Governance, Leadership and Management of Climate Change
Background Information
This section of the template is designed to provide background information on your local authority and to
outline how you provide effective governance, leadership and management of climate change.
Local Authority Name
South Lanarkshire Council
Number of Staff
15055 or 12,497 (fte)
Number of Council
Operated Premises
459
Annual budget
£679,953,000
Governance
How is climate change governed in your local authority and what role do elected members provide?
Please include a diagram to illustrate your Governance structure, including reference to any distinct
climate change initiatives or groups in which elected members are particularly active.
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Connect
Executive Committee
The Council Plan
Sustainable Development
Resource
Sustainable
Development
Plans
Strategy
Council strategies and plans most directly relevant to
Sustainable development objectives
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Carbon Management Plan – Internal carbon
monitoring, reporting and reduction strategy
Energy Framework – reducing energy use
Asset Management Plan – how we improve our
asset base, reducing assets and energy
consumption
ICT Strategy – reducing energy consumption of IT
Procurement Policy – sustainable procurement
issues
Local Development Plan – sustainable land use and
policy context for low carbon communities
Waste Contract – how we will meet ‘Zero Waste’
targets over the next 25 years
Local Housing Strategy – domestic energy
efficiency and fuel poverty
Local Transport Strategy – promoting sustainable
transport
Member/Officer Working Group
Corporate
Management
Team
Sustainable Development
Co-ordination Group
Carbon
Management
Group
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Group
Coordinates SEAs on Council plans and strategies
Appendix 1 at the end of this document details South Lanarkshire Council corporate decision-making process.
Leadership
Please provide examples of leadership that senior staff or elected members have promoted that have led
to emissions reduction, promoted awareness and action on climate change or support for adaptation
initiatives.
All climate change initiatives are championed through the Council’s Sustainable Development Officer
Member Working Group (MOG) which comprises three elected members, the Chief Executive,
Executive Director (Community and Enterprise Resources) and the Executive Director (Housing and
Technical Resources). The same people also represent the Council on the Sustainability Partnership
which is part of South Lanarkshire’s community planning structure. Other agencies represented on the
partnership are NHS Lanarkshire, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission, South Lanarkshire
College, and Lightburn Elderly Action Project (LEAP).
Management
Provide detail and diagram of internal management decision-making structures, special arrangements
for mitigation and/or adaptation management, allocation of responsibilities to senior staff, etc.
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The Council’s services are grouped into ‘Resources’ each of which is headed by an Executive Director.
Executive Directors and the Chief Executive form the Council’s Corporate Management Team (CMT)
which is responsible for managing all Council activities and advising all of its committees. The
Council’s ultimate corporate decision making body is its Executive Committee which is chaired by the
Leader of the Council. There are subsidiary committees for each Resource.
All activities relating to climate change are set out in the Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy
and are coordinated by the Sustainable Development Officer through the Sustainable Development
Member Officer Working Group. Actions within the Sustainable Development Strategy are assigned to
specific Executive Directors who provide quarterly progress reports through the Council’s performance
management system (IMPROVe) to the Chief Executive. Quarter 2 and 4 performance reports are also
considered by Resource and Executive Committees.
Resources have specific responsibilities which contribute to the Council’s climate change objectives:
Executive Director (Community and Enterprise)
Overall responsibility for sustainable development and climate change
Carbon management
Transport planning, including promotion of sustainable travel
Roads and winter maintenance
Statutory flood management responsibilities
Corporate responsibility for emergency and contingency planning
Development planning and building standards
Strategic environmental assessment
Biodiversity and countryside management
Waste management
Fleet management
Executive Director (Housing and Technical Services)
Corporate asset management plan
Energy management for all Council properties
Water Consumption Management for all Council properties
Local Housing Strategy
Domestic energy efficiency and fuel poverty
Property Design including energy efficiency and renewables
Housing Investment including new build housing design
Central Energy Efficiency Fund Investment
Planned maintenance including building energy management systems
Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources)
Capital programme
Carbon reduction commitment
Procurement, including sustainable procurement
Employee travel plan, pool cars and related initiatives
Learning and development activities (e.g. the Council’s management development programme)
Executive Director (Education Resources)
Environmental education in schools
All Executive Directors are responsible for implementation of corporate sustainable development
initiatives concerning employees or buildings under their control e.g. in relation to energy management
and employee travel.
Improving Climate Change Governance, Leadership and Management
Provide details of plans to improve climate change governance, leadership and management
arrangements e.g. creation of new groups, service improvement plans etc.
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Current arrangements are considered to be working well and no changes to governance structures are
planned within 2014/15. Following the review of local community planning structures it has been
agreed there will be no change to the Sustainability Partnership, this will continue to operate as it is
currently.
Strategies, Plans and Programmes
Outline how climate change is incorporated into strategies, plans and programs, e.g. the Single Outcome
Agreement, the Community Plan, the Council Corporate Plan, Service Plans, Structure and Local
Development Plans, etc.
Please provide links to these documents and detail the specific sections or paragraphs where climate
change is referenced.
‘Stronger Together’ - The Community Plan
Stronger Together sets the context for community planning through which statutory agencies and the
local voluntary sector work together to achieve its vision ‘to improve the quality of life for everyone in
South Lanarkshire by ensuring equal access to opportunities and to services that meet people’s needs’.
The partnership seeks to do this in a sustainable way and recognises that climate change is a factor
influencing how services are delivered. The plan can be viewed on the Council website: Stronger
Together - South Lanarkshire Community Plan
South Lanarkshire Single Outcome Agreement
South Lanarkshire’s second Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) between the Scottish Government and
the Community Planning Partnership sets out priorities that focus on the delivery of better outcomes for
the area. The document is structured around the aims of the South Lanarkshire’s Community Plan and
the Scottish Government’s six national priorities for community planning. Climate change is considered
at page 11 of the SOA as part of the policy context for service provision and several related targets are
within the section on the economic growth and recovery priority (pages 34-40). The full document can
be viewed on the Council website: South Lanarkshire Single Outcome Agreement 2013-2023
Connect
The Connect 2012-17 is the Council’s top level plan. It sets out 14 objectives for South Lanarkshire.
‘Developing a Sustainable Council and Communities’ is one of eight priority objectives and page 24 of
the plan explains how the Council will address this objective and how it will measure progress. The full
document can be viewed on the Council website: Connect 2012-2017
More detailed actions relating to climate change are contained in Resource Plans prepared by each of
the Council Resources every year. Through this approach the Council aims to ensure that its action on
climate change is considered and embedded in the routine business of the Council. All of the Council’s
Resource Plans can be viewed on the Council website.
Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-17
The Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy outlines actions to reduce carbon emissions and
adapt to any changes in climate therefore it is also the Council’s climate change strategy. It is
organised into three themes: Sustainable Council, sustainable environment and sustainable
communities each of which includes actions that contribute to our public sector climate change duties.
The full strategy can be viewed on the Council website: Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-2017
Carbon Management Plan 2012
The Carbon Management Plan details how the Council is reducing carbon emissions from its own
services. It includes an action plan for meeting its 2% annual emissions reduction target. The
document can be viewed on the Council website: Carbon Management Plan 2012
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Local Development Plan 2014-2019 (proposed plan)
The Local Development Plan 2014-2019 sets out the Council’s proposals and policies to guide local
development around its central vision to ‘promote the continued growth and regeneration of South
Lanarkshire by seeking sustainable economic and social development within a low carbon economy
whilst protecting and enhancing the environment’. It was prepared following extensive public
consultation. It will be reviewed by Scottish Ministers during 2014 before finally being adopted by the
Council. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are considered within the document: Policy 2 climate change (page 13); policy 14 - green network and greenspace (page 31); policy 16 - travel and
transport (page 35); policy 17 - water environment and flooding (page 36); policy 18 - waste (page 37);
policy 19 - wind energy (page 39). The full document can be viewed on the Council website: South
Lanarkshire Development Plan 2014-2019 (proposed)
Prior to adoption of the new Local Development Plan, development decisions remain guided by the
policies set out in the Adopted South Lanarkshire Local Plan which is also available on the Council
website: Adopted South Lanarkshire Local Plan
Local Transport Strategy 2013-2023
The Local Transport Strategy 2013– 2023 sets out six objectives for the improvement of local transport
services and infrastructure including four with particular relevance to climate change:
 ensure that transport supports and facilitates economic recovery, regeneration and sustainable
development
 improve health and wellbeing by facilitating and encouraging active travel, through the
development of attractive, safe and convenient walking and cycling networks
 mitigate, adapt and manage the effects of climate change, including flooding, on transport
infrastructure and communities
 Alleviate the impacts of traffic congestion and traffic growth throughout South Lanarkshire,
which adversely affect the economy and environment
Sustainable transport is considered within the documents at pages 62-77 and flood risk management at
pages 80-86). The document can be viewed on the Council website: Local Transport Strategy
‘Better Homes: Thriving Communities’ the South Lanarkshire Local Housing Strategy
The Local Housing Strategy outlines local objectives for housing quality, supply and development of
sustainable communities. It addresses national priorities for housing which including fuel poverty and
climate change (see pages 26 to 30). It can be viewed on the Council website: Local Housing Strategy
for South Lanarkshire 2012-2017
Sustainable Procurement Policy
South Lanarkshire Council is very aware of the environmental impact of its activities and seeks to
incorporate an awareness of all environmental and sustainability issues into its procurement processes
and practices. The Council’s Sustainable Procurement Policy demands a systematic, measured and
continuous improvement approach, recognising that sustainable procurement must be meaningful and
substantial. Further information on South Lanarkshire Council's sustainable and environmental
procurement policy is available on the Council website: Sustainable Procurement Policy
Biodiversity
The South Lanarkshire Biodiversity Strategy recognises that climate change poses a significant threat
to biodiversity and contains a climate change action plan, as well as having climate change related
actions in each of its four ecosystem action plans. The strategy encourages action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, as well as programmes of activity which will help mitigate the impact of
current and future climate change. Such actions include the restoration of peatland habitats and the
creation of habitat networks to enable free movement of species. The action plans can be viewed on
the South Lanarkshire Biodiversity Partnership website.
South Lanarkshire Council also has its own internal plan to help guide implementation of its statutory
duty to ‘conserve and enhance biodiversity’, under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act, 2004.
Actions taken to conserve biodiversity will contribute towards climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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Strategic Environmental Assessment
All new or revised plans, policies programmes and strategies (PPPS) within the Council undergo
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to
climate change is considered within an SEA and can ensure that PPPS take full account of climate
change issues and help support government targets.
Priorities for the Year Ahead
What are your key priorities for climate change Governance, Leadership and Management within your
organisation?
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Continue to implement actions in the Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-17
Use the Council’s Environmental Statement to promote sustainability among employees
Reduce carbon emissions from service provision by a further 2% compared to 2010/11
Publish the Council’s refreshed Carbon Management Plan
Reduce the Council’s energy consumption across the energy portfolio by 2% compared to
2013/14 weather corrected baseline
Continue to increase the energy efficiency of Council property through the Energy Champions
initiative
Reduce energy consumption through the Council’s Accommodation Review
Continue to use energy as a key indicator in Asset Management Planning
Maximise energy and carbon efficiency through property design
Finalise the development of a sustainable development and climate change e-learning module
for employees
Reduce Council wide transport emissions by 3.3%
Reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill to 47,510 tonnes or less
Achieve a waste tonnage of 1.2 tonnes per household or less
Achieve a recycling target of 40%
Introduce new waste management initiatives to reduce waste and increase recycling
Deliver prioritised flood protection projects in line with available capital funding
Participate in local flood risk management districts
Undertake water course clearance and repair in line with Scottish Government guidance
Promote delivery of sustainable development through the statutory planning system by using the
development plan and associated Supplementary Guidance.
Incorporate sustainable urban drainage into all new applicable developments.
Undertake strategic environmental assessment on all key plans and policies
Produce the environmental (including climate change) supplementary guidance which supports
the South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan
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Reducing Corporate Emissions
Targets:
Please state whether your local authority has set targets for ‘corporate’ greenhouse gas emissions. If
yes, please provide below:
Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Council
Target and Document Source (please provide link)
2% reduction p.a.
Performance:
Progress against targets (total CO2 tonnes) – please add/delete columns as appropriate
Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Council
Baseline
year
2005/06
155,965
Total in Year 5
2010/11
(tCO2e)
141,265 (9.4%
reduction)
Total in Year 6
2011/12
(tCO2e)
135,254 (13.3%
reduction)
Total in Year 7
2012/13
(tCO2e)
139,441 (10.6%
reduction)
Total in Year 8
2013/14
(tCO2e)
136,105 (12.7%
reduction)
Corporate Reporting – Further Information
Please complete the table below. Data in italics is optional. What are the boundaries of the data provided
(e.g. local government estate?). The information below is for Council Estate Functions only.
For further information, please refer to the Scottish Government document – Public Sector Sustainability
Reporting Guidance on the Preparation of Annual Sustainability Reports 2012-13 available here.
Area
(a) Total GHG emissions
(b) Electricity
(c) Gas and oil
(d) Street lighting
(e) Staff travel (commute)
(f) Fleet
(g) Business travel
(h) Waste
Performance (2013-14)
136,548 tCO2e
69,910,261 kWh
145,309,098 kWh
25,774,890 kWh
Not currently measured
9,287 tCO2e
1,351 tCO2e
46,724 tCO2e
Carbon Reduction
Commitment-related
emissions
CRC-related expenditure
56,253 tonnes
Energy expenditure
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
£7,112,880 (electricity)
£4,208,877 (gas)
173,426 tonnes
104,528 tonnes
68,898 tonnes
0 tonnes
Water consumption
£ 2,625,460 (waste disposal)
£ 6,857,220 (landfill tax)
727,233m3
Water expenditure
£3,008,366
Total waste
Waste to landfill
Waste recycled/reused
Waste incinerated or
energy from waste
Waste expenditure
Target p.a. (if applicable)
Overall reduction 2% each year
£675,036
40% of total waste
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Biodiversity
A short commentary should be provided on action on biodiversity when performing your duty under the
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Please detail any biodiversity achievements during 2013-14
and any targets to improve biodiversity.
South Lanarkshire Council published its first Biodiversity Duty Implementation Plan (BDIP) in 2012. The
plan was developed by a cross-service working group and sets out actions and targets for each Council
resource, under six headings:
• Governance, leadership and management
• Action
• Mainstreaming
• Monitoring
• Partnership
• Communication
The plan also outlines a number of aspirational actions which may be implemented subject to resource
availability. The first report to Scottish Government (as required under the Wildlife and Natural
Environment (Scotland) Act 2011) is due in 2014 and will highlight successes and identify any areas for
improvement. A biodiversity toolkit has also been developed which will assist in this process, enabling
the council to move from a position of basic practice to one of good practice.
South Lanarkshire Council is also a lead partner of the South Lanarkshire Biodiversity Partnership,
providing officer support and delivering a range of programmes and actions which also contribute
towards delivery of the biodiversity duty.
Achievements in 2013/14 included:
• Developed an second suite of habitat site assessment cards for use by local environmental
groups
• Continued provision of support and training to members of the South Lanarkshire Environmental
Volunteer Network
• Further developed the ‘biodiversity assets’ approach to the conservation of priority habitats in
the authority, for inclusion in the Local Development Plan Supplementary Guidance on Built and
Natural Environment.
• Continue to work closely with developers to produce and implement Habitat Management Plans
for onshore wind farms
• Began mainstreaming the management of grassland sites for wildflowers and invertebrates
• Further developed a comprehensive database for the collation of invasive species records. This
will inform the development of a strategic control programme. Parallel to this, the development
of an Invasive Species Strategy has begun.
 Ongoing management of two Local Nature Reserves for biodiversity objectives
 Ongoing management of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve for biodiversity
objectives.
 Ongoing management of community managed greenspaces for biodiversity benefit.
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Sustainable Procurement
Please complete the table below.
This information can be obtained from the most recent Flexible Framework self-assessment that would
have been completed by the organisation as part of their annual Procurement Capability Assessment
(PCA).
People
Current Performance
Level (Level 0-5)
1
Policy
1
Process
1
Suppliers
Monitoring and
Reporting
1
Overall
1
Target (e.g. To be at Level x by x date)
Joint improvement plan adopted for the Sustainable
Procurement Policy and Flexible Framework.
1
Please provide a short commentary on any sustainable procurement achievements during 2013-14
A Sustainable Procurement Policy has been developed and a joint action plan adopted for the Flexible
Framework and Sustainable Procurement Policy. It is anticipated further progress will be made on the
joint action plan, when the Scottish Government confirms its revisions to the Flexible Framework.
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Action to Reduce your Corporate Emissions
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Please provide information on action to reduce emissions during 2013-14 including behaviour
change initiatives.
Please give details on how these initiatives were financed.
If you have not delivered initiatives under these areas during 2013-14 then please leave blank.
Area
Energy (Gas
and Electricity)
Initiatives
 Energy efficiency installations in
operational properties (including
insulation, lighting, voltage
optimisers, boiler replacement,
enhanced controls and building
management systems)
 ‘Energy Champions’ initiative to
encourage employees to reduce
energy consumption in our
buildings. This involves identifying
and recording opportunities for
energy savings within all buildings.
 Low carbon design of both housing
and general services new buildings
(including renewable energy
generation)
 LED lighting now specified as
standard in all new builds
 Joint energy management protocol
is in place with SLC and the
schools (PPP) facilities provider
which is aimed at joint working in
looking at any initiatives to reduce
energy usage across the high
school estate
Financing
 Central Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF)
and Property Services existing budgets
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General services capital programme
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Capital Programme

ECO HEEPS – Green Homes Cashback
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Roads and Transportation existing
budgets
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Capital Programme

Fleet and Environmental Services
existing budgets and Scottish
Government Low Carbon Vehicle
Procurement Support Scheme
(LCVPSS)
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Fleet and Environmental Services
existing budgets
Water
Street lighting
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Staff travel
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Fleet
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Continue with replacement
programme for low energy festive
lighting in all areas
Continue to implement LED and low
energy technology pilots
Continue to develop options for a
long term replacement programme
Develop and improve the use of the
low carbon pool car scheme
Expand use of electric vehicles
Continue to promote and increase
participation in the Cycle to Work
scheme
Driver efficiency training for all
council fleet drivers
Expansion of GPS telematics to all
vehicles and pool cars as
appropriate
Continue to improve the fuel
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Waste
efficiency of fleet vehicles and
ensure they are ‘right sized’ to their
function
 Constructor partners expected to 
meet or exceed a 15% recycling
content in building materials as
assessed through the auspices of
Zero Waste Scotland.
 Continue to have separate recycled
collection of paper, plastics, cans.
This has been promoted through
staff communications.
 Implementation of food waste uplifts
council properties generating in
excess of 50kg food waste each
week
Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services
existing budgets
Biodiversity
Procurement
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 A working group established to
progress actions on the joint action
plan
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Existing resources
What are your priorities for 2014-15? If you do not have priorities under the areas stated for 2014-15
then please leave blank.
Area
Energy
(Gas &
Electricity)
Water
Street lighting
Staff travel
Fleet
Waste
Biodiversity
Priorities for 2014-15
 Continue to roll out renewables as part of capital projects
 Continue to implement energy efficiency installation programme in housing and
operational properties (including insulation, lighting, voltage optimisers, combined
heat and power)
 Align CEEF investment with capital and revenue maintenance programmes
 Regularly monitor consumption and progress against target. Identify remedial/
improvement actions needed
 Develop improvement targets for each property
 Increasing the sophistication of automatic meter readings on our water supply
which allows for early identification of water leaks or waste with interventions
carried out thereafter
 Develop a robust reporting model for water consumption performance.
 LED lighting options being considered for the street lighting estate - dependent on
the availability of funding.
 Re-launch of the staff travel plan is planned a way which will make most impact on
staff and management travel choices
 Consider participation in the next round of the Scottish Government’s Electric
Vehicle Procurement Scheme
 Re-launch ‘Don’t Bin it, Box it’ internal recycling campaign for Council employees
 Expand food waste uplifts in Council properties in line with food waste regulations
• Publish and promote the second suite of habitat site assessment cards to local
environmental groups.
• Publish the Supplementary Guidance on Built and Natural Environment. Support
implementation of the ‘biodiversity assets’ approach to the conservation of priority
habitats.
• Complete the Invasive Species Strategy.
• Report on the implementation of the Biodiversity Duty Implementation Plan 2012-
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•
•
Procurement
14
Revise the Biodiversity Duty Implementation Plan for 2014-2016
Prepare a revised Biodiversity Strategy
Continue
 Ongoing management of two Local Nature Reserves for biodiversity objectives
 Ongoing management of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve for
biodiversity objectives.
 Ongoing management of community managed greenspaces for biodiversity
benefit.
• Working closely with developers to produce and implement Habitat Management
Plans for onshore wind farms
• Mainstreaming the management of grassland sites for wildflowers and
invertebrates
• Provision of support and training to members of the South Lanarkshire
Environmental Volunteer Network
 Review of key procurement documents such as the Sourcing Methodology and
standard tender documentation to identify and capture sustainable data relevant to
individual procurements.
 Establish a programme to reduce / rationalise the number of deliveries made by
suppliers.
 Aim to progress the flexible framework improvement plan from Level 1
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Reducing Area-wide Emissions
What are your total area-wide and per capita emissions? Please indicate emission amounts and unit of
measurement (e.g. tCO2e) and years. Please provide information on the following components using
data from the link provided below:
‘Emissions within the Scope of Local Authorities for 2005-12’ dataset
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-emissions-estimates
Local Authority
(Insert Name)
2008
ktCO2e
1972.2
2009
ktCO2e
1741.1
2010
ktCO2e
1813.2
2011
ktCO2e
1655.6
2012
ktCO2e
1730.6
Industry and Commercial
742.3
597.2
627.4
564.6
577.5
Domestic
853.2
773
818.2
731.9
799.7
Transport total
376.7
370.9
367.6
359.1
353.4
6.3
5.6
5.8
5.3
5.5
Total Emissions
Per Capita
* SSN notes: due to a national (UK) shift to a more coal dependant energy mix that emissions across all sections above (excluding transport)
may rise in 2012.
Local Data
Have you developed any local emissions data, please provide commentary in the box below. This can
include any work to footprint area energy consumption, transport, waste etc.
The Council previously took part in a pilot project to assess the impact on ecological footprint of
different development options for community growth areas. The pilot was completed in 2010. There
was no further development of foot print work during 2013/14.
Targets:
Target including explanation of
Local Authority or other the reduction (% on what),
organisation/community timeframe (e.g. between 2005 and
Progress to date
group with Local
2027), scope (e.g. direct,
Authority Area
consumption) and exclusions (e.g.
large industry)
South Lanarkshire
Reduce per capita emissions by 10% Area-wide emissions in 2012 were
by 2023
higher compared to the previous
year (2011). The area-wide
increase follows the same pattern
across Scotland which was due to
an increase in energy consumption
as a result of cooler weather
throughout 2012.
Our area-wide emissions are still on
a downward trajectory and in 2012
were 12.3% below 2008 levels. This
is slightly ahead of the reduction for
Scotland as a whole over the same
period (8.8%).
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Area wide Actions:
What is your local authority doing to reduce greenhouse gases from your local authority area? Please
provide examples of initiatives under the following headings, If you do not have any action under any of
these headings then please leave blank. Please make clear distinction between initiatives initiated in
2013-14 and earlier years.
Area
Action in
2013-14
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Energy
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Homes and
Communities
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Continued to
process planning
applications for
local wind
generation in line
with planning
policies
£1.577m
invested in
improving energy
efficiency of
domestic
properties
through HEEPS/
ECO/ Green
Homes
Cashback
programmes
Carried out
3,081 central
heating
upgrades and
replacements
Undertook cavity
wall insulation on
30 Council
houses and 55
other domestic
properties.
Undertook
insulated wall
cladding on 126
Council houses
and 111 other
domestic
properties
Undertook 967
gas
infrastructure
installations in
Council houses
Annual carbon
savings of
approximately
1,300 tonnes
CO2
Existing
New
Importance
in reducing
GHG. High,
medium, low
Comment on LA role.
Progress and
success of measure
(if known)
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
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Business
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Transport
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By the end of the
year 87% of
Council houses
met the energy
efficiency criteria
of the Scottish
Housing Quality
Standard
Supplied data on
Council
operational and
domestic
properties for the
Scottish Heat
Map project
Established
provision for
energy
information and
advice to tenants
/ residents
Assisted SMEs
with developing
an environmental
policy during
supplier
development
programme
workshops
Engagement with
Resource
Efficient Scotland
to support local
SMEs in
resource
efficiency and
associated
financial
assistance
Publication of
South
Lanarkshire’s
Local Transport
Strategy 20132023
Continued the
installation of
local electric
vehicle charging
infrastructure
across the South
Lanarkshire area
Continued to
develop South
Lanarkshire’s
cycle network
Established a
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
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15



Waste &
Resource
Efficiency


South
Lanarkshire
Cycling
Partnership
39.7% of
household waste
was recycled or
composted
through further
promotion of
existing kerbside
collections
(glass, paper,
plastics and
metal)
Awarded short
term contract for
the recycling,
treatment and
disposal of
residual waste
resulting in a
significant
amount of
residual waste
diverted from
landfill
Commenced
options appraisal
to determine the
most effective
way to
separately
collect food
waste which will
reduce
biodegradable
waste going to
landfill.
Review of multioccupancy
accommodation
for dry-recyclate
services.
Introduction of
food waste
collection in
Council and
Leisure Trust
establishments
where they
produce more
than 50kg of
food waste per
week
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√
√
√
Rural land use
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Priorities for the Year Ahead (2014-15)
Please provide priorities for the given areas for 2014-15. If you do not have action planned under the
following areas then please leave blank.
Area
Energy
Homes and
Communities
Business
Transport
Waste & Resource
Efficiency
Action in 2014-15
 Implement the Council’s programme of domestic energy efficiency
improvements support local projects to alleviate fuel poverty
 All properties to meet Scottish Housing Quality Standard criteria for
energy ratings
 The Council will strive to meet the silver standard for new housing designs
 Development of a Renewables Supplementary Guidance to support
policies within the local development plan
 Promote uptake of the Climate Challenge Fund among local groups
 Consider the potential of the Heat Map Programme to inform the
development management programme
 Development of an Environment (including climate change)
Supplementary Guidance to support policies within the local development
plan. This Supplementary Guidance will also cover aspects of flood risk
management, air quality, sustainable transport and waste & resource
efficiency
 Dialogue with local business to determine environmental and
sustainability assistance required
 Continue to develop local electric vehicle charging infrastructure
 Continue to develop South Lanarkshire’s cycle network
 Develop a monitoring plan for the Local Transport Strategy with annual
reporting on the policies and actions
 Develop a Cycling Strategy for South Lanarkshire
 Consideration of participating in an ECO stars fleet recognition scheme
for South Lanarkshire
 10,355 additional properties will have access to dry-recyclate services
following the review
 Review results of options appraisal of food waste collection and prepare
implementation plan.
 Commence procurement for the long-term contract for the treatment of
residual waste.
 Achieve target of less than 1.2 tonnes of waste per household
 Achieve a target of 40% waste recycled or composted
Rural land use
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Climate Change Adaptation
This section of the template has been developed in conjunction with Adaptation Scotland to align with
their 5 Steps to Managing your Climate Risks Guidance published in 2014.
Climate Change Adaptation – Responsibility and Progress
Who is responsible for adaptation planning within your organisation and what progress has been made
to date?
This area of climate change action is relatively undeveloped in the Council. The Operations Manager,
Community and Enterprise Resources, has responsibility to coordinate the Council’s response to its
duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, including those related to climate change
adaptation. As outlined in previous sections several Council staff have duties which involve responses
to a changing climate (e.g. biodiversity, design of buildings, flooding management, contingency
planning).
Climate Change Adaptation Assessment – Current Situation
Have you assessed current climate-related threats and opportunities? Where possible, make reference
to threats and opportunities relating to:



Buildings and Infrastructure
Society
Natural Environment
Climate change and adverse weather is one of the Council’s priority risks as outlined in their risk
register. Control measures in place for this risk include dedicated flood prevention team; annual
reviews of winter weather procedures undertaken; and biennial Council-wide climate change adaptation
review meeting.
Climate Change Adaptation Assessment – Future Threats and Opportunities
Have you assessed future climate-related threats and opportunities? Where possible, make reference to
threats and opportunities relating to:
 Buildings and Infrastructure
 Society
 Natural Environment
Planning applications are assessed in accordance with South Lanarkshire’s Local Development Plan
and its associated supplementary guidance which incorporates criteria encouraging sustainable
development and minimising the impact of a changing climate.
Society
There has been minimal activity in this area so far in South Lanarkshire.
Natural Environment
Threats to the natural environment include extreme weather events; changes in community ecology;
impacts on climate space availability; shifts in species distribution; changes in timing of seasonal
events; changes in land use and management; increase in pest species; spread of invasive species;
release of carbon from habitats previously functioning as carbon sinks (peatlands)
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Opportunities include the creation or expansion of habitat networks; restoration of habitats for carbon
storage; colonisation by new species; environmentally beneficial opportunities for natural flood
management; use of native species in planting schemes; encouraging renewable energy developments
to manage or restore biodiversity; habitat management for pollinators to counteract seasonal changes;
greater emphasis on land use to encourage biodiversity; end use of peat and moss in horticulture;
increased integration of biodiversity options in development.
Climate Change Adaptation – Risks
How is climate change risk embedded in your organisation? If not, how do you intend to make this
business as usual?
The SEA process will be used to assess climate change adaptation risk and opportunities relevant to
specific plans and strategies being developed
Climate Change Adaptation - Actions
What actions do you already have in place to manage current and future climate change threats and
opportunities? Please provide details on:



Buildings and Infrastructure
Society
Natural Environment
Buildings and infrastructure
 Flood scouts are deployed in advance of forecasted rainfall to areas where there is a potential of
flooding to occur to assess culverts and gullies, cleaning and clearing where required.
 Flood risk assessments and drainage assessment and design are a requirement of planning
applications for many new developments and regeneration initiatives.
 The Council encourages innovative and creative sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS)
which minimise the effects of new developments have on the natural water cycle.
Society
 Flooding and severe weather feature in South Lanarkshire’s Community Risk Register. The
register provides details of mitigations in place across multi agency partnerships and signposts
SEPA flood maps and the SEPA flood warning scheme as well as the Met Office National Severe
Weather Warning Service. SEPA and Met Office websites each contain information / advice
related to severe weather and flooding.
Natural environment
 Plans, policies and strategies contain actions and guidance for relevant stakeholder groups.
Climate Change Adaptation – Next Steps
What further actions do you need to put in place to manage identified for current and future climate
change threats and opportunities?
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Buildings and infrastructure
 Participate in the establishment of local Flood Risk Management Districts
 Deliver prioritised flood protection projects
 Monitor the number of sustainable urban drainage schemes in developments
Natural environment
 Higher priority on the protection/ restoration of peatland
 More emphasis on natural flood management solutions and soft flood engineering options
 More emphasis on integrated habitat network creation
 More emphasis on protection of existing biodiversity assets and use of soft landscaping
 Mainstreaming of the biodiversity duty across the Council (not just specialist sections)
Priorities for the coming year (2014-15)
What are your climate change adaptation priorities for the coming year?


Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s Adaptation Programme, carry out a climate
change adaptation survey amongst Council services to determine how the programme will affect
them and how they can contribute to it in order to meet the adaptation aspect of its duties under the
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Development of a document outlining the various work streams across the Council that contribute
to the Scottish Government’s Adaptation Programme
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Partnership Working, Communications and Capacity Building
Climate Change Mitigation
Describe any partnership work on climate change, especially Community Planning Partnership initiatives
conducted this year (2013-14) for Corporate and Area Wide emissions.
Please include diagrams to illustrate the structure of these partnerships.
Please provide an explanation of what the partnership initiatives have aimed to do, what action has
happened and what plans for future work are in place
Corporate Partnership Work
The Sustainability Partnership formed in October 2008 and is one of eight community planning themed
groups in South Lanarkshire (see appendix 2 at the end of this document).
The partnership has a particular focus on the natural environment and climate change and contributes
to the South Lanarkshire Single Outcome Agreement (SOA). There are three sub-partnerships of the
sustainability partnership: South Lanarkshire Greenspace Partnership, South Lanarkshire Biodiversity
Partnership and South Lanarkshire Outdoor Access Forum.
All South Lanarkshire’s main community planning partners signed Scotland’s Climate Change
Declaration in 2010: Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Strathclyde Police, NHS Lanarkshire, South
Lanarkshire Voluntary Action, South Lanarkshire College, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and
Scottish Natural Heritage.
The Sustainability Partnership’s improvement plan incorporates collaborative work in relation to the
commitments of SCCD, Climate Change Duties and transition to a low carbon economy
Area Wide Partnership Work
Climate Change Adaptation Partnerships
Are you working with your Community Planning Partnership, communities or other stakeholders to
identify shared threats and opportunities, and implement actions?
Communications and Behaviour Change Initiatives
List and describe climate change communications undertaken by you and partners either internally or to
the wider community during 2013-14. Please explain who the target audiences for the communications
were and whether these were generally climate change mitigation or adaptation focused.
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Have you made use of the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Behaviour Framework and ISM tool? If
yes, please detail how.
During 2013-14 we ran a number of annual awareness raising campaigns directed at Council staff.
These included: Energy Savings Week, Earth Hour and Recycle Week. Staff are encouraged to
support the campaigns through various methods of communications including emails, staff magazine,
twitter and Intranet. Advice was given to staff on how they could contribute to the campaigns both at
work and at home.
Every opportunity is used to promote the message of climate change issues including the Council’s
website and staff intranet.
The Council’s employee magazine, ‘The Works’, is used as the principal means of staff communication.
The Works has a standing feature each month called Carbon Corner where we feature articles relating
to sustainability and climate change issues.
Schools
 100% of South Lanarkshire’s schools are now engaged with Eco Award or similar programmes.
 Schools are heavily involved in the annual Earth Hour campaign where lights are turned off in
school, special assemblies are held and various other activities to support the campaign. Pupils
also encourage local residents to join in.
 Bespoke climate change training including presentations and stories have delivered in schools and
nurseries including taking an electric car for the pupils to see.
External Communications
 The Council’s website has been redesigned with environment and sustainability now featuring on
the home page
 The South Lanarkshire State of the Environment Report provides information on the different
aspects of the area’s environment, including climate change. It is updated bi-annually with the
most recent report produced in September 2013. The State of the Environment Report is promoted
across the Community Planning Partnership as the key source of environmental data, including
data on greenhouse gas emissions.
 North and South Lanarkshire Councils co-host the annual Lanarkshire Business Excellence
Awards. One of the categories is green business where it recognises organisations that have
sustainable development and climate change at the heart of their business strategy and have
successfully combined business aims with environmental goals
Capacity Building
List and describe any climate change training and learning initiatives that your local authority has
undertaken internally and within the community during 2013-14.
Outline any initiatives taken to integrate climate change training into other ‘core’ staff development
functions.
 Bespoke sustainability and climate change training developed for schools and services on request.
 Development of a sustainable development learn on-line module commenced for Council
employees which includes climate change duties and targets
 Sustainable development and climate change incorporated into the Council’s Management
Development Programme
 Presentation on climate change issues delivered to the Corporate Strategic Environmental
Assessment working Group
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Priorities for the Year Ahead (2014-15)
What are your climate change partnership working, capacity building and communications priorities for
the year ahead?








Completion of the sustainable development learn on-line module for Council employees
Continue with the development of a suite of environmental e-learning modules including carbon
management, climate change awareness including adaptation, strategic environmental
assessment
Produce new branding to be incorporated in all publicity material where it contributes meeting the
climate change duties
Publication of the Council’s Environmental Statement
Incorporate sustainable development into core competencies
Re-launch of the internal recycling campaign ‘Don’t Bin it, Box it’ for all Council premises
ISM overview and discussion with the sustainable development coordination group to identify
potential behaviours with a view to running a workshop/evaluation at a later stage
Annual update of the Council’s progress in relation to sustainability and climate change in the
Council’s newspaper ‘South Lanarkshire Reporter’
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Appendix 1
South Lanarkshire Council Decision-making Process
Area
Committees
[May 2012]
(4 Areas)
Community
Services
Committee
All bodies
held inResources
public and subject to Access to Information legislation
Financial
Scrutiny Forum
with the exception of those denoted by red line
Enterprise
Services
Committee
South
Risk and Audit
Lanarkshire
Scrutiny Forum
Performance and
Review Scrutiny Forum
Council
Education
Resources
Committee
Task & Finish Group(s)
Executive
Standards and
Procedures Advisory
Forum
Committee
Finance and
Corporate
Resources
Committee
Community Planning
Advisory Forum
Rural Task Force
Housing &
Technical
Resources
Committee
Sustainable
Development Member/
Officer Working Group
Recruitment
Committee
Roads Safety
Forum
Conference
Allocation
Committee
Licensing
Committee
Planning
Committee
Planning Local
Review Body
Social Work
Resources
Committee
Employee
Issues Forum
Equal
Opportunities
Forum
Appeals Panel
Grievance and
Dispute Panel
Joint
Consultative
Forum
Complaints
Review SubCommittee
Public
Procession
Panel
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Appendix 2
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