Climate Change Board Update and Decarbonisation Tracker
Argyll and Bute Council · 15 February 2024
Back to Policy and Resources Committee — 15 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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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD 15th February 2024 CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD UPDATE & DECARBONISATION TRACKER 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Argyll and Bute Council continues to address climate change themes through its established Climate Change Board, and to take action informed by the Decarbonisation Plan 2022-25 which is underpinned by the Decarbonisation Tracker. 1.2 Recent severe weather events in Argyll and Bute have confirmed the need to focus upon adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Use of Adaptation Scotland resources and toolkits, and taking up membership of the Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network, will support progress in developing climate change adaptation plans. 1.3 The annual Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report for 2022/23 has been submitted by Argyll and Bute Council. Headline data confirms that Argyll and Bute Council’s carbon emissions for the reporting period has reduced to 26,512 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, continuing the downwards trend from 2015/16 baseline reporting year. 1.4 The purpose of this report is to summarise and highlight some of the main activities of the Climate Change Board over the previous quarter. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Policy and Resources Committee are asked to note and consider the updates contained at Section 5 of the report and full Decarbonisation Tracker update attached at Appendix A.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY & RESOURCES COMMITTEE CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD 15th February 2024 CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD UPDATE & DECARBONISATION TRACKER 3.0 INTRODUCTION 3.1 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 and is useful to provide an update of key contributors to the Council’s climate actions. The Council’s Decarbonisation Plan 2022-25 aligns with the Council’s main emissions sources, and maps out actions required to achieve net zero by 2045. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 The Policy and Resources Committee are asked to note and consider the updates contained at Section 5 of the report and the full Decarbonisation Tracker update contained within Appendix A. 5.0 SUMMARY UPDATES OF CLIMATE CHANGE BOARD A - Climate Change Adaptation 5.1 Severe rainfall experienced across Argyll and Bute in October 2023 has highlighted the seriousness of impacts and risks associated with climate change. The region experienced a number of landslips, and significant surface flooding impacting the road network, communities, business and access to essential services. 5.2 Adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change is critical to ensuring resilience to the projected changes in our weather. Climate projections for the West of Scotland confirm that we are likely to experience: • Warmer and drier summers • Milder wetter winters, with less snow and frost
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• More severe rainfall events • More variable weather • Increasing sea levels This creates challenges in safeguarding our buildings, assets, transport infrastructure and ensuring the Council can continue to deliver essential services when and where these are needed. In recognition of this, Argyll and Bute Council identified climate change adaptation as one of the six themes within its Decarbonisation Plan 2022 - 2025. 5.3 In October 2023, Argyll and Bute Council was accepted to join the Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network, facilitated by Adaptation Scotland. Through participation with the Network, the Council will benefit from: • Training and skills development covering topics such as risk assessment, public engagement and project planning • Advice and support on using the Adaptation Scotland Capability Framework and Benchmarking Tool • Opportunities to network and receive peer support • Space to reflect on learning and share experience with others 5.4 Argyll & Bute Council’s Climate Change Officer continues to progress work on the Adaptation Scotland Starter Pack and Benchmarking Tool to review and assess the Council’s climate change adaptation capabilities. Participation in the Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network will support this process. B - Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report 5.5 Public sector bodies play a key role in meeting Scotland’s climate change legislation that sets out a key target date for net zero emissions for all greenhouse gases by 2045. Public bodies are required to report annually on compliance with climate change duties established under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Mandatory reporting commenced in 2015/16. 5.6 Argyll and Bute Council has completed and submitted the annual Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report for 2022/23. This was completed with data and narrative input from cross-Council services and submitted to the Sustainable Scotland Network ahead of deadline in November 2023. Headline data confirms that the Council’s total carbon emissions for the year 2022/23 is 26,512 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This represents a reduction of 1,705 tCO2e compared to 2021/22 total emissions (28,217 tCO2e). Further analysis of the Council’s emissions data will be provided in a future Policy and Resource’s Committee report. 5.7 Sustainable Scotland Network is currently completing a quality assurance process across all Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Reports. An Analysis Report identifying key trends and examples of good practice will be published by Sustainable Scotland Network in Spring 2024.
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5.8 With regards to continuous improvement, the Council has shared its 2022/23 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report with North Ayrshire Council as continuation of a reciprocal peer review process established last year. Feedback from last year’s peer review process has informed this year’s submission. C – Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) 5.9 The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) aims to decarbonise heat in buildings and improve energy efficiency across the local authority area. The process involves local authorities identifying how each segment of the building stock needs to change to meet national objectives, including achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector and removing poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty. In addition, strategic decarbonisation zones must be identified, and the necessary measures for reducing building emissions within each zone must be outlined. Finally, the LHEES must prioritise areas for delivery based on national and local policies. The LHEES also provides a strategic plan for directing government funding and private investment towards decarbonising heat. 5.10 The process includes several stages, starting broadly and becoming more focused and action-oriented. Please refer to Figure 1. Figure 1: The LHEES process Due to tight timelines for the LHEES, the Council is collaborating with northern Scottish councils through the HUB North network to attempt to reduce the time required for each stage. 5.11 The Council has completed the first three stages of the LHEES, namely the Policy and Strategy Review, the creation of a Data and Tools Library, and the identification of Strategic Zones and Pathways. Two additional stages, the
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Generation of Initial Delivery Areas and the Building Level Assessment, are partially complete and the remainder is expected to be concluded by mid- January. Stage 6 is currently in the planning phase, and stakeholder workshops will take place in February, these workshops will assist us to finalise the delivery areas. The final two stages are anticipated to be completed late /spring early summer. D - Scottish Government Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme 5.12 To date, since 1st July 2023, Argyll and Bute Council has spent £870,000 of a £1,979,827 budget awarded by the Scottish Government Energy Efficient Scotland – Area Based Scheme (ABS), insulating privately owned and privately rented properties in mainland and island addresses. 5.13 Non-means tested grants of between £9,000 and £21,000 are available to all eligible households for the application of insulation, significantly reducing household consumption of energy on a “Fabric First” basis and contributing towards the Scottish Government carbon reduction targets. Additionally, a joint project in conjunction with Argyll Community Housing Association in Bute and Tarbert was awarded a grant of £633,600. E - Carbon Neutral Islands Programme 5.14 The Scottish Government Carbon Neutral Islands project aims to support six islands to become carbon neutral by 2040. The six islands participating in the programme are Islay, Barra, Great Cumbrae, Hoy, Raasay and Yell. Each island has completed carbon audits, developed community climate change action plans and climate change investment strategies which will identify learning and good practice that can be shared with other Scottish islands. 5.15 Argyll and Bute Council will sit on the newly formed Local Authority Advisory Group with the aim of supporting implementation of the Carbon Neutral Island’s project, ensuring alignment and co-ordination with wider Local Authority activity, and reciprocal sharing of information. F - 20 Minute Neighbourhoods 5.16 The Scottish Government defines the concept of 20 Minute Neighbourhoods as: ‘where people can meet their needs within a 20 minute walk from their house – enabling people to live better, healthier lives and supporting our net zero ambitions.’ 5.17 In support of both local businesses and the 20 Minute Neighbourhood concept, the Council has continued to support the Argyll and Bute Gift Card. In the pre- Christmas period, the Council ran a competition to design the next batch of cards and promoted the Argyll & Bute Gift Card online.
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G – Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) Climate Change Projects Update 5.18 Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) has established two new projects complementing ongoing work on climate change: • Argyll and Bute Climate Action – Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Strategy • ABCAN (Argyll & Bute Climate Action Network) Hub, funded by the Scottish Government 5.19 The purpose of the Argyll and Bute Climate Action – Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Strategy project is to undertake a climate risk assessment for Argyll & Bute as a region and to develop a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan comprising an integrated set of adaptation, mitigation and engagement actions. Argyll & Bute Council with other Community Planning Partnership partners have provided funding for a Project Manager for two years, with a Steering Group drawn from the Climate Change Working Group of the Community Planning Partnership. The Project Manager is employed by Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT), and started in post on 30 October 2023. 5.20 The emphasis of early phase activity has been to learn from existing initiatives to inform development of a methodology appropriate to the specific needs of Argyll and Bute and the timescale for the exercise. This will build upon and add value to existing climate-related work and duties across the region rather than replicate or replace activity. Next steps include an engagement programme, continuation of audit and gap analysis, mitigation and adaptation risk and opportunity methodology development. This project will continue to report in detail to the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership. 5.21 The new ABCAN Hub project will give a voice to community-led climate action, help to co-ordinate activities and support communities in progressing towards a net zero Argyll and Bute. Additionally, it will raise awareness of carbon impacts, and mitigate key climate themes. With Scottish Government funding, the ABCAN Hub project will establish a network of hubs based in each locality, providing staff resource to co-ordinate and build on current climate activities, deliver carbon literacy training, facilitate climate conversations, provide seed funding for climate mitigation, engage with hard-to-reach groups and identify opportunities for partnership working. The project is overseen by a collaboration between ACT, Argyll & Bute Third Sector Interface and Time for Change Argyll & Bute, and is part of ACT’s ongoing ACT Now project. The ABCAN Hub project will ensure that Argyll & Bute has a cohesive approach to tackling climate change in its communities.
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5.22 The ABCAN Hub project is ideally placed to support the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Climate Action project with grassroots engagement, alongside other Climate Action Hubs in Scotland. 6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 This report provides various updates in relation to the Council’s activities in relation to Climate Change. 7.0 IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Policy – Meeting obligations and commitment to Climate Change. 7.2 Financial – No direct linkage in this paper. 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. 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 Climate Change & Environment, Councillor Ross Moreland 15 January 2024 For Further Information:- Ross McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Services Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre ross.mclaughlin@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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APPENDICES Appendix A – Climate Change Decarbonisation Tracker – February 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 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 currently purchase SUP products consider whether these products are essential
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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 have been updated to include a question regarding SUP.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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. 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 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,
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS • Climate Change 21/22 - £600K • Asset Sustainability – £175K 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. 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. 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.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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. 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. 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 £870,000 of a £1,979,827 budget awarded by the Scottish Governments Energy Efficient Scotland – Area Based Scheme (ABS), insulating privately owned and privately rented properties in mainland and island addresses. Non-means tested grants
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS of between £9,000 and £21,000 are available to all eligible households for the application of insulation, significantly reducing household consumption of energy on a “Fabric First” basis contributing towards both the Councils and Scottish Governments carbon reduction targets. Additionally, a joint project in conjunction with Argyll Community Housing Association in Bute and Tarbert was awarded a grant of £633,600. E6 – Complete LED streetlight replacement programme (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Evidence of delivery of projects Fully funded through prudential borrowing Contractors have now commenced works in the Lorn Area to progress the last installation phase of the project. Works have gone well though there is still approx.230 Luminaires to be upgraded to LED in the Lorn Area – The Luminaires are on order – Works should be completed early 2024. The Council has 14442 streetlights in total so carbon emissions have already been greatly reduced by the LED Upgrade Project. 2022/23 figures were CO2 totals 673 tonnes, this has been reducing year on year, back in 2015/16 figures were CO2 Totals 3140 tonnes. 2023/24emissions are forecast to be reduced again. YTD (End Of October – Carbon Totals 334)
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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 Work to support ABRA ongoing, the next meeting is planned for March 2024. Current ongoing project by SSE Networks for renewal of powerlines between Inveraray and Crossaig, further works to follow to increase capacity to 275kv. The outline business case for Islay Energy System work through the Rural Growth Deal has been submitted to Government. The Islay Carbon Neutral Islands project has produced an action plan and we are awaiting further information from the Scottish Government to understand how this is expected to be taken forward. 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 Islay site (Machair Wind) project , expected to seek consent during the mid 2020s. The Crown Estate Scotland Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing has identified a site off Islay for a 100MW innovation project. 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 There is a further report on this going to EDI in March. The project has slipped against the original project timeline due to the project manager being away on a short-term
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS secondment and staff time having been taken up with the October weather event and the RIS service review. The project manager is now back in post and looking to restart progress meetings etc and revise the project plan. The data gathering around our routes and the cleansing and verification of the data is proving more onerous than originally thought but this is a key step to provide the system with the correct foundations. The work to cleanse the data with the support of the contracted supplier is ongoing, and the second workstream to bring in the hardware for RCVs is about to begin. T3 – Develop an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy (L) Roads and Infrastructure Services Evidence of delivery of projects Part for current financial year 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 The strategy and expansion plan is in place – we cannot move forward with a delivery programme until such time 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
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND
PARTNERS
TARGET or
MILESTONE
FUNDING COMMENTS
chargers across the area in the last
quarter of 2023 and these are
coming on stream which brings our
network up to 37 chargers.
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.
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.
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 potential funding to
deliver active travel improvements.
2022/23 Progress
The 1.7FTE Active Travel Team
secured £3.03M external challenge
funding in 22/23 for development
and delivery of 32 active travel
projects across Argyll and Bute,
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 externalPage 18
ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS requiring 22 separate competitive challenge funding applications to 8 separate funds. Projects funded via the active travel team within Strategic Transportation in 2022/23 included: • First two sections of high-quality segregated cycleway in Argyll and Bute constructed at Helensburgh Waterfront and Ralston Road, Campbeltown in 2022/23. • Significant upgrade to path network in Castle Gardens, Dunoon. • New cycle and scooter storage and access at Castlehill School, Campbeltown. • 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 and to assist children of refugees in Oban to have opportunity to cycle. • Funded ACT to deliver Carbon Literacy training to over 30 people. • Creation of new Smartphone Apps for Tobermory and Bowmore (adding to the existing popular 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 summer 2024. The Active Travel Strategy would provide 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 third sector organisations who are paid to
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS apps for Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Oban and Rothesay) • Printed Active Travel Map Helensburgh • Design work progressed for ambitious walking and cycling projects including: - Dunoon, Town Centre to Hunters Quay Active Travel route. - Helensburgh: Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath and Helensburgh – Garelochhead Cycleway. - Islay, Bowmore to Bridgend Path (with Islay Community Access Group). - Jura, Craighouse to Corran Sands Active Travel Improvements. - Lochgilphead: Front Green to Crinan Canal and Town Centre to Joint Campus Active Travel Routes. - Rothesay, Town Centre to Joint Campus Active Travel Improvements. - Oban, Oban to Ganavan Sands Active Travel Improvements and Community engagement to identify desire for future active travel improvements in Oban. 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. 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: At present it is not proposed to progress with development of a Council Staff Travel Plan. This is due to (a) requirement to make best use of limited internal
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS staff capacity; and, (b) the ongoing uncertainty of longer-term staff profiles and bases. 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, HR, SMT and building users. It is recommended that work on the Council Staff Travel Plan is commenced after a decision has been made on future staff working patterns and office rationalisation as these will have a significant impact on the Council Staff and their travel. There is currently no funding secured to enable this work to be progressed. 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.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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. 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. Sites are confirmed and legal agreements being finalised. This planting will offer opportunities for carbon credits for landowners.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS ACT is hosting the Community Planning Partnership’s Climate Action Manager who will be developing a Climate Action Strategy and Action Plan over the next 2 years. 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 Hub team will engage with communities and organisations to encourage and support activity and engage with the strategic work of CPP supported post. ACT undertaking peatland restoration on Islay, Jura and extending into mainland Argyll, supported by ScotGov’s Peatland Action and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. In addition to the 2 Islay based jobs, we will be offering a 1- year trainee position in 2024. 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.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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 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.
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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 easier recycling on Coll and Tiree • HMPA SG consultation response • Council calls for ban on single use disposable vapes • Council and ATC nomination for Planning Awards for Argyll rainforest project • Council achieves bronze carbon literate award • Council calls for clarity on deposit return scheme • Promotion of home efficiency projects – insulated over 160 households to date • Landfill ban – request meeting with SG Minister • Food waste service campaign to encourage more Helensburgh and Lomond residents to use their caddies – ‘Bucket Load of Good’ • Promotion of ongoing Campbeltown Flood Prevention Scheme • Free active travel apps
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS • Hermitage Park green flag status • Funding for additional EV charging points • Increased funding announcement for Energy Efficiency Scheme • Green Summer campaign – series of posts encouraging people to adopt small changes - School uniform recycling scheme - Plastic free picnics - International plastic free bag day - Shop Local - Reduce fast fashion - Active travel maps - National Marine Week - World Conservation Day • New Campbeltown cycle path • Dunoon active travel route consultation • Helensburgh active travel route consultation • Supporting Communities Fund. • Highlighted Corporate Plan including climate action • Built environment Planning Awards
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS • Transport Scotland funding for cleaner, greener council fleet • Lochgilphead Active Travel consultation and reminders • Installation of solar panels at council offices • Net zero target commitments • Improvements at household waste recycling centres • Council agrees projects to address biodiversity loss • Better journeys campaign – to encourage more people to mix and match journeys - teasers before official launch in January 2024 • Christmas recycling tips • Cascade – have a greener Christmas • Cascade – tips for leftovers 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
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ACTION LEAD (L) AND PARTNERS TARGET or MILESTONE FUNDING COMMENTS 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