Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021

34 Effective community engagement: guidance

(1) The Scottish Ministers may issue guidance about undertaking effective community engagement in relation to a relevant application for the purpose of preparing a community engagement report.

(2) Guidance under subsection (1) may in particular include guidance on—

(a) persons, or persons of a particular description, to be considered as forming part of a community for the purpose of undertaking effective community engagement in relation to a relevant application,

(b) how applicants are to undertake effective community engagement before making a relevant application including ways in which applicants should—

(i) consult communities, and

(ii) encourage participation by communities in the consultation.

(3) Before issuing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.

(4) The Scottish Ministers must publish guidance issued under subsection (1) in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(5) A person whose relevant application must include a community engagement report in accordance with a determination under section 33(1)(b) must have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (1) in connection with the application.

(6) In this section, “community engagement report” has the meaning given in section 33(3).