Question reference: S6W-25595
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 20 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the publication of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) and delivery plans by local authorities, whether it will provide an update on which local authorities' (a) LHEES and (b) delivery plans (i) were published by and (ii) have been published since 31 December 2023.
Answer
Eleven local authorities published their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) and Delivery Plans by 31 December 2023.
Between 1 January 2024 and the time of writing, a further two local authorities have published their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans. One of these two local authorities (Renfrewshire Council) have are yet to publish their Delivery Plan. This brings the total published documents to thirteen.
Nineteen local authorities have yet to publish their Local Heat and Energy Strategies and Delivery Plans. Local authorities cite a number of challenges that have hindered their ability to meet the deadline, including recruiting staff, procuring technical consultants, the timing of governance processes, data access and timescales for stakeholder engagement.
Scottish Government officials continue to engage closely with local authorities to support them in publishing their LHEES. This includes provision of an independent review service to provide feedback to ensure they meet the requirements set out in the guidance, one-to-one capacity support training, in-person visits to raise awareness at senior level and through tailored online sessions.
A table of local authorities which have published their LHEES and whether or not they met the deadline of 31 December 2023 is as follows.
LOCAL AUTHORITY | PUBLISHED BY 31 DECEMBER 2023 |
City of Edinburgh Council | Yes |
Clackmannanshire Council | Yes |
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | Yes |
Dumfries & Galloway Council | Yes |
Falkirk Council | Yes |
Fife Council | Yes |
Glasgow City Council | Yes |
Highland Council | Yes |
North Ayrshire Council | No |
North Lanarkshire Council | Yes |
Renfrewshire Council | No |
Stirling Council | Yes |
West Lothian Council | Yes |
An LHEES has two parts which are integral to each other.
A Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy is a long-term strategic framework for the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings in the local authority’s area, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the heating of such buildings.
A Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Delivery Plan is a document setting out how a local authority proposes to support implementation of its Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy.