EIR Request - Climate Action Strategies
Request 101003387481
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1. How many councils have you formally collaborated with on climate action initiatives in the past 12 months?
2. Do you have a formal process for sharing information and best practices with other councils? If yes, please provide a link to the documentation outlining this process.
3. Do you have a dedicated team or individual responsible for monitoring climate action initiatives undertaken by other councils?
4. Do you subscribe to any databases, newsletters, or other resources that provide updates on other councils' climate actions? If yes, please list them.
5. How many public consultations or surveys related to climate action have you conducted in the past 12 months?
6. What percentage of businesses in your jurisdiction have been formally engaged in your climate action plans?
7. Do you have a scoring or ranking system for prioritising climate actions? If yes, please provide a link to the documentation outlining this system. If no, how do you currently prioritise potential actions?
8. What are the most significant barriers you face in implementing climate action initiatives?
9. Do you have a formal process for discovering, evaluating and adopting climate solutions from private sector suppliers? If yes, please provide a link to the documentation outlining this process.
10. How many people in the council have roles that focus on environmental issues? Please provide job titles and an indication of whether they are part or full time roles. If these could be listed in order of seniority it would also be helpful.
11. What percentage of your annual budget is specifically allocated for climate action initiatives?
12. Do you have a sustainable procurement policy? If yes, please provide a link to the policy document.
13. Do you have any case studies highlighting successful climate action initiatives? If yes, please provide links.
Response 21-09-2023
1. All Scottish Local Authorities (LA) can be members of Sustainable Scotland network who regularly meet and exchange information. All Scottish LAs meet to discuss Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) development. With Hub North, the eight northern and island LAs meet to discuss LHEES and joint working, Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray meet formally and informally to exchange information. Individual sections (fleet, property, procurement etc) meet with colleagues collaborate on opportunities relating to their fields of work.
2. No
3. No
4. Yes - Sustainable Scotland Network https://sustainablescotlandnetwork.org/
5. Public engagement concerning the development of the Local Development Plan includes a substantial amount on climate change, adaptation, community perspectives of energy, climate opportunities etc.
6. Not held - Numbers not recorded. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. Businesses are engaged around LHEES and heat network opportunities, growth deal projects, procurement opportunities
7. No, priorities are around opportunities to enact change (including availability of external funds) and targeting larger emissions.
8. Lack of funds, lack of technological alternatives (eg large fleet vehicles),
9. No
10. Three dedicated climate change officers - principle climate change strategy officer, 2x climate change strategy officers, however numerous roles in the council are engaged on environmental issues - from environmental health to open spaces, access etc.
11. Not held - Not recorded as individual works are included in departmental budget many of which will have climate change implications. For example, almost all applications for external funding will have to be CC compliant and support the journey to net zero. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
12. Procurement policy includes sustainability and commitment to climate change in line with Scottish Government regulations. This information is available on the council website and therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file70120.pdf
13. Case studies and information are collected on our public facing CC website page and therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_136444.html
Supplementary question
1. Not beneficial - there are already a number of online and face-to-face collaboration forums for climate change, project management, specific ones for CC building projects etc. This is complimented by networking organisations like APSE and sector networking organisations (procurement, fleet, property, adaptation, energy etc) I'm not sure what benefit another online resource would be when officers don’t have time to use all of the existing online resources.