Published 22 February 2024
An agreement is set to be reached for expertise, skills, resources and infrastructure on net zero aims to be shared between West Dunbartonshire Council and Glasgow City Council.
Members of West Dunbartonshire Council's Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development committee met this week to agree to enter into this first-of-its-kind agreement.
This will help the Council to deliver its Climate Change Action Plans and progress with its Net Zero ambitions.
The agreement is of mutual benefit and a Project Board will be established to govern the collaboration.
Four initial areas of collaboration have been identified: energy sustainability; transition to an electric fleet; a waste strategy and sustainable transport with working groups to be established for each of these issues.
Councillor David McBride, Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development said: “This agreement is set to be the first of its kind and is very welcome. It will allow the Council to get the very best out of our climate change strategies by sharing knowledge and skills with Glasgow City Council.
“I welcome this move and look forward to seeing how it will progress and help us achieve our net zero aims.”
The Council’s Climate Change Strategy approved in 2020 saw a long term target set for West Dunbartonshire to become net zero by 2045, following a similar trajectory to the target set for Scotland as a whole.
A key challenge for the Council is the availability of resources, skills and financial implications of implementing such a policy. Signing up to this cooperation agreement therefore will help to meet those challenges.
An annual report is brought back to the IRED committee to update members on the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan which will include information on the cooperation agreement, going forward.
Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development added: “Working on actions which have climate change at their heart is a key consideration of this Council and I am pleased to see approval given to enter into this agreement.”