Question reference: S6W-23949
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 15 December 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 January 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have published Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES), and whether it anticipates that any local authorities will not publish LHEES by the end of 2023.
Answer
As of 19 December 2023 three local authorities have published final Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES):
- Glasgow City Council
- Fife Council
- West Lothian Council
An additional ten local authorities have published draft LHEES for consultation:
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Clackmannanshire Council
- Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
- East Lothian Council
- Falkirk Council
- Highland Council
- North Ayrshire Council
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Perth and Kinross Council
- Stirling Council
The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 places a duty on local authorities to publish their first LHEES Strategies and Delivery Plans on or before 31 December 2023. It is for the local authorities to determine how they will discharge this duty, and whilst we are aware that some local authorities may not publish LHEES by the end of 2023, all of them are working hard to put in place long term local strategies that will set out how each segment of the building stock needs to change to reach net zero.
To support local authorities to develop and publish their LHEES, the Scottish Government published guidance in October 2022, setting out what is required in the production and content of Strategies and Delivery Plans. This was accompanied by long term funding for each local authority of £75,000 per year, committed until 2027/28. The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, facilitating regular forums and learning events to share knowledge and address key challenges as they develop their first LHEES. In addition, Zero Waste Scotland are providing a series of capacity building workshops and one-to-one support sessions to upskill local authority officers.