The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee reports to the Parliament as follows—

The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 [draft] was laid before the Parliament on 11 March 2022 and is subject to the affirmative procedure. It was referred to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee for consideration.

The instrument places a duty on local authorities to produce Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans by 31 December 2023, and subsequently review and publish updated strategies and plans on a 5-yearly cycle.

The Policy Note accompanying this Order explains that the strategies and delivery plans have to be produced in line with guidance to be provided by Scottish Ministers.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered this instrument at its meeting on 22 March 2022 and determined that it did not need to draw the attention of Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. Read the Official Report for the meeting on 22 March 2022.

At its meeting on 26 April 2022, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee took evidence on the instrument from —

• Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights , Scottish Government,

• Anastasia Charalampidou, Heat Planning Team Leader, Scottish Government, and

• Paul Gilbert, Senior Policy Advisor, Scottish Government

In his opening statement, the Minister highlighted the importance of local solutions to delivery of carbon friendly heating in homes and buildings. He described how this would be achieved by placing a duty on local authorities to produce strategies and delivery plans through the order.

The Committee probed several issues relating to the order including—

• Timescales for delivery of the first local plans and strategies and how this fitted with other work taking place on this issue, such as the work of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce;

• When guidance would be produced to support local authorities to produce strategies and delivery plans, and whether this guidance would be explicit about the support available to local authorities;

• Whether plans would include potential for local energy companies;

• Resourcing of key local authority departments, such as planning; and

• Establishment of the National Public Energy Agency and whether this was adequately resourced given the scale of the challenge.

The Minister undertook to write to the Committee on several issues, including the work of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce and the resources available to the National Public Energy Agency.

Following the evidence session, the Minister moved motion S6M-03605—

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to without division.

The evidence on this instrument can be found in the Official Report at the following link: Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee Official Reports.