Chamber and committees

The launch of the consultation is being scheduled into the new year to enable us to take account of recent policy developments in this area.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

The contents of these documents are material considerations to be taken into account by the planning authority in the determination of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

PAN45 Annex highlights that certain wood fuel boiler systems have been approved for use in areas covered by Smokeless Zone Regulations and indicates that a list of such technologies is available at:

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

These documents provide information and guidance to planning authorities on the technology, including fuel types and processes, and the planning issues to be taken into account when considering planning applications.

Guidance and screening tools to help local authorities assess the potential air quality impacts of such planning applications will be included in the revised guidance issued to authorities to assist them in undertaking their local air quality management duties under the 1995 Environment Act. This guidance is due to be published by the end of 2008.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

There will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of any leasing arrangement arising from the consultation exercise and wider options review.

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Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The amount of land which could be appropriate for leasing is a key consideration in the consultation exercise and options review.

Offering management leases and cutting rights, and transferring the proceeds to a not-for-profit trust for investment in woodland creation, are potential options for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. These options are included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

It is therefore too early to say which geographical areas would be considered for leasing, but they are likely to be those parts of the national forest estate where timber production is the main objective, and where public benefits such as conservation, community engagement and recreation are relatively less significant.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

No decisions have therefore been taken on the length of any leasing arrangement, although there may be good arguments for it lasting several decades. Forestry Commission Scotland will be considering a range of options on this aspect as part of its review.

As the consultation document indicates, this is one of the options to be considered as part of the consultation exercise and the options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.