desire to limit SUP where possible –wording has been included in the Annual Review 2023/2024 version of the Procurement Strategy 2022/2025 as follows: “To provide procurement support to any strategic decisions taken by the Council in relation to the usage of Single Use Plastic products and their recyclability.” • Note and consider that the Commodity Sourcing Strategy templates used for Regulated Procurements
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS have been updated to include a question regarding SUP. Changes in legislation were brought into force by the Scottish Government on the 1st June 2022 restricting single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks, expanded polystyrene food containers and expanded polystyrene cups and other beverage containers, as well as all products made of oxo-degradable plastic. Some products already changed and others under review. W4 – Extend and explore pre-ordering for school food to reduce food waste (L) Commercial Services and Education Evidence of extension of pre- ordering & food waste reduction Project funded and solution procured Full implementation of Cashless Catering and Pre-ordering system is completed. E1 – Deliver Renewable Sourcing Strategy 2 (L) Commercial Services Adoption of Strategy RSS2 consultancy work funding to be confirmed; expectation is that project implementation will be through combinations of prudential borrowing (subject to business case approvals) and/or external funding. RSS2 next stage development work includes specification development and preparation of invitation to tender for specialist consultancy support. Current work in progress; intended to be market tested early 2024. It is now considered that RSS2 will be included within the Net Zero Routemap. Following limited response from hubNorth and some discussions with other potential providers, we have gone to the market with a further RFI and responses received in June 2024 will be used in the development of
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS the procurement strategy for Argyll & Bute Council Net Zero Routemap. E2 – Delivery of Non-domestic Energy Efficiency Framework (NDEEF) Projects (L) Commercial Services Evidence of delivery of projects Project development work is funded by combinations of the Scottish Government and the procured provider (costs absorbed within the tender process). Funding for project implementation will come from Council approved capital allocations: • Climate Change 20/21 - £500K • Climate Change 21/22 - £600K • Asset Sustainability – £175K Non Domestic Energy Efficiency Fund (NDEEF1) Energy Performance Contract was signed on 16 July 2021 (circa £1.25m investment with 10 year payback). The originally intended mini project list has been fully delivered. Following on from the P&R Committee report in May 2023: May PR - Climate Change -NDEEF Progress update.pdf (argyll- bute.gov.uk), four final mini projects, which were added as contract variations, remained to be implemented. Tarbert School LED lighting was installed in the 2023 school summer recess; Kilmory Nursery solar pv was installed in September 2023; the intended low carbon heating solution and pv installation at Cardross PS have been intentionally delayed whilst we try to access a recently launched funding scheme: Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund | Salix Finance. A bid was submitted by the 5/12/23 fund deadline (value £460K with the Council needing to contribute 20% of that). Bid outcomes will be communicated February 2024. Bid was unsuccessful and subsequently £150k of funding
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS which was in the 2025/26 capital plan for a replacement heating system has been brought forward. Delivery of the high efficiency heating system will be Summer 2024. In addition to the above, the procurement sourcing strategy for the next batch of sites, using designation NDEEF2, is under way. A spend to save investment of £2Million is being targeted. Awaiting formal Scottish Government launch of new NDEEF framework which is currently expected Oct 2024. E3 – Delivery of additional solar installations at Council assets (L) Commercial Services Evidence of delivery of projects Consultancy work funding to be confirmed; expectation is that project implementation will be through combinations of prudential borrowing (subject to business case approvals) and/or external funding. Best solar pv opportunities are being delivered within NDEEF (Ref item E2) and advantage is also being taken to install solar pv solutions within the asset sustainability capital programme where possible e.g. as a component of roof upgrades. The potential for a large solar pv ground array at the Kilmory Estate is currently being limited due to electric grid constraints – engagement with SSEN is ongoing to try to identify solutions. The Council now has 27no solar pv installations in operation amounting to over 1.3MW capacity. DRAX have offered installation of free solar pv at Dalmally PS as part of the community benefits flowing from the
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS planned expansion of Ben Cruachan power station. Discussions have been going on from June 2024. E4 – Delivery of Water Efficiency Audits across our Estate (L) Commercial Services Evidence of delivery of projects Works items are generally small scale and are being funded through existing approved budgets where possible; otherwise costs will be met from savings generated. Significant Council wide asset verification exercise and ensuring water use minimised. The asset verification element of this project is substantially complete and substantial savings have been identified and recovered. A case study is being prepared to demonstrate the range of tasks undertaken and to convey the scale of savings made and refunds received. The final stage of work involves an exercise to reduce water consumption (with carbon emissions reduction) over a number of sites and is underway. Program to introduce Water efficiency measures has commenced and will be complete by Q1 2025. E5– Delivery of Energy Efficiency Scotland Programme (L) Housing Services, Registered Social Landlords Evidence of delivery of projects Funding amounts are determined by localised factors and is paid as a proportion of the Scottish Governments’ Heat In Buildings Strategy To date since 1st July 2023 Argyll and Bute Council has spent £1,520,315 of a £1,979,827 budget awarded by the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland – Area Based Scheme (ABS), facilitating insulation measures on privately owned and privately rented properties in mainland and island addresses throughout Argyll and Bute. Non- means tested grants of between
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS £9,000 and £21,000 are available to all eligible households for the application of insulation, helping to significantly reduce household consumption of energy on a “Fabric First” basis contributing towards both the Council’s and Scottish Government’s carbon reduction targets. In addition, a joint project on multi-tenure properties in conjunction with Argyll Community Housing Association in Bute and Tarbert insulated 80 properties in 2023/24. E6 – Complete LED streetlight replacement programme (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Evidence of delivery of projects Fully funded through prudential borrowing Works have gone well though there are still approx.130 Luminaires to be upgraded to LED in the Lorn Area – The Luminaires are on order – Works should be completed by end 2024. The Council has 14442 streetlights in total so carbon emissions have already been greatly reduced by the LED Upgrade Project. In 2015/16, figures were CO2 totals – 3140 tonnes. 2024/25 emissions are forecast to be reduced again. Year to date (end of June 2024) carbon totals – 122 tonnes. E7 – Continue support of ABRA and review Renewable Energy Strategy annually (L) Economic Development Evidence of delivery of projects Officer resource to support currently funded ABRA met in March 2024 with a further meeting being planned for the autumn. SSE Networks continue
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS upgrade works of overhead power lines to increase capacity to 275kv. The outline business case for Islay Energy System work through the Rural Growth Deal has been rejected by Government and amended proposals are being prepared. The Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund is expected to launch imminently with a value of £1m. E8 – Continue support for offshore development of renewables (L) Economic Development Evidence of delivery of projects (expected late 2020s/early 2030s) Officer resource to support currently funded Scottish Power Renewables are progressing the Machair Wind project , expected to seek consent during the mid -2020s. ESB are progressing Malin Wind, a floating wind proposal awarded through the INTOG leasing. T1 – Develop a Fleet Replacement Strategy supportive of fuel efficient, electric and hybrid vehicles (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Adoption of Strategy Part for current financial year The Fleet Replacement Strategy is complete but is subject to on-going change in line with legislative changes as it is an operational document. T2 – Develop a vehicle routing system that will reduce road miles for operations (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Evidence of delivery of projects Part for current financial year This is progressing. The project has slipped slightly due to staff availability and the data gathering and cleansing stage taking longer than we might have hoped. There was a report to EDI in March which sets out the revised position and project timeline. T3 – Develop an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Evidence of delivery of projects Part for current financial year The strategy and expansion plan is in place – we cannot move forward with a delivery programme until such time
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND
PARTNERS
TARGET or
MILESTONE
FUNDING COMMENTS
The development of the EV network
is funded by external grant monies
from Transport Scotland, and the
costs of developing the strategy in
terms of staff time are covered via
existing budgets
Ultimately the cost recovery model
as our funding from SG is confirmed.
The national EVIF programme is
seeing some delays and changes in
guidance and application process. All
Councils are in the same position and
we are in discussions with TS/SG on
how the programme will operate
going forward and when we are likely
to see a funding award.
We have, through a separate fund
accessed via HiTRANS, progressed
the installation of 8 new rapid
chargers across the area in the last
quarter of 2023 and these are in
place and being well used. This
brings our network up to 37.
We have also introduced new
charges which are designed to cover
all asset management costs for the
network. These costs fall now to the
Council after having previously been
funded through grants.
We are also continuing to progress
installs at Council hub offices with the
next sites being {Union St Rothesay
and Kintyre House Campbeltown
T4 – Support Digital by Default theme
Service Review & Recovery Plan to
reduce need to travel
All Council
Departments
Evidence of delivery
of projects
Part for current financial year Council is adopting ‘Our Modern
Workspace’ programme and Digital
First approach as services change and
evolve post pandemic.Page 19
ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS T5 – Develop new active travel plans for Council buildings and our towns (L) Economic Development Evidence of delivery of projects No active travel funding is provided by Council. All costs, including internal staff costs (1.7FTE), have to be funded via successfully securing external challenge funds. As all active travel work is currently reliant on securing external funding, the projects which are progressed are those which can successfully secure external challenge funding. External competitive challenge funds are time consuming to secure and projects have to be shaped to fit with external funders’ aspirations and requirements by the 1.7FTE Active Travel staff in the Strategic Transportation Team. However, at present these are the only available source(s) of funding made available to deliver active travel improvements. 2023/24 Progress The 1.7FTE Active Travel Team secured £2.56M external challenge funding in 23/24 for development and delivery of 22 active travel projects across Argyll and Bute, requiring 18 separate competitive challenge funding applications to 5 separate funds. The purpose of active travel is to make it as easy as possible and help to encourage individuals, businesses and visitors to choose to walk, wheel or cycle for local journeys. Increasing activity and reducing sedentary behaviour has significant health benefits and can increase accessibility to essential services, education, employment, retail and leisure. Walking and cycling are lower cost travel modes and, if they are a viable option, can help households reduce their reliance on private cars, particularly multiple car households. No Council funding is currently expended on Active Travel work, with all costs, including internal staff costs (1.7FTE), having to be funded via successfully securing external challenge funds. As all active travel work is currently reliant on securing external funding, therefore the projects which are progressed are those which can successfully secure external challenge funding. Argyll and Bute Active Travel Strategy: Officers are working to develop an Argyll and Bute Active Travel Strategy and present it for Council by the end of 2024. The Active Travel Strategy would provide
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Projects funded via the active travel team within Strategic Transportation in 2023/24 included: • New cycle parking at the community owned Port Ellen Playing Fields Community Development, Islay. • Funded Cycling UK to run the Dunoon Cycle Bothy • Funded ACT to upcycle 65 bikes to return to the local Mid-Argyll Community to increase opportunities to cycle. • Creation of new Smartphone Apps for Tobermory and Bowmore (adding to the existing popular apps for Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Oban and Rothesay) • Design work progressed for ambitious walking and cycling projects including: - Campbeltown, commenced initial design work on Phase 4 Active Travel Improvements (Esplanade and Kinloch Park) (initial Feasibility). - Dunoon, Town Centre to Hunters Quay Active Travel route (Concept Design). - Helensburgh: Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath (Developed Design)and the overarching context for the Council to support and promote active travel across the Council area. Having an adopted and current Active Travel Strategy is increasingly becoming a pre-requirement to access Scottish Government derived active travel funding. Active Travel Delivery Plan: Following approval of Active Travel Strategy, an Active Travel Delivery Plan will be developed to create a prioritised list of active travel projects for the whole of Argyll and Bute. Active Travel Projects: The majority of external funding available is provided by the Scottish Government via a number of distribution organisations who are paid to administer these funds. The focus for Scottish Government Active Travel funding is to develop and deliver infrastructure projects and associated behaviour change. As such, the focus for the very limited staff capacity in the Active Travel Team has been to develop and deliver infrastructure projects across Argyll and Bute with a focus on our main towns and locations with strong community support.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Helensburgh – Garelochhead Cycleway (final Technical Design). - Islay, Bowmore to Bridgend Path (with Islay Community Access Group) (final Technical Design). - Jura, Craighouse to Corran Sands Active Travel Route (Concept Design). - Lochgilphead: Front Green to Crinan Canal (Concept Design)and Town Centre to Joint Campus Active Travel Routes (final Technical Design). - Rothesay, Pavilion to Albert Pier Active Travel Improvements (Concept Design). Oban, Oban Town Centre North Active Travel Improvements (George St and Corran Esplanade) (Concept Design) – concept design proposals rejected by OLI Area Committee on 25 June 2024. Active Travel Plans for Towns: There are Active Travel Plans in place for the main towns in Argyll and Bute, albeit some are now quite historic. The town Active Travel Plans focus on identifying potential active travel route networks for key towns. These provide a framework for the development of new active travel routes, which will enable and encourage residents, businesses and visitors to choose to travel more actively. No funding is currently secured to enable the Active Travel Plans for towns to be updated. Council Staff Travel Plan: Officers are exploring options to develop a Council Staff Travel Plan at zero cost to the Council. However, this is challenging due to the ongoing uncertainty of longer-term staff profiles and bases. There is currently no funding secured to enable this work to be progressed. It should be noted that successful Staff Travel Plans require to have strong support from senior managers/elected members, who also require to act in accordance with the Plan, and from enabling departments, e.g. finance and HROD. Once developed, to be fully effective it is likely that a Staff Travel Plan
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS would require changes to the Council’s travel policies and expenses policies. Staff Travel Plans focus on measures to make it easier and preferable for staff to choose to walk, cycle, use public transport or car share to commute to work or for work journeys, or use economical pool vehicles for work journeys. A travel plan should encourage staff to choose the most economical and least environmentally damaging travel mode. Engagement will be required with services which manage staff in buildings and/or council buildings as this is essential to creating deliverable and effective travel plans for staff. This includes Estates, HROD, SMT and building users. PA1 – Review Council Flooding & Coastal Protection Policy (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Review of policy No specific funding in place, research required to impact on operation costs Reviews are in process. PA2 – Review Council Sustainable Procurement Policy (L) Procurement Review of policy No specific funding in place, research required to impact on operation costs This policy is reviewed on an annual basis.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS OFF1 – Develop opportunities for environmental sustainability projects with ACT and partners (L) Climate Change Board, ACT and partners Delivery of projects Limited funding via ACT for existing projects SSEN compensatory planting – Phase 1 and 2 complete at Kilmory. ACT has completed habitat surveys in the Glenan Wood area in Cowal for a biodiversity net gain project supported by SSEN. This project would see 50 hectares of Rainforest cleared of invasive rhododendrons and form part of the landscape scale rainforest restoration project in West Cowal. The other Argyll landscape scale project ACT is involved with is Knapdale. These are 2 of the 7 focus rainforest projects in Scotland supported by the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest. https://savingscotlandsrainforest. org.uk/projects ACT has entered agreement with Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition to plant 100,000 native trees in West Cowal over the coming 5 years. Cowal sites are confirmed, planting late ’24. This planting will offer opportunities for carbon credits for landowners. ACT have secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish a Rainforest Squad, and a new Farm and Croft Woodland Advisor. We also have funding for a
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Rainforest Restoration project, and Rainforest Volunteer Co-ordinator as partners in a £6M Woodland Trust lottery bid. ACT undertaking peatland restoration on Islay, Jura and extending into mainland Argyll, supported by ScotGov’s Peatland Action and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. There are two posts, one on Islay, one shortly to be advertised in Mid Argyll/Kintyre. We will also be offering a 1-year trainee position in 2024. Within 2024 ACT will be recruiting 6 full time and one part time new environmental jobs in Argyll. ACT is hosting the Community Planning Partnership’s Climate Action Manager to develop a Climate Action Strategy and Action Plan over a 2 year period. The CPP agreed an approach of developing an enabling strategy early in order to allow more space to focus on developing the action plan. A first draft was presented to the CPP’s Climate Working Group for review in March- April, with a request for all to send any further sources of information, contacts, comments
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS and feedback on the Strategy structure outline directly to the project manager. The project manager has also been invited to participate in the Council’s Climate Change Board. Next steps for the strategy are to issue a call for evidence while developing risk and opportunity assessments methodologies with support from Adaptation Scotland/SNIFFER, with a view to running assessments grouped by the CPP’s three outcomes of Transport, Housing and Community Wellbeing. In addition, ACT has partnered with the Third Sector Interface and Time for Change to become the ABCAN (Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network) Hub. The ABCAN project, which is Scottish Government funded, has supported 39 community groups with funding to undertake climate action so far. The Team continues to engage with local communities on climate action, climate literacy, place planning with a climate lens and working to develop the partnership network across Argyll & Bute and engaging with the strategic activity of the CPP Climate project.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Carbon Literacy Training – Cooler Futures schools programme and ACT Outdoors STEM subject delivery offered with the ACTNow project. ACT keen to support Argyll and Bute Council in achieving Carbon Literate Organisation silver accreditation. ACT delivering Bikes Back to the Community with the support of Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding. ACT has two electric bikes available for groups and businesses and Councillors/Council officers to trial. ACT is the lead partner in a successful Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest bid to the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland fund– to facilitate private finance investment into habitat restoration. Contracts to research Project Standards and Integrity Charter, an Enterprise Model and apply to a pilot area within Argyll are underway. Concludes March 2025. ACT is preparing a proposal to Argyll and Bute Council to establish a Woodland Enterprise Hub at Kilmory (adjacent to MAKI Pups site) which will be the base and training site for ACT Rainforest Squad who can offer
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS woodland management services. This project has been supported by an award from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, and DRAX who has supported ACT to establish a Tree Nursery as part of the proposal. Other actions that ACT and partners are or seek to be engaged with are W2 – Promote the Waste Hierarchy through community Education: ACT are heavily involved in delivering Carbon Literacy training which includes Waste Hierarchy E2 – Delivery of Non-domestic Energy Efficiency Framework (NDEEF) Projects: ACT: some engagement with RGD and potential to stimulate circular economy via this, and grid constraints. Also how to capture this activity to include in what is currently happening v gap analysis E4 – Delivery of Water Efficiency Audits: This will also support resilience to a changing climate where we can expect hotter, drier summers, in addition to reducing carbon footprint E5– Delivery of Energy Efficiency Scotland Programme: ACT – Housing is one of the Community Planning
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Partnership’s overarching priorities. Keen to explore how CPP Climate Schange Strategy can complement this work, including local skills development, making homes fit for heatwaves as well as affordable warmth, and to what extent a unified voice across CPP partners can help with grid capacity E7 – Continue support of ABRA and review Renewable Energy Strategy annually: ACT note interest in the community in increasing community ownership share of renewables in order to support low carbon energy security and generate revenue E8 – Continue support for offshore development of renewables: Act as E7 above T2 – Develop a vehicle routing system that will reduce road miles for operations: ACT via CPP Climate Change Strategy project would be keen to explore how to encourage other Community Planning Partnership members to replicate under a joint climate strategy T3 – Develop an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy: As with T2 above – some CPP partners have
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS commented that this is a consideration constraining their transition to EVs T4 – Support Digital by Default theme Service Review & Recovery Plan to reduce need to travel: ACT: given the widespread nature of Argyll and Bute communities and settlements, measures that reduce need to travel are of particular strategic importance for Argyll and Bute both in terms of reducing emissions and reducing vulnerability, more so if adopted widely among CPP partners T5 – Develop new active travel plans for Council buildings and our towns: ACT: as in T4 above. This strongly supports the Community Planning Partnership’s outcome of Community Wellbeing in addition to Transport PA1 – Review Council Flooding & Coastal Protection Policy: ACT would welcome engagement with this including incorporating into a high level climate risk assessment for the regions, and also to scope opportunities to take forward elements such as enhancing community resilience pending availability of funding for complementary capital works
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS PA2 – Review Council Sustainable Procurement Policy: ACT would welcome greater engagement with this including how the CPP Climate Strategy could support implementation of the Policy in conjunction with Community Planning Partners such as under the Community Wealth Building workstream COMM1- Develop and deliver Communications Plan to support Decarbonisation Plan: ACT to feed into this where appropriate – currently via the CPP climate change signposting page Community Planning Partnership - Climate Change | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) COMM2 - Engage with community and partners and deliver Climate Change Directory for our region: This is not a specific work stream for ACT but the ACT NOW/ABCAN Hub network is heavily engaged in climate outreach COMM3 - Monitor the delivery of actions in the Climate Change Action Plan and review in 2024: ACT: the Decarbonisation Plan Tracker
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS provides an excellent model for monitoring progress complementing the formal public body Climate Duty reporting requirements and these should constitute the bulk of monitoring requirements for the CPP Climate Change Strategy for Argyll & Bute COMM1- Develop and deliver Communications Plan to support Decarbonisation Plan (L) Climate Change Board and Communications Team Delivery of Communications Plan Part of Communications Support External communications We continue to promote actions the council is taking, and actions that others can take, to develop climate- friendly Argyll and Bute. For example: • Promoting the Better Journeys Campaign • Rothesay travel consultation • New rapid EV chargers • Helensburgh safer walking and cycling • Tackling threat of climate change remains a priority (press release/social media) • Dunoon Active Travel • Sustainable Food Partnership • Islay High/ACT peat project • Beat the Street – encouraging people to walk • Oban active travel • Council continues to create climate friendly Argyll and
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS Bute (press release/social media) • St Columba’s Primary outdoor learning • Strone Primary Forester’s Award • Cut waste to landfill • Two separate two-week recycling campaigns • Tarbert travel consultation • Better Journeys travel apps • Did you know social media posts about bin calendars • SM post about council cutting carbon emissions • SM post about what your recycled products get made into • Rothesay pupils outdoor learning • 27 of our schools and nurseries have Eco-Schools Green Flag status • Mid Argyll travel app • How to reduce food waste • Be a great visitor campaign • Argyll’s rainforest • CGS pupil’s climate change art wins national award • Waste compliance funding • Bin review
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS COMM2 - Engage with community and partners and deliver Climate Change Directory for our region (L) Community Planning and Development Team Delivery of engagement map In place until end of financial year The CPP Climate Change signposting page is live https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/cpp- climate-change with further entries added as they are received. The dedicated Climate Change funding opportunities search, available through the signposting page, is conducted and an updated document produced on a regular basis. The Community Planning team established the CPP Climate Change Working Group which has developed a collaborative funding package and work to deliver a Climate Change Plan for the area. (see update on ACT and partners within this report) COMM3 - Monitor the delivery of actions in the Climate Change Action Plan and review in 2024 (L) Climate Change Board Review of this plan by December 2024 Monitored through Tracker to be submitted quarterly to Policy & Resources Committee. Completed – next review Dec 2024