Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Climate Change Committee will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 3  November 2022 at 10.30am.
Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance 

BUSINESS

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan    
        
2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.    
        
3. Presentation – National Parks
Taisbeanadh – Pàircean Nàiseanta

There will be a presentation by Mr Pete Rawcliffe, Head of the People and Places Activity, NatureScot on national parks.    
        
4. Edinburgh Declaration
Foillseachadh Dhùn Èideann

There is circulated Report No. CCC/01/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Infrastructure, Environment and Economy.

The Committee is asked to agree that Highland Council sign the Edinburgh Declaration.    
        
5. Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan
Ro-innleachd agus Plana Gnìomha Net Zero

There is circulated Report No. CCC/02/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to note:

i.   progress to date, and to agree that action plans detailing workstreams for each thematic group will be presented to the Climate Change Committee as part of Net Zero strategy workshops;
ii.  that all employees and Elected Members will have a role to play in delivering Net Zero and that significant resources from across the organisation will be required to develop and deliver a Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan for The Highland Council;
iii. additional resource is now in place within the Climate Change & Energy Team to facilitate the accelerated effort of the Net Zero thematic groups; and
iv.  workstreams to be prioritised over the coming months.    
        
6. Net Zero Strategy: Workshop Programming
Ro-innleachd Net Zero: Prògramadh Bùth-obrach

There is circulated Report No. CCC/03/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to:

i.   note the proposals on net zero strategy workshops and agree either Option 1 or Option 2; 
ii.  consider and comment upon opportunities for further training requirements;
iii. agree the need for Carbon Literacy training for Members;
iv.  consider and comment upon the current proposal for knowledge sharing on National frameworks & strategy; and
v.   consider and comment upon the current proposals for presentations from external partners.    
        
7. Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Commercialisation Options
Roghainnean Malairteachaidh Bun-structar Charbadan Dealain

There is circulated Report No. CCC/04/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to:

i.    note the need to attract commercial investment to meet the surging demand in EV charging and changing funding landscape;
ii.    note the progress to date on the Pathfinder Project which investigates alternative delivery models for EV public infrastructure; and
iii.    approve progressing the project to Discovery Phase, and then to a formal procurement procedure, based on the findings and recommendations from the Discovery Phase.    
        
8. Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Network – Tariff Review
Lìonra Bun-structair Charbadan Dealain – Ath-sgrùdadh Taraif

There is circulated Report No. CCC/05/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to:

i.   note that Highland Council EV charge points current tariff has been in place since 1 June 2021;
ii.  note the budget pressure the current tariff rate places on the Council; 
iii. note the business justification as laid out in this report; and 
iv.  approve a tariff increase based on the recommendation of Option 3 within Appendix 1 to the report, as of 1 December 2022 in order to:
• Alleviate an existing revenue pressure;
• Bring Highland Council tariff charging policy in line with other Scottish Local Authorities, the private market and recent energy increases;
• Ensure vital income to maintain low carbon transport connectivity assets for, and to, our city and rural communities;
• Provide resource to maintain management of EV Infrastructure (6.1); and
• Ensure the income budget remains in line with rising operational costs.    
        
9. Energy Benchmarking of Property Estate
Comharrachadh-beinnse Lùtha na h-Oighreachd Seilbhe

There is circulated Report No. CCC/06/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to approve the progression of the proposed project and the distribution/awareness of the associated information deliverables.     
        
10. Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme Update
Alba Lùth Èifeachdach: Cunntas às Ùr mun Sgeama Stèidhichte air Àite 

There is circulated Report No. CCC/07/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report and agree that the Climate Change & Energy Team should present at local committees to raise awareness of the Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme programme.    
        
11. Salix Recycling Funding
Maoineachadh Ath-chuairteachaidh Salix

There is circulated Report No. CCC/08/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report.    
        
12. Climate Change Corporate Risk 
Aithris air Cunnart Corporra

There is circulated Report No. CCC/09/22 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to:

i.   agree the revised risk template on Climate Change and Ecological Emergency at Appendix 1 of the report for inclusion in the Council’s Corporate Risk Register;
ii.  note the revised template will also come to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at the end of November;
iii. note a Service Risk Register will be developed detailing risks and actions at an operational level; and
iv.  agree Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Risks will be considered by the Climate Change Committee on a quarterly basis.    
        
13.Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting)
Atharrachadh Gnàth-shìde (Dleastanasan Bhuidhnean Poblach; Aithris)

There is circulated Report No. CCC/10/22 2022 by the Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance.

The Committee is asked to note the:

i.   changes in reporting Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting);
ii.  requirement to report a ‘zero emission’ target on direct emissions;
iii. proposed place holder submission on scope 3 emissions until a full baseline exercise has been completed;
iv.  need for alignment of spend with targeted emission reductions;
v.   requirement for a Council adaptation strategy aligned with the Climate Change reporting; and
vi.  opportunity to use the reporting as a toolkit for the Council’s wider delivery of net zero.