Review of the potential role

of Community Planning

Partnerships in assisting

meeting the aspirations of the

Scottish Government’s Report

on Policies and Proposals

Report to South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership prepared by CAG Consultants

February 2014

Contents Page

Executive Summary

1. Introduction

2. Why CPPs should act on climate change

2.1 Climate change as a responsibility of CPPs and public bodies

2.2 Climate change as a framework for integrated action

2.3 Climate change and funding for action

2.4 The CPP as the home for action on climate change

3. Carbon emissions for South Ayrshire

4. Analysis of possible actions

4.1 The RPP by section: Key policies and support mechanisms

4.2 Summary of projects for consideration

5. Conclusions and Next Steps

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Appraisal Matrix

Appendix 2: List of phone interviews and acknowledgements

Appendix 3: Detailed project plans

Executive Summary The Carbon Trust Scotland commissioned CAG Consultants to undertake a review

of the work of South Ayrshire CPP and the potential for further action in support of

the Scottish Government’s Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP). The aim of

this work is to help focus the resources of CPPs (in this case South Ayrshire) to

make the best possible contribution to a low carbon society and the economic, social

and environmental benefits that it delivers.

The work involved research on the policy context, the current work of the CPP and

the funding available for further action. Discussions were held with the South

Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership and with a number of key individuals working in

South Ayrshire.

Drawing together all this research, this report sets out:

The reasons why CPPs and public bodies should act on climate change

Carbon emissions for South Ayrshire by sector, with analysis

Fifteen possible actions for South Ayrshire CPP that would help address climate

change while also delivering wider benefits

It shows that there is significant scope for further action on climate change by the

CPP, that this work could draw in new funding, and that it could also help meet the

wider economic, social and environmental priorities of the Community Planning

Partnership and the bodies involved. Three areas which appear particularly

promising are detailed below:

Further development of plans for housing retrofit

‘Smarter’ working by public bodies

Community engagement on waste issue

The report concludes with a series of recommendations to the CPP that may also be

of interest to the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Sustainable Scotland

Network, with regards the potential to provide further support to CPPs in acting on

climate change.

1. Introduction Upon request from South Ayrshire Council, Carbon Trust Scotland commissioned

CAG Consultants to undertake a review of the work of South Ayrshire CPP and the

potential for further action in support of the Scottish Government’s Report on

Policies and Proposals (RPP). The aim of this work is to help focus the resources

of CPPs (in this case South Ayrshire) to make the best possible contribution to a low

carbon society and the economic, social and environmental benefits that it delivers.

The Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP) provides detail on the likely impact

of current and future policy on emissions across a wide range of policy areas. The

RPP was created to demonstrate how the Government and wider Scottish society

can deliver on the commitments made in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act

2009. The Act represents perhaps the most ambitious climate change legislation

anywhere in the world, with a target of a 42% cut in emissions by 2020 and 80% by

2050. A second RPP, covering the period up to 2027, is in preparation.

This report sets out:

The reasons why CPPs and public bodies should act on climate change

Carbon emissions for South Ayrshire by sector, with analysis

An appraisal of 15 possible actions for South Ayrshire CPP including 3 areas for

particular consideration

Recommendations and next steps

1.1 Methodology

The first stage of this study involved detailed desk based research on:

The RPP and the wider Scottish, UK and European policy framework for action –

both on climate change directly and on related areas such as transport and

land use. The aim was to set the study within the policy context and identify

drivers and possible funding for work by the CPP.

The existing and planned work of the South Ayrshire Community Planning

Partnership and the main organisations represented on the Partnership.

This research was set out in a matrix (Appendix 1) which mapped current and

possible future actions against the commitments of the RPP. A workshop with

members of the South Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership to discuss the study and the

scope for action was then held in Ayr on 5th December 2012. Following this meeting

the matrix was updated.

The third strand of the methodology was a series of phone interviews with some key

organisations with potential to contribute to further action. (Appendix 2)

Drawing all this work together a draft report was prepared and circulated to members

of the Sustainability Partnership, and then reviewed at their meeting on the 6th

February 2013.

Following comments this final report was prepared. It shows both that action on

climate change is a requirement on all CPPs and public bodies, but also the significant

benefits, in terms of wider outcomes, that can flow from adopting climate change as a

theme running across CPP work. In these economically challenging times a range of

financial support can also be accessed for such work.

2. Why CPPs should act on climate change Community Planning Partnerships, local authorities and the public sector will for the

foreseeable future be working within the context of declining budgets, in turn

placing pressure on the human and financial resources available to meet a wide

range of responsibilities and priorities.

Within this context, action on climate change and sustainable development is likely

to come under pressure. However, there are a range of reasons why action on

climate should be maintained:

It is a statutory responsibility for all public bodies.

Climate change and sustainable development can provide a framework within

which integrated and innovative approaches to policy can be taken, which can

meet economic, social and environmental objectives together, often at lower

overall costs.

There are a range of funding sources available for work on climate change and

huge opportunities to work collaboratively. This means that in some cases

climate change action can generate revenue.

The CPP is the obvious home for much action on climate change, with real

potential for joint working with benefits to all.

2.1 Climate change as a responsibility for CPPs and public bodies

Councils and other public bodies are bound by the Public Bodies Duties in the

Climate Change Act.

This requires all public bodies to1:

contribute to achievement of emissions reduction targets (mitigation)

support climate change adaptation

to act sustainably

The statutory guidance associated with these duties provides a 'step-by-step'

approach to assist public bodies in integrating climate change into their business

practices. This includes:

Understanding their duties and assessing their impact and influence on climate

change

Taking action using a variety of tools and techniques

Reporting as a means of demonstrating compliance

Each step within the process contains a set of desired outcomes and suggested

actions to take to assist in meeting these.

All public bodies in South Ayrshire should review the Guidance and consider what it

means for their strategy, policy and operations. All partners on the South Ayrshire

Community Planning Partnership Board jointly signed up to the Scottish Climate

Change Declaration on 20th April 2011. This represents a clear commitment of all the

public bodies to action, and a good basis for exploring the potential for further

action in a range of areas.

Whilst the most recent guidance on Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs)

(December 2012)2 does not include climate change as an explicitly stated priority,

the Scottish Government has indicated in recent correspondence with South

Ayrshire CPP that it expects climate change to continue to be a central issue for

SOAs and CPPs in future.

Single Outcome Agreements also sit within the overarching National Performance

Framework which includes the national outcomes: ‘We value and enjoy our built and

natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations’, and ‘We

reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and

1 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/02/04093254/0

2 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/12/041212Prevention

production’. These remain outcomes which local authorities and their partners are

expected to work towards. They are supported by a range of national indicators

relating to carbon footprint, public transport, waste, renewable electricity and

biodiversity.

The Menu of local outcome indicators includes:

Fuel Poverty

CO2 emissions per capita

Percentage of journeys made to work by public or active transport

Percentage of driver journeys delayed due to congestion

Percentage of children walking or cycling to school

These are all specifically linked to climate change action. The menu also includes a

range of indicators in related areas such as waste and access to the outdoors.

2.2 Climate change as a framework for integrated action

Driven by the requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, at the

national level the Scottish Government has integrated climate change across all

relevant policy areas, with a focus on low carbon communities. This has proved

useful in developing joined-up work that helps meet a wide range of economic,

social and environmental objectives together and more effectively. Key elements of

this are:

Economic

development

The Low Carbon Economic Strategy is an integral part of the

Government’s Economic Strategy and plans for sustainable economic

growth. It aims to ensure that at least 10% of the Scottish economy is in

low carbon goods and services by 2015, creating 60,000 jobs. COSLA are

key partners in the delivery of this strategy, along with Scottish

Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.

Transport The National Transport Strategy has three Key Strategic Outcomes – two

of these are Reduce emissions to tackle climate change; and Improve

quality, accessibility and affordability of transport, to give people the

choice of public transport and real alternatives to the car

Planning The National Planning Framework 2 is based around the idea of low

carbon and sustainable communities. All national developments are

expected to make a significant contribution to adapting to or mitigating

the effects of climate change. NPF3 is currently in development and the

commitment to action on climate change is expected to be strong.

Land Use Scotland’s Land Use Strategy was driven by the requirements of the

Climate Change Act. The Strategy seeks to promote land management

that will deliver multiple benefits, provide partnerships for nature and link

people to the land.

Waste Local authorities are directly involved in the delivery of the Zero Waste

Plan. The Plan recognises the link between cutting waste and cutting

carbon emissions and the scope for seeing waste as a resource which

offers economic opportunities. Within South Ayrshire there is potential for

development of AD plants and to develop new resource management

businesses. More widely local business could benefit from enhancing

resource efficiency. All these actions are likely to have employment

benefits.

Energy The Scottish Government has published an energy efficiency action plan,

Conserve and Save, and set a target for a 12% reduction in final energy

consumption by 2020. This addresses action across housing, transport

and industry and also by the public sector. Scotland also has a

commitment for 100% renewable electricity by 2020.

Housing Homes Fit for the 21st Century is a strategy and action plan for housing

for this decade and guidance supporting action on climate change is being

integrated into Local Housing Strategies (LHS). Homes that don’t cost the

earth, a Sustainable Housing Strategy, will be published in the coming

months.

Just as the Government has adopted climate change as a thread running across a

wide range of policy areas, local authorities and CPPs can, by addressing climate

change, also impact positively on a range of other policy areas.

CAG has undertaken previous analysis of all Scotland’s SOAs on behalf of Scottish

Environment Link3. This highlighted a number of examples of good practice in

recognising these links. For example, in Clackmannanshire, the local outcome ‘the

environment is protected and enhanced for all’ is seen to contribute not just to

national outcome 12 (natural and built environment) and 14 (environmental impact

of consumption and production) but also national outcomes 10 (well, designed

sustainable places), 1 (making Scotland the most attractive place to do business in

3 Delivering for the environment in our communities: An audit of Single Outcome Agreements, February

2011.

Europe) and 6 (health). It states ‘protecting and enhancing our environment gives

an attractive location for enterprises, visitors and tourists, generates a platform for

business opportunities; it gives opportunities for activity, recreation which promote

health improvement; it promotes community spirit and pride’.

In developing a new SOA for South Ayrshire there is scope to better integrate action

at the strategic level – this is dealt with directly in 2.4 below. There is also scope to

develop a range of projects and actions that help not just to cut emissions but also

to reduce costs, improve health, create employment and stimulate the economy.

Some examples are set out in Chapter 4.

2.3 Climate change and funding for action

The current financial settlement for public bodies is challenging and will remain so

for many years. Within this context it is essential that new action on climate change

can draw in external funding wherever possible. The research highlights a range of

potential sources.

The launch of the Green Deal and ECO will provide significant new funds for

investment in domestic and non-domestic energy. Funding for energy management

measures also flows from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed In-

Tariffs (FITs), the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS), the Energy

Assistance Package (EAP) and the Warm Homes Fund (WHF). Funding is also

available from the Scottish Government for specific projects such as the

development of Heat Maps.

Corporate actions in the Public sector, such as on office sharing, staff energy

awareness or smarter working can either be cost neutral or actually save money.

Low Carbon Transport Loans are available to support a wide range of transport

initiatives. Projects on farming, forestry and waste can also draw in grants and

can also help enhance the viability of rural communities.

It is also worth noting that all the projects identified have wider economic, social

and environmental benefits. In many cases, action on climate change can help drive

more integrated and efficient ways of working, both within the public sector and in

partnership with business and communities.

2.4 The CCP as the home for action on climate change

The public sector is directly responsible for around 2% of emissions4, with local

authorities by far the largest contributors to this. Public bodies also have greater

4 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/07/9583/2

potential for influence on emissions through their delivery of services and by wider

engagement through the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and Single

Outcome Agreement (SOA). The RPP makes it clear that public bodies and

Community Planning Partnerships have an important role in helping meet Scotland’s

targets.

A range of mechanisms underpin and support action. In terms of corporate

emissions all 32 local authorities, and around 150 public sector organisations, have

adopted the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Plan process, with the Carbon

Reduction Commitment (CRC) also driving action on corporate emissions.

Other initiatives assisting local authorities to act include the Public Sector Climate

Action Group (currently being reformed) and the Sustainable Scotland Network,

both backed by government. The Climate Challenge Fund is also being used to

engage communities, often supported by public bodies.

South Ayrshire CPP has taken a lead in responding to the challenge of climate

change. Members have signed the Scottish Climate Change Declaration which

includes commitment 5 to ‘Encourage and work with others in our local community

to take action to adapt to the impact of climate change, to reduce their own

greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action.’5

A Better Future Together, the current South Ayrshire Community Plan, identifies

‘To combat climate change and encourage lifestyles which have a lower impact on

our natural environment’ as one of 10 key issues for the area. The South Ayrshire

Single Outcome Agreement 2009-12 includes actions linked to all 15 National

Outcomes and 18 local outcomes identified as priorities for South Ayrshire. Local

Outcomes include LO16 South Ayrshire’s carbon emissions are substantially

reduced, supported by Strategic Objectives and Indicators.

2.4.1 The new Ayrshire SOA – challenges and opportunities

A new SOA for South Ayrshire is currently in development. It is welcome that

Sustainability and Carbon Management are two of the three underpinning themes

for Council Priorities, SOA Priorities and Current Plans and Strategies.

Given the commitment to Carbon Management and Sustainability, it is important

that this is integrated into the Council and SOA Priorities. There is significant scope

for doing so and realising a number of key tangible benefits.

5 http://climatechange.sustainable-scotland.net/

Figure 1: Council Priorities and links to climate change

The draft SOA Priorities also have clear links to climate change action (Figure 2).

In finalising the new South Ayrshire Single Outcome Agreement the challenge will be

to ensure the effective integration of the Sustainability and Carbon Management

underpinning themes into Council Priorities, SOA Priorities and also Current Plans

and Strategies.

Figure 2: SOA priorities and links to climate change

3. Carbon Emissions for South Ayrshire The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) produce estimates of CO2

emissions at local authority level. These estimates are currently available for the

period 2005-2010.

As can be seen in figure 3, below, per capita emissions in South Ayrshire have risen

overall during that period. The overall trajectory in Scotland as a whole between

2005 and 2010 was downwards. This highlights the scale of the challenge for South

Ayrshire in effectively contributing to the national targets for emissions reductions.

Figure 3: Per Capita CO2 emissions (t)

Figure 4: Principle sources of CO2 emissions, South Ayrshire, 2010

Source: DECC

Figures 4 and 5 show the principle sources of CO2 emissions in South Ayrshire and

Scotland respectively. These demonstrate that domestic and road transport

emissions comprise a higher percentage of overall emissions in South Ayrshire than

in Scotland as a whole. However, emissions from industry and commercial sources

are still the most significant overall. Figure 6 provides a more detailed breakdown of

the different sources of emissions. This highlights the importance of efforts to

reduce electricity consumption in industrial and commercial activity, to cut domestic

gas consumption and to reduce emissions from road transport on A-roads. It also

shows the significant carbon sink impact of forestry and land use in South Ayrshire.

Figure 5: Principle sources of CO2 emissions, Scotland, 2010

Source: DECC

Figure 6: Estimates of CO2 emissions by sector, South Ayrshire, 2010.

Source: DECC

4. Analysis of possible actions The key Government policies and support mechanisms for each of the 6 sections of

the RPP are summarised in 4.1 (below), supported by comment on some of the

potential areas that South Ayrshire CPP could consider acting on.

4.1 The RPP by section: Key policies and support

mechanisms Homes and Communities

Scottish action on domestic energy is funded through the Energy Assistance Package

(EAP), UHIS and the Warm Homes Fund and by the UK CESP and CERT schemes. The

Government has also now launched a Sustainable Housing Strategy and plans a

‘national retrofit strategy’ based around integrated area-wide energy initiatives. Social

housing providers are also required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard

(SHQS).

The Green Deal (and ECO) has now been launched and will provide funding and a new

model for domestic energy efficiency. The Energy Agency and Council are already

actively involved in accessing funds from current schemes, for investment and for

engaging with householders.

Business and the public sector

Significant policies and initiatives have been introduced by the UK Government,

including the roll out of smart meters to SME’s, Climate Change Levies on energy use,

the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the Green Deal and the Renewable Heat

Incentive. The Scottish Government introduced more stringent non-domestic building

standards in 2010 and further changes are proposed for 2013.

Partners in the CPP are already involved in a range of initiatives to reduce in-house

carbon emissions, including through the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management

Programme. There are a range of other possible opportunities relating to business and

the public sector, particularly in terms of promoting local take-up of, and effective

responses to, national initiatives.

Transport

Efforts to reduce transport emissions are being taken forward at the EU level through

mandatory emissions targets for new cars and vans, a target for the use of biofuels in

transport fuels and through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (which now includes

aviation). Public sector CPP partners should also be aware of the mandatory

requirement to include environmental costs as an award criteria when procuring

vehicles. The CPP may be an effective mechanism for sharing advice and good

practice in implementing this requirement.

The Public Sector Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Scheme provides funding support

to public sector bodies to assist the uptake of a range of LCV technologies in the

public sector fleet. South Ayrshire Council has installed charging points and has plans

for more and has already purchased 4 electric vehicles. Low Carbon Transport Loans,

offered through the Energy Saving Trust, could be used by other public and private

sector partners to purchase electric vehicles. These loans could also be used for

measures to help deliver a number of the other proposals in the RPP, including:

fuel efficient driver training

speed limiters or other vehicle efficiency devices to fleet cars investment in fleet management software

further provision of cycle facilities investment in video conferencing facilities

SPT is major investor in active travel including walking and cycling, working with South Ayrshire Council & CPP, Transport Scotland, SUSTRANS and Cycling Scotland to

promote cycling as a healthy and environmentally sustainable form of travel and alternative to the private car.

Agriculture and related land use

Scottish action is guided by the Government’s Farming for a Better Climate (FBC)

initiative. This is a 5 point action plan to help cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)

across the agricultural sector. The actions are intended to benefit farmers

economically.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) run a website

providing information on good practice6. This contains factsheets, information and

case studies. Of particular interest are 4 Climate Change Focus Farms (including one

in Dumfries and Galloway).

Scotland’s Rural College is already engaged in work with Ayrshire farmers on climate

change and this could be extended - the College could work with the Council and

Energy Agency to advance the 5 point action plan in FBC. Investigation of the scope

for further funding of such work through the SRDP and other sources could be

undertaken, as well as additional engagement and capacity building with local

farmers.

Forestry

Scottish Ministers have pledged to plant 100 million trees by 2015, which will require

new planting of approximately 10,000 ha/yr. Grant aid has been restructured to

increase planting rates and efforts are being made to increase the commercial

6 http://www.sruc.ac.uk/farmingforabetterclimate

potential of woodland. A target of 15,000 ha/yr is not yet a firm proposal, but is

dependent on it being shown to be practicably achievable.

The Central Scotland Green Network has been established, which encompasses

forestry objectives. The CPP could play an important role in taking this forward in

South Ayrshire through supporting project development for national CSGN funding

and other funding sources.

South Ayrshire Council, as a planning authority, can exert a strong influence on

forestry through setting policy covering woodland expansion and the development of

related infrastructure. They can also secure new planting and control of woodland

removal through the development management system. A draft Ayrshire & Arran

Forestry & Woodland Strategy has been consulted on in 2012. This will act as

supplementary planning guidance and help to guide development management

decisions. The CPP partners could play a role in the implementation of the strategy –

promoting awareness of the opportunities identified, signposting grant funding

available and promoting community woodlands and forest-based businesses.

Waste

Waste policy in Scotland is driven by the European Waste Framework and Landfill

Directives, the Landfill Tax and by Scottish Government policy as set out in the Zero

Waste Plan. The Zero Waste Plan sets a target for 70% household recycling by 2025,

dramatic reductions in the use of landfill and commits to the production of a carbon

metric for waste. Action is supported by Zero Waste Scotland.

As an overarching commitment the CPP could develop a Zero Waste Plan, with the

Council as lead partner but with all partners signed up to action on waste reduction

and recycling and engagement with staff, the public and suppliers. This could build on

the Area Waste Plan for Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

Anaerobic Digestion development may be possible in the area, linked to agriculture.

There is also the potential to further boost composting and to engage better with

commercial and industrial waste.

A carbon metric will be applied to municipal waste from 2013. There is scope to

extend this to commercial and industrial waste but this will require better data. South

Ayrshire is already involved in work on ecological foot-printing and this could be

further applied to waste and resource policy.

4.2 Summary of Projects for consideration Fifteen projects identified as having the most potential for development are set out

in the table overleaf. For each a rough appraisal has been undertaken of the carbon

benefits and financial costs (scored out of 5) along with the scope for funding.

Project name Outline CPP

Partners/others

involved

Carbon

saving/Financial

cost and possible

funding

Wider

benefits/comments

Area retrofit The Scottish Government is preparing a National

Retrofit Strategy for Scotland, based around

integrated, area wide action on domestic energy.

Ayrshire could develop an approach to area retrofit -

the Energy Agency is already looking at this. The area

approach would enable different funding streams to be

drawn together, created a more efficient and

integrated approach. It is likely to focus on ECO areas.

CPP

Energy Agency

would lead,

working with the

Council, NHS,

community

councils and other

community

groups.

Others

Scottish

Government,

energy utilities.

CCCC/££££

A range of funding is

available through the

Green Deal and

Scottish Government

energy programmes.

Huge economic and health

benefits. There may also be

scope to link action on

energy with wider

community renewal work.

Other local authorities

including Birmingham and

Newcastle have already

developed models.

Corporate

energy

awareness

That CPP partners could undertake awareness raising

initiatives on energy issues with their staff. This could

have two dimensions:

1) Energy-saving behaviour within the workplace.

2) Wider energy-saving opportunities. This could focus

on Green Deal and Smart Meters.

CPP

All CPP partners

would be involved,

with the Energy

Agency, ESSAC

and Council the

lead partners.

Others

CCC/££

Funding might come

from existing

corporate training

budgets. It may also

be possible to develop

actions already

undertaken under the

CRC and CMP.

Significant health and

comfort benefits to

employees.

A useful model for such an

initiative might be an

adaptation of the Green

Champions initiative run by

the Council.

It would also be

useful to engage

the major energy

utilities.

Public

engagement

on domestic

energy

There is scope to work with local Climate Challenge

Fund projects, Community Councils and other local

initiatives to help build local capacity and awareness

around domestic energy and climate change more

generally.

Specific areas that the engagement work could

concentrate on are:

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Feed in Tariffs District Heating (particularly perceptions of it

among the more affluent) The Green Deal Smart meters Small scale renewable technologies

Community energy developments

CPP

Energy Agency and

Council

Others

Energy utilities,

CCF projects and

community

councils

CCC/££££

Energy companies

may be willing to

provide support.

Improvements in energy

performance of homes will

have significant health and

financial benefits. Such work

will also contribute to strong

neighbourhoods and an

active and informed local

population.

This builds on work already

undertaken by the Energy

Agency and others and

could be broadened to

include messages around

waste and also linked to

work with employees of CPP

partners (see other

proposal).

Ayrshire Heat

Mapping

A heat map of Ayrshire (either South Ayrshire or the

whole county) would be prepared. This could build on

and provide more local detail to the Heat Map of

Scotland prepared by the Scottish Government in 2007

and would cover:

public buildings such as Schools, Colleges, Universities and Hospitals

buildings awarded grants

CPP

Energy Agency

would lead in

collaboration with

South Ayrshire

Council, The

Scottish

Government and

CCCC/£££

The Scottish

Government has

committed to fund

such work.

In developing the Heat Map

and Plan the Council could

consult others who have

already done so, such as

Highland Council

http://www.highland.gov.u

k/yourenvironment/plannin

g/energyplanning/renewble

energy/HighlandHeatMappi

sawmills

biomass installers and fuel suppliers large industrial heat demands (where there may

be the capacity to use waste heat)

The Heat Map could be used as the basis for a local heat

plan.

Scottish

Enterprise. If an

Ayrshire-wide map

was agreed then

other Ayrshire

local authorities

would be involved.

Discussions on this

have already taken

place with the

Ayrshire Enterprise

Partnership

ngProject

It should be noted that the

initial assessment of the

Energy Agency is that there

is not huge scope for heat

networks in South Ayrshire

but there may be some

potential and the economics

are changing all the time.

Sharing office

space

The sharing of office space is already happening to some

degree, but partners support the idea of identifying

additional opportunities.

The initial specific action which the CPP could take

forward is in terms of collating and sharing information

on where spare capacity exists and who requires

additional space. Options for hot desk working and

shared facilities could be looked at while reducing the

pockets of small old inefficient buildings dotted all over

the county

CPP Partners

The sharing of

office space is

already happening

to some degree,

but partners

support the idea of

identifying

additional

opportunities. SNH

are already sharing

space locally.

The initial specific

action which the

CPP could take

forward is in terms

of collating and

C/£

May well lead to

financial savings

rather than any costs

There may be knock-on

benefits in terms of joint

initiatives around transport

if there is more co-location

of organisations.

On sharing office space,

security requirements (e.g.

in relation to IT) could be a

challenge. Partners

recognise that progress

needs a shift in attitudes.

sharing

information on

where spare

capacity exists and

who requires

additional space.

Smarter

working

‘Smarter’ working arrangements, such as greater use of

home working and video-conferencing, could help cut

overall carbon emissions and save costs.

Initial steps which could be undertaken by the CPP could

be:

Sharing of good practice policies and procedures

on home working; and

Collating information on existing video-

conferencing facilities and exploring potential for

sharing. Desktop solutions may also be

applicable when there are limitations on using

video-conference rooms.

CPP Partners

All partners with

employees could

be involved.

CCC/£

There should be

relatively little

financial costs

involved, and savings

are possible, for

example, if increased

home working led to

the need for less

office space. Low

Carbon Transport

Loans can be used for

video conferencing

facilities.

There are social benefits to

employees from home

working and potentially

significant benefits in terms

of reduced traffic.

Low carbon

transport

loans

The CPP could encourage mass take-up of low carbon

transport loans, which can be used to fund a range of

initiatives in support of the Scottish Government’s

climate change objectives, including:

Video conferencing facilities

Cycle facilities, including bicycles, storage racks

and lockers

CPP Partners

The scheme is

accessed via the

Energy Saving

Scotland Advice

Centre. All

partners could be

encouraged to

commission the

CC/£

The EST suggests

average annual

savings of over

£7,200 and 12 tonnes

of CO2 for those who

received a Sustainable

Transport Review. The

sustainable transport

There is the potential for wider benefits from investment in low carbon

transport, particularly in terms of health.

Fleet management software

Vehicle efficiency devices which do not void the

manufacturer's warranty. There is already an NHS

framework of lease vehicle suppliers and the

possibility of making this a pan public sector

framework with built in efficiency devices, speed

limiters etc. could be investigated.

Electric and Plugged in Hybrid vehicles

Season ticket loans

Fuel efficient driver training

free sustainable

transport review

which comprises

the first stage of

the process.

The loans are

available to all

public and private

sector

organisations so

there is potential

to involve a large

number of partners

in South Ayrshire.

reviews are free.

Interest-free loans of

between £500 and

£50,000 are available

for the recommended

measures, with

repayments spread

over up to 6 years.

Low Carbon Transport

Loans from Transport

Scotland,

administered by EST

and the Energy

Saving Scotland

Advice Centres. SPT

Sustainable Travel

Grant Scheme (STGS)

2011/12 provides

councils, health

boards, universities,

colleges, other public

sector organisations

and registered

charities with small

grants up to £1,000 to

help promote staff

travel planning

initiatives and

projects.

Non –

domestic

retrofit

Existing buildings are more significant than new

buildings in terms of carbon. CPP partners could be

involved in establishing a retrofit programme for non-

domestic buildings. The programme could seek to draw

together funding sources and other opportunities in a

similar way to area-based domestic programmes. It

could be built around a number of opportunities:

The Green Deal, which is available to businesses as

well as householders. Businesses may, in fact, be

more open to the principle of borrowing against

future savings than householders will be.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Smart meters. The UK Govt is committed to

accelerating the roll out of smart meters to SME’s

EPC’s. All EPCs include advice for improving energy

performance. This provides an opportunity for

support to be provided to implement the advice.

CPP Partners

The Energy Agency

is already involved

in information

dissemination for

the RHI. It involves

Scottish

Enterprise,

Chamber of

Commerce and

others. They are

targeting the big

heat users through

the Federation of

Small Businesses,

Chamber of

Commerce and

Scottish

Enterprise.

CCCC/££

Zero Waste Scotland

have put in place a

contract to deliver

overarching business

advice on efficiency

and waste.

Depending on the

level of provision

available, it may

simply be a case of

generating local

interest in and

awareness of this

resource.

Energy agency’s

ESSAC contract also

includes some

provision for advice

to businesses.

Could Energy Agency

become a Green Deal

assessor for businesses,

with the assessments

becoming a revenue source

to support such a

programme?

By facilitating investment in

local businesses and

enabling revenue savings by

local businesses, the

programme could bring local

economic benefits.

A pellet factory has just

been commissioned in

Girvan which may help in

terms of the local fuel

supply chain.

There is a public sector

framework contract in the

pipeline for biomass fuel

supply, there is also in place

this year a framework for

biomass evaluation and

supply/fitting

Supply Chain The CPP could provide a mechanism for driving forward

more sustainable procurement practices in South

Ayrshire. The CPP could:

CPP Partners

The focus should

be on the partners

CCCCC/££

The embedded carbon

in procured goods and

The procurement standards

which might be adopted

(e.g. Government Buying

Standards) address social,

Adopt a collective commitment to sustainable

procurement using, for example, the Scottish

Government’s Ten Steps to Sustainable

Procurement.

Provide a mechanism for sharing information and

good practice in sustainable procurement.

Collectively influence suppliers of key goods and

services, e.g. through requiring sign-up to relevant

standards (Zero Waste Scotland standards, Carbon

Trust standards etc)

Facilitate resource sharing within and between

organisations, through the application of tools such

as WARPIT (www.warp-it.co.uk)

Explore ways of improving the opportunities of

local businesses to compete for delivery of key

goods and services.

with the biggest

spend (the Council,

NHS, Police, Fire &

Rescue, College)

but the

involvement of the

Chamber of

Commerce and

Business Link will

be important in

engaging with local

businesses.

services can comprise

up to 60% of an

organisation’s overall

carbon footprint.

For financial costs.

This is about adopting

a different approach

to procurement

rather than spending

more. For staff costs,

since there will need

to be a commitment

to getting key

members of staff

around the table and

working together.

economic and

environmental aspects.

There could be significant

benefits for local businesses

if they were enabled to

compete for the provision of

goods and services.

Scotland Excel is the Centre

of Procurement Expertise for

the local government sector

in Scotland and would be a

useful source of information

and expertise.

Travel

Planning

All CPP members could be encouraged to develop and

implement sustainable travel plans, focusing on

encouraging behaviour change among staff, i.e. greater

use of walking, cycling and public transport, through

incentives and awareness raising.

CPP Partners

All partners, but

particular focus on

those with large

numbers of

employees.

Sustrans may be a

useful source of

support and

CCC/£

The EST provides free

travel plans in

Scotland for

organisations with a

minimum of 50

employees and/or

10,000 visitors per

annum.

The Council is already

involved in the Go Active

campaign (school travel

plans) and has its own

Sustainable Travel Plan.

SEPA have banned inter-

office car journeys. The CPP

could be a mechanism for

sharing existing good

practice.

advice. It might be

worth considering

inviting them into

the partnership.

The Ayrshire Green

network officer has

potential to access

CSGN development

funds and other

funds for active

travel projects.

SPT provides

ongoing travel

planning support

and advice to local

authorities, health

boards,

universities,

colleges and other

organisations on

the implementation

and development

of their staff travel

plans. Measures

implemented

include bike clinics,

staff cycling

training, improved

bike parking

facilities, bike to

work schemes,

www.energysavingtru

st.org.uk/fleet

Cycling Scotland's

Cycle Friendly

Employer Award gives

employers national

recognition for

promoting cycling in

the workplace.

www.cyclingscotland.o

rg/cyclefriendlyemplo

yer.aspx

Paths to Health offer

workplace pedometer

packs for a small

charge, training

courses on setting up

a workplace walking

project and workplace

grants to help support

projects which

promote walking in

the workplace.

Paths to Health -

workplace walking

The SPT website has

details of travel plan

officers, grant

schemes and events,

Active Travel Scotland and

NHS Health Scotland have

produced a practical guide

to help organisations

provide active travel

directions to help staff and

visitors choose healthier

ways of travelling.

Active travel - How to

produce active travel

directions for your visitors

and staff (pdf)

Healthy Working Lives is a

national award programme

rewarding employers who

demonstrate commitment

to improving the health and

ultimately the performance

of their workforce. A source

of support and advice on

increasing physical activity

in and around the

workplace.

Healthy Working Lives

walking initiatives,

promotion of public

transport, staff

season tickets and

staff car sharing

spaces.

seminars and new

travel plan initiatives

in the area.

www.spt.co.uk

New timber

management

The CPP could engage with the South of Scotland

Forestry Forum to look at the scope for more local

timber planting by farmers and landowners and the

promotion of local timber to purchasers in South

Ayrshire.

The new draft Ayrshire & Arran Forestry & Woodland

Strategy has been consulted on in 2012. This will act as

supplementary planning guidance and help to guide tree

planting and management decisions.

The CPP partners should engage in the finalisation of the

strategy and could play a role in the implementation of

the strategy – promoting awareness of the opportunities

identified, signposting grant funding available,

promoting community woodlands and forest-based

businesses.

The Strategy will guide planting away from peatland and

carbon soils to reduce disturbance that releases carbon.

It will encourage peatland restoration of afforested

areas to allow this habitat to save and store carbon.

The Roads Department of the Council are engaging with

the draft Strategy around areas of transport of timber

and this issue will be more addressed over the coming

CPP Partners

Scotland’s Rural

College could play

a key role. The

Council and NHS

may have

landholdings which

offer opportunities

for new planting.

The Chamber of

Commerce may

provide a useful

route in to

engaging with

private sector

landowners.

Others

Forestry

Commission

Scotland

CCC/£££

Funding is available

through the Central

Scotland Green

Network initiative. In

addition, the Scottish

Government's budget

statement last

October included

reference to a £1.7m

Peatland Restoration

Fund as part of the

Government’s Green

Stimulus package.

SNH is administering

that fund.

There could be local

economic benefits from the

promotion of local timber

businesses and health

benefits from improved

access to forests.

There will also be benefits in

terms of peatland

restoration, biodiversity and

flood attenuation.

Forestry Commission

Scotland is charged with

securing 750,000 new trees

in the Central Scotland

Green Network area by

2014.

year.

Community

Forests

The CPP could play a role in taking forward

opportunities for new or expanded community forests.

A particular opportunity exists in relation to the Central

Scotland Green Network where there is the potential for

the CPP to undertake project development in order to

access national CSGN funding and other funding

sources.

CPP Partners

The Council and

NHS would appear

to have the

greatest land

available for

community use.

Other potential

partners include

TCV (formerly

BTCV), the SWT,

VASA, SNH and the

Forestry

Commission

Scotland.

Others

Forestry

Commission

Scotland

CCC/£££

Funding could be

provided by Woods In

and Around Towns

(WIAT) programme

and the CSGN and

compensatory

planting schemes.

Significant potential health

benefits from improving

access to high quality

outdoor environments.

There is also potential for

tourism benefits.

Action on

farming

Farming for a better climate (FBC) is the Scottish

Government’s 5 point action plan to help cut GHGs

across the agricultural sector. The actions are intended

to benefit farmers economically as well as cut

emissions:

Using energy and fuels more efficiently Developing renewables

Locking carbon into soils and vegetation

CPP Partners

Scotland’s Rural

University College

(SRUC) is already

engaged in work

with Ayrshire

farmers on climate

change and this

CC/££

Cost is for the

mapping exercise.

Further work may

require more funding.

There is SRDP funding

to optimise the

Could have significant

benefits for farmers in

economic terms and also

wider environmental

benefits through better

waste management and use

of fertilisers.

Optimising application of fertilisers and manures

Optimising livestock management and storage of waste

South Ayrshire CPP could enhance its support and

encouragement for local farmers and rural communities.

One initial action could be a desktop mapping exercise

on funding.

could be extended.

The College could

work with the

Council and Energy

Agency to advance

the 5 point action

plan in FBC.

Others

The National

Farmers Union

Scotland, SEPA

and Biosphere.

condition of peatland

and raised bogs to

benefit carbon capture

and storage as well as

help flood attenuation.

If not included in the

project, this should

be.

The mapping exercise

would also look at

other potential

funding sources.

Anaerobic

Digestion

The Zero Waste Plan commits the Scottish Government

to introduce a progressive ban on material that can be

landfilled. This includes food waste and organic matter.

AD is one of the most cost effective means of treating

this waste.

Based on this, the CPP could undertake work to

determine the viability of further AD development and to

help farmer’s co-ordinate bids.

There is potential to link farm based organic wastes to

other suitable wastes to improve the viability of AD

development.

CPP Partners

Scotland’s Rural

College and the

Energy Agency,

working with the

Council.

Others

The Leader

Programme,

National Farmers

Union Scotland and

Biosphere may

wish to be

CCC/£££

Financial support is

available to land

managers that meet

stated criteria through

the SRDP for the

purchase and

installation of AD

plant and electricity

produced could qualify

for Feed in Tariffs

(FITs).

This could become

part of a wider

initiative in support of

At the workshop it was also

noted that there was scope

for the Energy Agency and

Leader Programme (Rural

21) to help farmers and

rural communities with the

development of other small

scale renewables.

In the interviews it was

noted that many in Ayrshire

would like to see a more co-

ordinated programme of

action on renewables in

rural areas, to avoid the

piecemeal development

involved. local action on

Farming for a Better

Climate. A similar

approach could be

applied to urban

areas.

underway at present.

Waste

engagement

One strong message that emerged from the Workshop

is that further progress on waste reduction and

recycling will only be achieved with a proper public

understanding of the issue and support for action.

A better informed and committed public will help the

Council meet recycling targets and move towards a

more sustainable approach based on waste

minimisation.

There should be three main strands to the

engagement:

General public engagement

Action with pensioners

Work with schools through the curriculum

It was also recognised that there were particular

challenges in rural areas.

CPP Partners

South Ayrshire

Council would lead

with all other CPP

partners involved.

This could be an

Ayrshire wide

initiative involving

other Councils.

Others

Waste Aware

Scotland/Scottish

Government, Age

Concern, Climate

Challenge Fund

projects, schools

C/£££

There may be funding

from Zero Waste

Scotland

The project could lead to

greater awareness and help

build community networks.

It could be linked to action

on energy and transport.

One example to draw on in

terms of engagement is

Going Carbon Neutral

Stirling.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

have just been awarded a

grant from ZWS to buy and

put in place recycling bins

in public areas in our

hospitals and other

facilities. This is part of the

Recycle on The Go initiative

with support from ZWS with

communications.

Such work could form part

of a Zero Waste Plan for

Ayrshire.

4.3 Priorities for action

All 15 projects were reviewed by the CPP Sustainability Partnership meeting on 6th

February and three projects (including combinations from the initial list) were

identified. These were seen as having the most immediate potential:

Area retrofit (including in the non-domestic sector)

Smarter working

Community waste awareness

These projects have been developed into more detailed project plans (Appendix 3).

While exact costs, resource requirements and carbon savings are not possible to

specify without more detailed work by the CPP or lead partners, each of these three

would appear to offer real benefits. Taking each in turn:

Area retrofit

The Scottish Government is preparing a National Retrofit Programme for Scotland,

based around integrated, area-wide action on domestic energy. Lead by the Energy

Agency and SAC, South Ayrshire could develop an approach to area retrofit which

maximises the potential of the national programme and capitalises on other sources

of funding for energy efficiency and micro-generation. The Energy Agency has

worked extensively on area-based approaches and are already preparing for the

introduction of the National Retrofit Strategy. There is clear scope for action, with

8,000 homes in South Ayrshire having less than 100mm of loft insulation and

23,000 having un-insulated cavity walls. It is estimated that by 2015, action on

insulation could save around 2,100 tonnes of CO2/year.

Smarter Working

This project involves action across 2 of the areas identified in 4.2, namely ‘smarter’ working and the sharing of office space. A smarter working initiative led by the CPP

could include the following elements:

The sharing of office space

Facilitating more flexible working and home working.

Promoting and providing facilities for telephone and video-conferencing to reduce work-related travel.

In terms of the sharing of office space, the Council and NHS are likely to be able to play the most significant role since they have the biggest estates. However,

discussion between all partners will be necessary to identify opportunities for sharing. SNH are already doing this and so can provide advice.

Significant carbon savings are possible from the further sharing of office space but

the level of savings would depend entirely on the level of sharing. The costs would

be negligible and sharing is likely to lead to long term savings

Public engagement on energy and waste issues

The Scottish Government has published a Public Engagement Strategy7 on climate

change that identifies engagement as crucial to delivering Scotland’s climate change

targets. The view that engagement with the public was vital emerged as a strong

message from the Workshop with the Sustainability Partnership. A better informed

and committed public will help cut emissions and assist the Council in meeting

recycling targets and move towards a more sustainable approach based on waste

minimisation. There could be three main strands to the engagement:

General public engagement

Action with pensioners

Work with schools through the Curriculum for Excellence and Ecoschools

Work is already underway, led by the Energy Agency, on engaging schools and this

could be extended. Engagement with local Climate Challenge Fund projects,

community councils and other groups, such as Age Concern, could also be useful.

5. Conclusions and Next Steps The research has shown potential for a wide range of new and innovative actions by

South Ayrshire CPP.

These actions could have a significant impact on the area’s carbon emissions and

deliver wider economic, social and environmental benefits. They sit well within the

new SOA Priorities and Strategies for South Ayrshire. Funding could also be drawn

in, adding value to existing work, which would be welcome given the financial

challenges facing all public bodies.

In consultation with the Sustainability Partnership of the CPP, three work areas have

been identified that have particular potential in the short to medium term, namely:

Area retrofit

7 www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/336432/0110100.pdf

Smarter working

Public engagement on waste

These three projects build on work already underway by community planning

partners and offer significant scope to cut emissions while also saving financial

resources. It is suggested that the CCP investigate how best to enhance current

work in these areas over the coming months. The full list of projects set out in

Section 4.2 should also be considered more fully.

Taking forward concerted action to address climate change will contribute towards

meeting public sector CPP partners’ climate change duties and will directly benefit

other policy priorities including economic development, health and transport.

However, effectively implementing action on climate change will require high level

buy-in from CPP partners and strong leadership on the issue from the CPP Board.

Our experience suggests that, in particular, the CPP Board will need to:

encourage strategic and long term thinking, beyond short term priorities,

recognising the long term threats and opportunities posed by climate change;

champion integration between strategies and policy areas, recognising the

underpinning role of the environment in economic prosperity, quality of life,

health and wellbeing;

facilitate collaboration and building partnerships so that the integration can be

achieved in practice; and

lead by example, for example, by committing resources to key projects or

trialling new approaches.

As one of the first Community Planning Partnerships to sign Scotland’s climate

change declaration, South Ayrshire has demonstrated its desire to provide strong

leadership on climate change. By pursuing the opportunities presented in this report

the Council with its CPP partners has the opportunity to take this leadership to the

next level.

Supporting actions

This research, the first such exercise of its kind in Scotland, has highlighted the

scope for further action by CPPs. It demonstrates that there are strong requirements

from the Scottish Government for action, most notably the Public Bodies Duties, but

also a number of other strong arguments for action – in terms of finance and

integrated, effective working. There is scope for other Scottish local authorities to

consider undertaking a similar exercise.

The research has also highlighted a need for greater clarity and further support to

local authorities and CPPs to ensure that CPPs can play a full part in delivering

Scotland’s climate change targets. On that basis it is recommended that:

The Scottish Government needs to lend greater clarity to local authorities and

CPPs on the requirement to act on climate change. While the requirements of the

Public Bodies Duties are clear, the lack of reference to climate change in the

recently published guidance for Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) has led to

uncertainty8.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) also has a role to play in

explaining the integration of climate change into SOAs in future and in working with

Councils to ensure that action on climate change can be seen as a way of drawing

together and enhancing action, and not as an additional burden that is difficult to

deliver in financially challenging times.

The Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) has been active in supporting local

authorities on climate change for a number of years and has recently had its role

broadened to cover the wider public sector. This gives it further scope to support

CPPs and the public sector partners involved around this agenda. SSN has shown an

interest in disseminating this study among its wider network which is welcome.

8 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CP/SOA2012/SOA2012

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Appraisal Matrix

Report on Policies and Proposals

(RPP)

South Ayrshire CPP: Possible response Comments

Policy

area/proposal

Specific

policy/proposal

Areas of work

that will

progress

regardless of

action by the

CPP e.g. changes

to the energy

grid

Areas where the

CPP could be

active but which

are not well

addressed by the

RPP e.g.

sustainable food

procurement

Areas of work that are directly

relevant to the CPP and individual

partners

Actions that could

be taken by one or

more partner

without the

involvement of all

CPP members e.g.

carbon

management

Actions that require

a lead partner to

engage with the

wider partnership

or other

stakeholders such

as shared office

facilities

Homes and

communities:

Policies

Smart metering The UK

Government has

committed to

offering Smart

Meters to every

home in Scotland

(and England and

Wales) by 2020.

As Smart Meters

are voluntary the

level of uptake will

depend on

effective

engagement with

the public by

energy companies

All CPP partners

could help raise

awareness and

promote smart

meters among

their own staff

Note: Scottish Power

recently (September

2012) announced an

18 month trial for the

installation of smart

meters in 5,000 hard

to reach households in

Glasgow and

At present

suppliers are

involved in small-

scale trials with

plans for mass roll-

out from 2014. All

energy suppliers

will be obliged to

complete the roll-

out by 2019.

and others. The

Energy Agency is

already involved in

providing advice to

the Ayrshire public.

This could continue

and enhance this

with support from

other partners,

most particularly

the Council

Lochwinnoch. The

learning from this may

be useful in

encouraging uptake in

South Ayrshire.

Domestic

building energy

efficiency

Current UK

Government policy

is based around

the CESP and

CERT schemes.

The Scottish

Government has

been engaged with

both programmes

to ensure

maximum uptake

in Scotland.

The UK schemes

are augmented by

Scottish action

through the

Energy Assistance

Package (EAP),

UHIS and the

Behaviour change

is a critical area

which is not well

addressed in the

RPP but where the

Council, Energy

Agency, ESSAC

and partners

could have an

impact. All CPP

partners could

engage staff and

raise awareness of

energy efficiency.

It was suggested

that the Council’s

One Stop Shops

could be a useful

resource in

The Energy

Agency and

Council are

already actively

involved in

accessing funds

from current

schemes for

investment and in

engaging with

householders.

At the workshop it

was felt there was

scope for greater

support for action

in low income

homes,

All CPP partners

could promote

awareness of the

Green Deal among

their staff – see

Proposals section.

The Energy Agency

is already one of the

most active in

Scotland with

significant expertise.

The Agency was

awarded the Power

Perfector Energy

Award in 2012 and

has a programme that

has targeted 4,963

homes and saved

18,500 tonnes of

carbon and

£3.6million in fuel

bills.

Following successful

use of UHIS funds in

Troon, funding has

Warm Homes

Fund. The

Government has

also now launched

a Sustainable

Housing Strategy

and plans a

‘national retrofit

strategy’ based

around integrated

area-wide energy

initiatives. Social

housing providers

are also required

to meet the SHQS.

Looking forward

the Green Deal

(and ECO) is due

to be launched and

will provide new

funding and a new

model for domestic

energy efficiency.

informing the

public better.

Could build on the

involvement of the

local third sector

and the NHS

There is also scope

for further work

with local Climate

Challenge Fund

projects and other

local initiatives to

help build local

capacity and

awareness around

domestic energy

and climate

change.

At the workshop it

was also

suggested that the

Energy Agency

and Laeder

Programme could

assist farmers and

rural communities

with small scale

renewable

development

The Energy Agency

is developing a

local database that

will provide more

accurate

information –

excessive phone

calls will stop. The

Council and EST

are also helping

with these issues

South Ayrshire

Council’s Local

Housing Strategy

notes the need to

tackle fuel poverty

and climate

change. There is

potential to build

on this through

action on area

retrofit and

through the Green

Deal. This is

addressed in the

Proposals section

below.

been secured in South

Ayrshire from UHIS2.

One of the 5

outcomes from the

Local Housing

Strategy (2011 –

2016) is to have

warm, dry, energy

efficient homes. The

LHS has been

designed to support

the SOA, in particular

Local Outcome 16.

At the workshop it

was noted that the

following are barriers

to progress:

There is a need for better selling as local people can be bombarded with offers –

this is counterproduc

tive.

More

information on solid wall and hard to treat

properties is needed.

New-build

domestic energy

standards for

2010 (and now

beyond)

These are in place

and a requirement

for all new homes

It is not just the

energy

performance of the

house but its

location and

integration with

services that is

important in terms

of overall carbon

footprint.

Planning is critical

to this, and

planning policy in

South Ayrshire

must be fully

aligned with the

aspirations of the

NPPF to promote

low carbon and

sustainable

developments.

As with the 2013

standards (below)

South Ayrshire

Council could opt

to set higher

standards than

those required by

law for public

sector housing.

Through building

control, the

Council could also

ensure that there

is a rigorous

enforcement of

building standards.

Renewable heat The UK

Government

supports the

Renewable Heat

Incentive (RHI)

which is a payment

to those who

install and obtain

heat from

renewable sources,

There is support of

around £15 million

for households

through the

Renewable Heat

Premium Payment

(RHPP). Advice on

the RHPP, the

home renewables

loans scheme,

CARES and Feed in

Tariffs (FITS) is

available on the

Energy Agency

website, along

with guidance on

individual energy

technologies.

The Council,

Energy Agency

and partners

could undertake

further work to

enhance uptake of

the RHI and also

Feed in Tariffs

(FITS) and

community

renewable energy

schemes. The CCF

projects in the

area may be one

mechanism for

this.

CHP and heat

networks could be

developed by a

CPP partner with

an estate which

has high heat

demand.

Examples would

include the NHS

(hospitals and

other care

facilities) and

South Ayrshire

Council (schools

and council

buildings). In

many cases it may

be better to

develop such

networks in

partnership with a

number of public

bodies – see next

column.

As a first stage it is

proposed that a

heat mapping

exercise for South

Ayrshire is

The development

of local heat

networks in South

Ayrshire could be

undertaken by a

number of public

bodies/CPP

partners working

together – for

example building a

heat network

around a number

of buildings with

high heat demand

such as hospitals

or schools. Such

networks generally

also require

incorporation of

high density

housing.

As a first stage it is

proposed that a

heat mapping

exercise for South

Ayrshire is

undertaken.

At the workshop it

was agreed that

Aberdeen City Council

has pioneered the

development of heat

networks and CHP

schemes and is a

model that South

Ayrshire CPP

partners could look

to. Other areas with

useful learning include

Dundee and

Edinburgh.

One barrier to DH

identified is that there

is resistance among

the more affluent in

particular to district

heating – perceived as

being ‘Stalinist’. There

needs to be more

engagement with the

public to build

acceptability

undertaken. there was

significant scope

for collaboration

between public

bodies and private

developers on

District Heating.

There are funds for

District Heating but

need to

communicate –

Council and Energy

Agency may have a

role in drawing

agencies together

Homes and

communities:

Proposals

Fuel poverty and

insulation

programmes

The Scottish

Government has

committed to a

National Retrofit

Strategy, to

supporting UHIS,

the Warm Homes

Fund and EAP and

to maximising

Green Deal uptake

in Scotland

As noted above,

behaviour change

is a critical area

which is not well

addressed in the

RPP but where the

Council, Energy

Agency and

partners could

have an impact.

All CPP partners

could engage staff

and raise

awareness of

energy efficiency.

There is also scope

South Ayrshire

Council and the

Energy Agency

already operate a

free insulation

scheme, support

energy advice

provision and back

other support

including on boiler

scrappage.

Key actions over

the coming year

could be:

To raise awareness

All CPP partners

could promote

awareness of the

Green Deal among

their staff.

Significant learning on

the most effective

investment models for

the Green Deal is

available from those

areas, such as

Birmingham, that

have been

‘Pathfinders’ for such

work.

A number of Scottish

local authorities are

already interested in

developing an

for working with

local Climate

Challenge Fund

projects and other

local initiatives to

help build local

capacity and

awareness around

domestic energy

and climate

change more

generally.

Other engagement

is under way,

including active

participation in

Earth Hour and

work on

Community

Appraisals and the

‘Carrick Energy

Fair’

of the Green Deal

/ECO and

encourage uptake

Based on plans for

a National Retrofit

Programme, to

develop an

integrated, area

based approach

that combines

Green Deal finance

with other sources.

In this the Council

and Energy

Agency could

draw on the work

undertaken in

Birmingham,

Newcastle and

elsewhere.

integrated response to

the Green Deal/ECO,

and South Ayrshire

could look to joint

working with the other

Ayrshire Councils or

become part of a

scheme covering

central Scotland or

indeed the whole

country.

New-build

domestic energy

standards from

2013

This applies to all

new homes in

Scotland from

2013

As noted earlier,

behaviour change

is as important as

higher standards

in cutting

emissions.

The Council,

Energy Agency

South Ayrshire

Council – the

Council could

require that any

new council houses

are built to a

standard that

exceed the 2013

All partners could

contribute to work

on behaviour

change through

engagement with

their staff.

and other

partners could

further engage

with staff and

communities to

promote

awareness and

better use of

energy.

requirement.

Through building

control, the

Council could also

ensure that new

buildings are built

to the standard

intended.

Through the

planning system,

the Council could

assess the

feasibility of

requiring that all

new homes (public

and private) are

built to energy

performance

standards above

the 2013 level.

Business and the

Public sector:

Policies

Smart metering UK Govt

committed to

accelerate roll out

of smart meters to

SME’s

As for domestic

smart meters, the

Energy Agency

and partners could

develop further

work to encourage

uptake among

SMEs

Energy intensive

business

package

Climate Change

Levy being

implemented on

energy use in

industry,

commerce and

public sector

Energy Agency

and Business

Environment

Partnership could

provide advice and

support for

implementation of

advice

accompanying EPC

assessments.

Could be promoted

via Scottish

Enterprise and the

Chamber of

Commerce

All CPP partners

could

encourage/require

sign-up to Carbon

Trust and EST

programmes in

their supply chain

companies

CRC energy

efficiency

scheme

CRC being

implemented in

large non-energy-

intensive

businesses and

public sector.

Smarter working

through greater

use of home

working, VC, etc

could help cut

overall carbon

emissions and

save costs. All

organisations need

to look at this

more

Another area to

look at is better

sharing of office

space. This is

already happening

Advice on the CRC

is available from

DECC or SEPA.

There may be

scope for Scottish

Enterprise to

provide further

information on the

Commitment to

large local

businesses.

The Police have been

working on building

energy efficiency so

may be a source of

good practice

Need to know which

organisations in

Ayrshire are affected

by the CRC.

On sharing office

space, security

requirements (e.g. in

relation to IT) could

be a challenge.

Progress needs a shift

to some degree,

with SNH in

particular looking

to share space.

This could be

advanced through

better information

on spare capacity,

with the Council

and NHS having

the greatest

potential to

contribute.

All organisations

should look to

greening their

procurement and

explore potential

for collaborative

procurement.

Organisations

could also support

local organisations

more and

investigate ways in

which this can be

achieved within

procurement rules.

The key partners

here is the

Business Link

officer, the Third

in attitudes

Sector and the

Chamber of

Commerce.

Non-domestic

buildings energy

standards for

2010

New-build non-

domestic energy

standards in place

since 2010

There are

opportunities for

social marketing

and other

initiatives to

promote behaviour

change in use of

energy in non-

domestic

buildings. Is there

scope for the

Council’s Green

Champions

initiative to be

replicated in

partner

organisations?

Existing buildings

are more

significant than

new buildings in

terms of carbon.

Could CPP

partners be

involved in

initiatives

promoting or

supporting retrofit

Individual CPP

partners could

ensure new

buildings exceed

current standard.

Council has a role

in ensuring that

new buildings are

built to the

standard.

Through the

planning system,

the Council could

also require that all

new buildings are

built to energy

performance

standards above

the 2010 level,

though there is

likely to be some

resistance to this.

NHS Ayrshire and

Arran’s new

community hospital in

Girvan was awarded a

BREEAM ‘Very Good’

rating when opened in

2010 and includes a

biomass boiler, wind

turbine and other

sustainable design

features.

of energy

measures in non-

domestic

buildings?

Renewable heat Renewable Heat

Incentive (RHI)

being introduced

to provide

payment for

renewable heat

generation.

RHI for non-

domestic

customers was

introduced in 2011

to support

industrial, business

and public sector,

providing premium

and casual

payments of up to

£1300.

Council, Energy

Agency, Scottish

Enterprise and

Chamber of

Commerce could

provide

information and

support on RHI.

Is work needed to

build the supply

chain for fuel?

All CPP partners

could seek out

opportunities for

new renewable

heat installations

It is worth noting the

work that Ayr

College has

undertaken in

developing skills to

support renewable

energy, including

micro-renewables.

While this is not

directly related to the

RPP, it is a

contribution to wider

action on climate

change.

Business and

public sector:

Proposals

New non-

domestic

buildings energy

standards from

2013

New energy

standards

proposed for 2013

and currently

being investigated.

Stated intention is

75% reduction in

emissions from

See above

regarding

opportunities for

behaviour change

and retrofit

projects

There is a role for

CPP partners in

demonstrating that

the ambitious

proposals for 2013

standards are

achievable, e.g.

through exemplar

2007 standards schemes like

Colmonell Primary

School and the

new Community

Hospital in Girvan.

Transport:

Policies

EU mandatory

vehicle targets

Mandatory targets

set for

manufacturers of

new cars and vans.

All public bodies

should include

environmental

costs as an award

criteria when

procuring vehicles.

EU Emissions

Trading Scheme

now covers

aviation.

What weight is

being given to

environmental

costs criteria in

procurement of

new public

vehicles? Is there

scope for CPP

partners sharing

good practice or

collaborative

procurement?

EU biofuels

target

Mandatory targets

set for renewable

sources of

transport fuels.

CPP Partners

could explore

further the scope

for use of

sustainable

biofuels (e.g.

waste cooking oil)

in fleet vehicles.

Transport: Eco-driving Eco-driving is

already part of

Low carbon

transport loans can

The proposal is for

large scale

Proposals police driver

training and tehg

Energy Agency has

offered it. However

there has been a

lack of interest

among the public.

be accessed by

private and public

bodies, and can be

used for fuel

efficient driver

training. All CPP

Partners could

investigate.

partnership

working with local

authorities,

motoring

organisations and

commercial

partners. Specific

plans currently

unclear but there

may be potential

for the CPP to

proactively engage

on this – offer to

be a pilot perhaps?

Speed limit

enforcement at

70mph

RPP proposes

stricter

enforcement of

70mph limit

although there

appears to be

uncertainty

surrounding

implementation

The Police clearly

play the major role

in this proposal.

CPP partners

could fit speed

limiters or other

vehicle efficiency

devices to fleet

cars, which can be

eligible for Low

Carbon Transport

Loans.

Freight: HGV

efficiency

improvements

Little detail in RPP

in terms of firm

proposals

Low carbon

transport loans can

be used for

investment in fleet

management

software

Freight: Van

efficiency

improvements

Little detail in RPP

in terms of firm

proposals

Low carbon

transport loans can

be used for

investment in fleet

management

software and

vehicle efficiency

devices

LCV

infrastructure

provision and

procurement

The Scottish

Government is

promoting use of

Scottish biofuels,

extending support

for public sector

procurement of

LCVs and charging

points, grants for

private purchase of

LCV’s and R&D

South Ayrshire

Council has

installed charging

points and has

plans for more,

and have

purchased 4 EV’s.

The Public Sector

Low Carbon

Vehicle

Procurement

Scheme provides

funding support to

public sector

bodies to assist the

uptake of a range

of LCV

technologies in the

public sector fleet.

All CPP Partners

could investigate

the scope for

making further use

of funding available

to increase use of

low carbon

transport.

The Low Carbon

Vehicles Action Plan

has never been

published although a

progress report was

issued in 2011.

As noted by the

Sustainability

Partnership in their

September 12

meeting, low

carbon transport

loans could be

used by CPP

partners to

purchase vehicles.

Further action

should be

investigated by the

Council. Other

public bodies and

the EESACs

Transport

operator. Advice

should be sought

from Transport

Scotland

Intelligent

transport

systems

Scottish

Government

committed to

delivering

enhanced ITS,

principally

Managed

Motorways, on the

trunk road and

motorway network

Not directly

relevant

Not directly

relevant

in Central Scotland

Travel planning All CPP members

should engage

with staff to

encourage

behaviour change

i.e. greater use of

wwalking, cycling

and public

transport.

Station-specific

pocket timetables

have been

prepared but need

to be regularly

updated. The cost

is £1.5-1.7k every

time they are

updated.

Scottish

Government’s

ambition is to

achieve

personalised travel

planning advice to

all households by

2022, and all

workplaces with

more than 30

employees to have

an effective travel

plan by 2022. Will

involve Transport

Partnership and

South Ayrshire

Council.

SEPA have banned

inter-office car

journeys. Could

CPP partners do

the same?

Corporate CPP-

wide targets

could be set for

reducing emissions

from transport,

building on

individual partner

commitments

SAC involved in Go

Active campaign –

school travel plans

and the Council also

has a Sustainable

Travel Plan.

Car clubs Scottish

Government is

providing funding

for formation of

RPP suggests

towns with

minimum 25,000

population could

support car club.

car clubs.

The workshop

supported the

development of car

clubs and other

measures to

encourage car

sharing. Currently

the NHS, SAC and

the Job Centre all

have pool cars and

such provision

could be provided

by others. SAC

should also look at

the development

of a car club for

Ayr.

The Council could

investigate the

scope for

establishment of a

Car Club in Ayr.

This would require

provision of

parking spaces by

SAC and would

benefit from

support of all

partners.

At the workshop it

was suggested that

funding from road

safety could

possibly be used as

car clubs help take

cars off the road.

Cycling and

walking

infrastructure

investment

RPP states that

local authorities

will be primary

delivery agencies

for improvements

in cycling and

walking

infrastructure.

Low carbon

transport loans can

be used for

SAC Transportation

department was

shortlisted for the

National Transport

Awards in 2011 for

cycling improvements

in South Ayrshire

provision of cycle

facilities and could

be investigated

further by all CPP

Partners

Buses and taxis Extension of the

Green Bus Fund to

encourage

operators and local

authorities to

invest in new low

carbon vehicle

technology.

The Council could

undertake further

work with the bus

operators

through CPT and

the Greener

Journeys

programme to

encourage

increased bus

patronage.

Funding for local

authorities to

encourage travel

by public transport

through innovative

travel exchange

points, information

provision, and

integrated travel

could be accessed

by the Council.

Freight modal

shift

RPP sets out range

of options

RPP states that

most options will

require cooperation

of public and

commercial bodies.

CPP partners

could consider

what further action

is possible.

Reducing the

need for travel -

community hubs

The Scottish

Government is

committed to

undertaking

further analysis of

options for

introductions of

shared facilities in

settlements with

populations of less

than 10,000

RPP identifies

planning process

as pivotal in

reducing need to

travel through

location and

design of new

development

South Ayrshire

Council is the

most likely delivery

partner for

community hubs.

Low carbon

transport loans can

be used for video

conferencing

facilities. Is there

scope for CPP

Partners

sharing/hiring of

existing video

conferencing

facilities?

Maritime

transport

Government is

working with

operators and the

port sector,

particularly those

receiving public

support, to build

on their current

activities relating

to the

environmental

impact of maritime

transport.

Is there scope to

engage Associated

British Ports in the

CPP?

9 http://www.sruc.ac.uk/farmingforabetterclimate

Agriculture and

related land use:

Policies

Farming for a

better climate

(FBC)

Scottish

Government and

the Scottish

Agricultural

College (SAC) run

a website

providing

information on

good practice9.

This contains

factsheets,

information and

case studies. Of

particular interest

are 4 Climate

Change Focus

Farms (including

one in Dumfries

and Galloway).

Many of the

measure in FBC

quality for funding

through the

Scottish Rural

Development

Programme

The FBC is very

much focussed on

reducing resource

use and better

management. It has

not made clear links

to other

Government work

on sustainable food.

Scotland’s Rural

College (which

involves the

Scottish

Agricultural

College) is

already engaged in

work with Ayrshire

farmers on climate

change and this

could be extended.

The College could

work with the

Council and

Energy agency to

advance the 5

point action plan in

FBC.

Investigation of

the scope for

further funding of

such work through

the SRDP and

other sources

could be

undertaken, as

Farming for a

better climate

(FBC) is a 5 point

action plan to help

cut GHGs across the

agricultural sector.

The actions are

intended to benefit

farmers economically

as well as cut

emissions:

Using energy and

fuels more efficiently

Developing renewables

Locking carbon into

soils and vegetation Optimising application of fertilisers and manures

Optimising livestock

management and

storage of waste

It was noted that action on energy and

waste should cover

(SRDP). These

include provision

of manure/slurry

storage and

treatment,

installation of

renewables and

management of

lowland raised

bogs.

well as further

engagement and

capacity building

with local farmers.

At the workshop it

was proposed that

CPP Partners could

support better co-

ordination of grant

bids by farmers on

energy and waste.

The lead partner in

this was identified

as Scotland’s Rural

University College

who could offer

advice,

consultancy and

guidance on the

SRDP. Other

partners would

include the

Coulfield

Environment

Initiative, RSPB,

NFU Scotland and

SEPA. The Energy

Agency could

advise.

More widely there

should be a

urban areas as well

as rural.

desktop mapping

exercise on

funding. For this

the SRUC, NFUS,

SEPA and Energy

Agency could work

with Biosphere.

The aim would be

to identify what

scope there is for

other funding –

however some at

the workshop felt

that Biosphere

may already have

such work

underway and it

was unclear

whether the CPP

could add value to

it.

SRDP funding for

anaerobic

digestion (AD)

The Zero Waste

Plan commits the

Scottish

Government to

introduce a

progressive ban on

material that can

be landfilled. This

includes food

waste and organic

matter. AD is one

There is potential to

link farm based

organic wastes to

other suitable

wastes to improve

the viability of AD

development.

Scotland’s Rural

College and the

Energy Agency,

working with the

council, could

undertake work to

determine the

viability of further

AD development.

At the workshop it

was also noted

that there was

scope for the

Energy Agency and

Leader Programme

(Rural 21) to help

farmers and rural

communities with

the development of

other small scale

Regarding small scale

renewables, the

workshop noted that

there was no funding

for mass investment.

Local builders don’t

have the resources to

train their staff in

of the most cost

effective means of

treating this

waste. Financial

support is

available to land

managers that

meet stated

criteria through

the SRDP for the

purchase and

installation of AD

plant and

electricity

produced could

qualify for Feed in

Tariffs (FITs)

renewables these technologies

Agriculture and

related land use:

Proposals

Single farm

payment scheme

The present

European Union

Common

Agricultural Policy

(CAP) provides a

level of income

security to farmers

as well as a

"cross-compliance"

framework for

sustainable

management of

the environment.

The CAP is due for

Action will require

revisions by the EU

of the CAP and the

earliest this can

occur is 2014, with

changes on the

ground not

expected until at

least 2018.

This should be

borne in mind for

future years but is

not an area for

Climate Change

action is integral to

the Scottish

Government’s Land

Use Strategy (LUS).

The Galloway and

Southern Ayrshire

Biosphere have been

selected by the

Scottish Government

as one of 12

initiatives to explore

how the LUS can be

delivered on the

revision at EU

level in 2014 and

there is potential

for specific climate

change mitigation

measures,

including some of

those encouraged

in Farming for a

Better Climate, to

be made

mandatory

through the cross

compliance regime

that links farming

practices to

subsidy payment.

action as yet. ground.

Forestry:

Policies

Increase

afforestation

rate to

10,000Ha/year

Scottish Ministers

have pledged to

plant 100 million

trees by 2015,

which will require

c.10,000 ha/yr.

Grant aid has been

restructured to

increase planting

rates and efforts

are being made to

increase the

commercial

potential of

There is scope to

further develop local

markets for timber

through provision of

information. The

CPP should engage

with the South of

Scotland Forestry

Forum to look at the

scope for more local

timber planting by

farmers and

landowners and the

promotion of local

timber to purchasers

South Ayrshire

Council as

planning authority

exerts strong

influence through

policy over

woodland

expansion and

development of

related

infrastructure. Also

have opportunities

to secure new

planting and

control of

Role for the

Sustainability

Partnership in

taking forward

Central Scotland

Green Network in

South Ayrshire,

including project

development for

national CSGN

funding and other

funding sources.

woodland.

Central Scotland

Green Network

established, which

encompasses

forestry objectives

Large scale timber

operations have

significant

transport impacts.

Wherever

possible, timber

should be moved

by rail or sea. The

CPP could engage

with the Timber

Transport group to

ensure use of

more sustainable

transport is

maximised.

Promoting greater

access to forests

could have

tourism,

recreation and

health benefits.

The CPP should

engage with the

Forestry

in Ayrshire.

There is also scope

to expand

community forests.

The Council and

NHS would appear

to have the greatest

land available for

community use.

Other partners

include TCV

(formerly BTCV), the

SWT, VASA, SNH

and the Forestry

Commission.

Funding could be

provided by

Woodlands around

towns and the CSGN

and compensatory

planting schemes.

woodland removal

through

development

management

system.

New draft Ayrshire

& Arran Forestry &

Woodland Strategy

has been consulted

on in 2012. This

will act as

supplementary

planning guidance

and help to guide

development

management

decisions.

The CPP partners

should engage in

the finalisation of

the strategy and

could play a role in

the

implementation of

the strategy –

promoting

awareness of the

opportunities

identified,

signposting grant

funding available,

Commission and

other landowners.

promoting

community

woodlands and

forest-based

businesses.

Forestry:

Proposals

Increase

afforestation

rate to

15,000Ha/year

See above See above The 15,000 ha/yr is

not yet a firm

proposal – dependent

on it being shown to

be practicably

achievable.

Waste: Policies

and Proposals

Zero waste

policies (pre May

2010)

Key among pre-

May 2010 policies

is the EU Waste

Framework and

Landfill Directives

which have driven

current recycling

targets in

Scotland.

Another important

driver for action is

the Landfill Tax

and a commitment

to ban all

biodegradable

waste from landfill

Significant potential

for more action by

partners on food

waste?

As of 2011, NHS

Ayrshire and Arran

had diverted 30% of

waste from landfill.

The NHS now has a

Sustainability

Strategy and all have

signed up to GCCAM

from 2017.

Zero waste

policies – Zero

Waste Plan

The Zero Waste

Plan (ZWP) sets

out 22 actions

across 4 areas:

resource streams,

economic

opportunity,

resource

management and

education and

awareness, many

of which will have

an impact on GHG

emissions. Key

elements of the |

ZWP are:

Zero Waste

Targets for 2013,

2020 and 2025 Better waste collection data The creation of Zero Waste

Scotland to provide integrated support Development of a

carbon metric for recycling

The workshop notes

that it was

important to move

beyond recycling on

to waste

minimisation and

resource use. One

particular area to

focus on is food

waste. It was

proposed that this

required more public

engagement

through:

Public

engagement

Pensioners –

Age Concern

Work in schools through

Curriculum for Excellence

All this could be set

out in a Zero Waste

Plan.

The Council is

already required to

meet targets for

recycling

household waste of

50% by 2013 and

up to 70% by

2025. In 2011,

42.7% of waste

was recycled or

composted.

There is scope to

engage better with

commercial and

industrial waste.

As an overarching

commitment the

CPP could develop

a Zero Waste Plan,

with the Council

as lead partner but

with all signed up

to action on waste

reduction and

recycling and

engagement with

staff, the public

and suppliers. This

could build on the

The Government has

powers under the

Climate Change

(Scotland) Act to

introduce secondary

legislation on waste

and climate change.

There is scope to look

at the wider socio-

economic benefits of

waste and resource

management.

Support and guidance

is available from Zero

Waste Scotland

Action on waste felt

to be a particular

challenge in rural

areas.

In terms of

engagement

examples to learn

from include Going

Carbon Neutral

Stirling. A challenge

would be cost of

such a scheme but

may be possible to

work through

existing groups such

as CCF, Community

Councils. and other

community

organisations.

Action on business

waste also

important. BRICC is

working on these

issues and SAC is

involved but the

Council could do

more.

Area Waste Plan

for Ayrshire and

Dumfries and

Galloway.

As noted above,

AD development

may be possible in

the area, linked to

agriculture. There

is also the

potential to further

boost composting.

A carbon metric

will be applied to

municipal waste

from 2013. There

is scope to extend

this to commercial

and industrial

waste but this will

require better

data. South

Ayrshire is already

involved in work

on ecological foot-

printing and this

could be further

applied to waste

and resource

policy.

Appendix 2: List of phone interviews and

acknowledgements Report prepared by Phil Matthews and Tim Maiden of CAG Consultants on behalf of

Carbon Trust Scotland and South Ayrshire CPP. We are grateful to Carbon Trust

Scotland and in particular Warren McIntyre for their support and funding.

We wish to thank the members of the South Ayrshire CPP Sustainability Partnership

for all their help in preparing this report, in particular Lorna Jarvie of South Ayrshire

Council We would also wish to thank all those who took part in phone interviews

that helped inform this report:

Lesley Bloomer, South Ayrshire Council

Carol Gilbert, SPT

Mark Hastings, South Ayrshire Council

Stuart Lindsay, Ailsa Horizons

Liz Marquis, Alan McGonigle, Joe Fergusson and Michael Carr, Energy Agency

Marie Oliver, VASA

Val Russell, Ayr Chamber of Commerce

Marion Shaw and Neil Kitching, Scottish Enterprise

Appendix 3: Detailed project plans

The evaluation matrix appraised the scope for action by the CPP and individual

partners in relation to each area of the RPP. The three project proposals below set

out in more detail how the three most promising projects could be taken forward.

This analysis has been based on the information available at the time of writing – a

full project plan would need to be developed by the CPP if a decision was taken to

proceed with any of these projects.

Project 1: Area Retrofit

Project/work area name

Area retrofit

Description The Scottish Government is preparing a National Retrofit

Programme for Scotland, based around integrated, area-wide

action on domestic energy.

Lead by the Energy Agency and SAC, South Ayrshire could develop

an approach to area retrofit which maximises the potential of the

national programme and capitalises on other sources of funding for

energy efficiency and micro-generation. The Energy Agency have

worked extensively on area-based approaches and are already preparing for the introduction of the National Retrofit Strategy.

The latest data (2009-2011) from the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) suggests that:

South Ayrshire has approximately 26,000 homes with less than

200mm loft insulation, which represents 52% of the housing

stock. This compares to 49% in Scotland overall.

Of these, approximately 8,000 (17%) have less than 100mm of loft insulation, compared to 14% in Scotland overall.

Approximately 12,000 homes have uninsulated solid walls,

which represents 23% of the housing stock. This is the same percentage as for Scotland overall.

Approximately 23,000 homes have uninsulated cavity walls,

which represents 46% of the housing stock, compared to 49% for Scotland overall.

Whilst these figures give broad indications of theoretical potential

for further insulation measures, care needs to be taken in drawing

too much from them since they do not take into account, for

example, problematic lofts or cavity walls where additional

insulation measures are impractical, or issues such as planning

constraints which restrict the potential for solid wall insulation. In

addition, consumer attitudes must also be factored in, recognising

for example that heavily discounted or free loft and cavity wall

insulation has been available to all households over many years now.

However, the National Retrofit Programme, which will be launched

in April 2013 will aim to capitalise on the remaining opportunities

for basic measures (e.g. loft and cavity wall insulation) and

increase the take-up of more complex measures such as solid wall

insulation. The initial focus will be on the most deprived areas,

drawing on a range of data including indices of multiple

deprivation, child poverty as well as the Scottish House Condition

survey and heat mapping.

South Ayrshire has significant pockets of fuel poverty and

deprivation, which may be included in the initial areas targeted by

the programme. The SHCS suggests that the levels of fuel poverty

in South Ayrshire are slightly above the national average, at 29%,

which represents about 15,000 households. In the Scottish Index

of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2012, 17 (1.7%) of the 976 data

zones in the 15% most deprived data zones in Scotland were

found in South Ayrshire. The most deprived data zone in South

Ayrshire in the overall SIMD 2012 is found in Lochside, Braehead

and Whitletts and the Scottish Parliament Constituency of Ayr. It

has a rank of 39, meaning that it is amongst the 5% most deprived areas in Scotland.

The National Retrofit Programme will take over from the Energy

Assistance Package, Universal Home Insulation Scheme and Boiler

Scrappage Scheme. The programme will draw in UK funding from

the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and additional

Scottish programmes – the Warm Homes Fund (to support

community renewable and district heating projects in the areas

worst affected by fuel poverty) and Gas Infill Loans Scheme (to

extend the gas grid to communities within a reasonable distance of

the mains gas grid). Local area-based programmes could also seek

to draw together funding from other sources such as Feed-in-Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Whilst there will be a focus on the most deprived areas, it will be

important for the project to be part of wider efforts to promote

uptake of universally available funding schemes across South Ayrshire, particularly the Green Deal.

There is also potential for establishing a parallel retrofit

programme for non-domestic buildings. Such a programme could

draw together funding sources and other opportunities in a similar

way to a domestic programmes and could be built around a

number of significant opportunities, including: The Green Deal,

which is available to businesses as well as householders

(businesses may, in fact, be more open to the principle of

borrowing against future savings than householders will be); the

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is already available to businesses; and the planned roll-out of smart meters to SME’s.

Which CPP

partners would be involved?

It is envisaged that local councils will play the central role in

delivery of the National Retrofit Programme. The Energy Agency

would work alongside South Ayrshire Council. However, maximum

benefit would be derived from the involvement of other CPP

partners such as the NHS, community councils and other

community groups in promoting the scheme and engaging eligible households.

Scottish Enterprise and the Chamber of Commerce would be key

partners in developing a parallel non-domestic programme.

Consideration should also be given to ways in which wider take-up

of the Green Deal can be achieved in South Ayrshire. The Scottish Futures Trust have suggested five main options for local councils:

Limited promotion - where the local council's role is limited

to promoting energy efficiency works, for example through a portal of local, accredited Green Deal suppliers.

Green Deal Community Interest Company - where a

consortium of local councils form a dedicated social enterprise

in the form of a Community Interest Company (CIC) to provide a regional green deal offer.

Framework of Green Deal providers - where the local

council or a group of councils take an active approach in

promoting demand and identifying packages of work and procuring a framework of accredited Green Deal providers.

Green Deal partnership - where the council (or a group of

councils) procures a Green Deal delivery partner who will work

exclusively to deliver the Green Deal, with the council providing

strategic direction and monitoring agreed outcomes.

Green Deal provider - where the local council itself becomes an accredited Green Deal provider.

Would any other

partners be

involved?

Scottish Government as funder of the National Retrofit

Programme, energy companies through their responsibility for

delivering the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

Rough estimate of carbon savings

Detailed analysis would be necessary to provide estimates of

potential carbon savings with any degree of uncertainty. DECC

themselves acknowledge that there is a high degree of uncertainty

surrounding their estimates of potential carbon savings from Green Deal and ECO, largely because it is a market-based model.

DECC’s Impact Assessment of the Green Deal does provide

estimates of uptake for the main measures across Great Britain.

Applying equivalent rates of uptake to South Ayrshire’s remaining

technical potential for cavity wall, solid wall and loft insulation

would suggest that by 2015, installations of these measures could

be delivering annual savings of over 2,100 tonnes CO2/year. Note

that this does not take account of the additional uplift which could

be achieved through the Scottish Government’s additional funding

nor of any additional savings which could be achieved through a parallel non-domestic programme.

Rough estimate of

staff and financial

Direct Scottish Government funding will be forthcoming for the

National Retrofit Programme (see below). The extent of costs for

securing wider take-up of the Green Deal will depend on the

costs approach adopted. Simple promotion of the Green Deal would have

limited costs associated with it but there would be significant initial

set-up costs associated with the establishment of a Green Deal

Community Interest Company, a Framework of Green Deal

providers or a Green Deal partnership. The costs of becoming a

Green Deal provider would be even more significant, including staff

training, accreditation, sales costs and costs in undertaking Green Deal works, although it could be self-funding in the longer term.

Possible sources

of funding

Direct Scottish Government funding of the NRP will raise £65

million in 2012-13, £79 million in 2013-14, and £66.25 million in

2014-15. It is not yet known how much of this will be directed

towards South Ayrshire. In addition it is intended to directly fund

additional programmes and lever in external funding in order to

achieve a total expenditure in Scotland of £200 million per year. This will come from:

Energy Company Obligation as well as the Green Deal of

circa £120 million per annum (based on getting a proportionate

share of overall GB funding.)

The Warm Homes Fund with £50 million over the course of this parliamentary session.

The Gas Infill Loans Scheme (£1 million for 2012-13 and a

further £4 million 2013-14) to provide the opportunity to access additional, cheaper options for domestic energy.

There are also a number of sources of finance available to support

the Green Deal more widely. These include the Public Works Loan

Board, the Green Deal Finance Company and bank lending, all of

which may be used to help support an expansion in energy efficiency work.

What wider

economic/social/e

nvironmental

benefits could the

project deliver?

There is the potential for significant wider benefits including

reductions in fuel poverty, health benefits associated with warmer

homes and the resulting decrease in the financial burdens on the

health service. It has been estimated that every £1 spent keeping

homes warm can save the NHS 42 pence in health costs.

Particularly through adopting a proactive approach to engaging

with local businesses in delivery, there is also significant potential

for local economic benefits. DECC have estimated that the Green

Deal alone could lead to the creation of up to 250,000 jobs across

Great Britain by 2030.

There may also be scope to link action on energy with wider community renewal work.

Taking this work forward

The Energy Agency are already gearing up for the introduction of

the National Retrofit Programme so we would recommend that a

CPP working group be established to take this forward and to

explore the potential for wider action associated with the Green

Deal and the potential for a parallel non-domestic programme. The

group could include representatives of the Council, the NHS, Scottish Enterprise and Chamber of Commerce.

Project 2: Smarter working Project/work area name

‘Smarter’ working

Description So-called ‘smarter’ working practices have the potential to deliver significant financial and carbon savings.

A smarter working initiative led by the CPP could include the

following elements:

The sharing of office space. This is already happening to some

degree, but CPP partners have expressed support for the idea

of identifying additional opportunities. SNH are already sharing office space

Facilitating more flexible working and home working. Flexible

working practices allow employees to structure their working

week within a framework of strict parameters, through the use

of flexi-time, flexi-working or condensed hours. Capitalising on

improvements in technology to allow more home working could

also have significant benefits in terms of reduced commuting.

Promoting and providing facilities for telephone and video-

conferencing to reduce work-related travel.

Which CPP

partners would be involved?

In terms of the sharing of office space, the Council and NHS are

likely to be able to play the most significant role since they have

the biggest estates. However, discussion between all partners will be necessary to identify opportunities for sharing.

All partners with employees could be involved could be involved in

the other elements of the initiative.

Would any other

partners be involved?

We would suggest that the initiative be focused initially on CPP

partners but there is potential to roll out the initiative to local businesses in the longer term.

Rough estimate of

carbon savings

Significant carbon savings are possible from the sharing of office

space but the level of savings would depend entirely on the level of sharing.

There is potential for significant carbon savings from transport

emissions from other aspects of the initiative.

DfT’s report ‘Smarter choices: Changing the way we travel’ reports

that studies of tele-working (home and remote working) report

overall reductions in mileage or trips of between 11 and 19%. The

same report suggests that reductions of between 10 and 30% are typically reported for organisations that promote teleconferencing.

Every 1,000 miles of car travel saved would result in a CO2

emissions saving of 0.29 tonnes (based on a medium-sized diesel engine car).

Rough estimate of

staff and financial

costs

The initial costs associated with this initiative would be negligible

since it would be about collating and sharing information on

opportunities for sharing of office space. Subsequent costs would

then depend on any need for modifications to, for example,

access, security or IT. However, in the longer term utilising excess office space should lead to financial savings.

The costs associated with facilitating greater home working and

flexible working would depend on any necessary investments in IT

or communication facilities. However, these may be offset to some extent by a need for less office space.

Videoconferencing systems range in price from around £50 to

£15,000 depending on their size and features. High-end systems

may be offered on a contract basis, along with installation,

technical support and training options. However, when the savings

from business travel and increased productivity are considered, a

videoconferencing system may pay for itself, particularly in larger organisations.

Possible sources of funding

Low Carbon Transport Loans can be used for video conferencing facilities.

What wider

economic/social/e

nvironmental

benefits could the project deliver?

The initiative involves measures that reduce the need to travel. As

well as generating carbon savings, this could result in:

lower organisational transport costs

reduced need for car parking spaces

increased productivity, by cutting time spent travelling to

meetings etc.

improved staff recruitment and retention by showing flexibility around working hours

safer roads

lower congestion

less air and noise pollution

Taking this work

forward

The initial specific actions which the CPP could take forward are:

collating and sharing information on where spare capacity

exists and who requires additional space.

sharing of good practice policies and procedures on home working and flexible working; and

collating information on existing video-conferencing facilities and exploring potential for sharing.

Project 3: Public engagement on energy and waste issues

Project/work area name Waste: Public engagement on energy and waste

issues

Description The Scottish Government has identified behaviour

change as an important but challenging element of

action to cut carbon. The South Ayrshire Sustainability

Partnership also identified awareness and behaviour

change as a major barrier to action on carbon, from

domestic energy to waste.

Some engagement is under way, including active

participation in Earth Hour and work on Community

Appraisals and the ‘Carrick Energy Fair’, as well as the

active work of the Energy Agency with local schools.

There is scope to expand this through a proper

programme of engagement, working with local

Climate Challenge Fund projects, Community

Councils and other local initiatives to help build local

capacity and awareness around domestic energy,

waste and climate change more generally. This could

also be linked to engagement work with employees of

CPP partners (see other proposal in section 4.2).

There could be three main strands to the

engagement:

General public engagement

Action with pensioners

Work with schools through the curriculum

Specific areas that the energy engagement work could

concentrate on are:

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Feed in Tariffs

District Heating (particularly perceptions of it

among the more affluent)

The Green Deal

Smart meters

Small scale renewable technologies

Community energy developments

Engagement around waste issues is also important.

One strong message that emerged from the Workshop

with the Sustainability Partnership is that further

progress on waste reduction and recycling will only be

achieved with a proper public understanding of the

issue and support for action. A better informed and

committed public will help the Council meet recycling

targets and move towards a more sustainable approach based on waste minimisation.

Which CPP partners would be

involved

South Ayrshire Council and the Energy Agency would

lead with all other CPP partners involved. This could

be an Ayrshire wide initiative involving other Councils.

Other partners could include SEPA (on waste issues).

Would any other partners be

involved?

For waste: Waste Aware Scotland/Scottish

Government, Age Concern, Climate Challenge Fund

projects, schools (including Ecoschools), Community

Councils.

For energy, the involvement of energy companies

would be useful and could assist them in their

promotion of smart meters, the green deal and other

work on energy conservation.

Rough estimate of carbon It is difficult to estimate the direct carbon savings

savings from such work.

The Scottish Government’s Review of the Climate

Challenge Fund10 showed varying degrees of success

in terms of carbon savings but many projects did

achieve notable reductions. The Government has

recognised that behaviour change has to be part of

action to meet Scotland’s Climate Change targets and

has published a Public Engagement Strategy.11

Rough estimate of staff and

financial costs

The Energy Agency is already active in working with

schools on energy saving behaviour, delivering

lessons to pupils since 2000, over which time almost

60,000 children have participated. The lessons link to

the Curriculum for Excellence and also the Ecoschools

programme. There is scope to build on the existing

staff resources.

Possible sources of funding Energy companies may be willing to provide support

and there may be the scope to access funding from

Zero Waste Scotland.

The CCF projects in the area are funded by the

Scottish Government and could work with the CPP to

engage their local communities. Community Councils

and other local groups might also be able to provide

support in terms of time.

What wider

economic/social/environmental

benefits could the project

deliver?

The project could lead to greater awareness and help

build community networks. Improvements in energy

performance of homes will have significant health and

financial benefits. Such work will also contribute to

strong neighbourhoods and an active and informed

local population.

Any other comments One example to draw on in terms of engagement is

Going Carbon Neutral Stirling. Other examples can be

found in the Scottish Government’s report on the

Climate Challenge Fund (link above). Such work could

form part of a Zero Waste Plan for Ayrshire.

10 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/28142552/0

11 www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/336432/0110100.pdf