PART 2

Heat network consent

Miscellaneous

Effective community engagement: guidance
34
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).