Seòmar agus comataidhean

Yes. My question is on the back of what Stephen Smellie said. I apologise—I did not realise what your background is. You said that one of the biggest challenges for communities is on the finance side. Are there any other challenges for community-led emissions? What can we do to help with that? What action can we, as policy makers, take to reduce those barriers?

Thank you very much.

I will move on to Councillor Macgregor, and ask a similar question that I put to the previous panel. Obviously, we are policy makers at different levels. What can we as policy makers do to reduce the barriers to community empowerment?

Thank you. I am happy to pass back to the convener.

So, as well as the fact that communities know their areas best, you feel that co-operation between local authorities and communities will be key to ensuring buy-in from local people and citizens.

What other forms of democracy might help to ensure community involvement, and how should those be initiated and supported? As you have touched on that, Louise, I will turn to Andrew Burns to ask for his thoughts.

Brilliant. I was not sure, because I could not see you there, Stephen.

Absolutely. Local authorities are best placed to know their communities. We heard from the previous panel that some of the challenges are about finance, which we have discussed, but there are also challenges about education and raising awareness, which you have alluded to. Is there anything else that is important to note on the challenges and opportunities for communities? In which sectors are there opportunities for innovation, learning and partnership between communities and local authorities?

I come to Louise Marix Evans first. I am interested in the role of communities. When it comes to delivering net zero, is there a mismatch between the scale at which local government and local community groups operate? If so, how should that be addressed? The evidence that we have gathered to date in our inquiry suggests that partnerships between councils and community groups vary depending on the area. How should local authorities change the culture to ensure that communities become key partners in the delivery of net zero?

That is fine.

I want to ask one follow-up, convener, if that is all right.