Consultations

SEA of the Revised Highland Council Carbon Management Plan- Consultation

The consultation on the revised Highland Council Carbon Management Plan is now open.

A copy of this Environmental Report and the Draft Carbon Management Plan are available to download from the current documents section to the right of the page.

The Highland Council Carbon Management Plan Non-Technical Summary

Comments on the Environmental Report can be sent to the address below by the 16th November 2009. Alternatively you can submit comments online.

Carbon Management Plan Consultation
Ailsa Villegas
Sustainable Development Officer
Chief Executive Office
Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX

Comments can also be submitted by e-mail to: ailsa.villegas@highland.gov.uk

A copy of this Environmental Report and the Draft Carbon Management Plan are available to download from the Councils website www.highland.gov.uk

The Highland Council Carbon Management Plan

The Carbon Management Plan sets out to reduce CO2 emissions from Highland Council properties and assets by 2012.

Prompted by the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, the Carbon Management Plan seeks to reduce CO2 emissions from council buildings, staff travel, council fleet, internal waste management, street lighting and water. It also aims to embed carbon management processes throughout Council Services and explore new areas for carbon reduction actions.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):

This environmental report presents the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the draft Carbon Management Plan for Highland Council. The purpose of the SEA is to make sure that environmental considerations are taken into account within the plan.

SEA allows the potential environmental impacts of the plan to be predicted, and where appropriate, mitigated. In setting this out in this publicly available report, the public and other stakeholders can comment on the plan and its impacts. A report scoping the proposed method and level of detail for the SEA was submitted to the Scottish Government, and this allowed Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to provide comments and recommendations. These comments were taken into account in the assessment and preparation of this report.

SEA method and results:

The likely environmental impacts of the Carbon management Plan aims and objectives were assessed. Many of the aims and objective were predicted to have positive or neutral effects on the environment. Where potential negative effects were identified, associated mitigation methods are outlined. This includes identifying lower tier plans, policies and strategies where more detailed and site specific actions can take place.

Where significant positive or negative environmental effects have been identified, the report will demonstrate how these effects will be monitored and reported.

Adoption:

Following the six week consultation period on this environmental report, recommendations will be considered and, where appropriate, adopted into the final Carbon Management Plan. At this time a post-adoption statement will be made available outlining any changes that have been made as a result of the SEA.

SEA of the Draft Open Space in New Residential Developments: Supplementary Guidance

CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED

A Strategic Environmental Report has been published in association with the Draft Open Space in New Residential Developments: Supplementary Guidance. The deadline for submission of comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment is Friday 3 April 2009. To view the documents, go to the Open Space Supplementary Guidance web page.

SEA of the Nigg Development Masterplan

CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED

A Strategic Environmental Report has been published in association with the Nigg Develooment Masterplan: Final Draft. The deadline for submission of comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment is Friday 7th August 2009. To view the documents, go to the Nigg Development Masterplan web page.