Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Management

Approved the content of a five-year carbon management plan for the Council.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environmental Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached the final draft of a five-year carbon management plan for the Council.

Members were informed that the draft plan identified some 39 carbon reduction projects aimed at reducing the Council's carbon dioxide emissions by 30% over the next five years and in so doing create an estimated net financial saving of almost £1.1m.  Having been advised that some of the projects identified had received funding through the Medium Term Plan process, while others may attract external funding for implementing energy efficiency and renewable technology projects, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the five-year Carbon Management Plan for the Council be approved.

To receive a report on the Carbon Management Plan by the Head of Environmental Management.

(Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Environment and Information Technology, was in attendance for this Item).

The Executive Councillor for Environment and Information Technology introduced a report by the Head of Environmental Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the adoption by the Council of a Carbon Management Plan.  The Panel was advised that the Plan proposed an aspirational target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by the Council of 30% over the next five years.  In order to achieve this, a series of projects had been identified with short pay-back periods that would enable the Council to make energy and efficiency savings.  Further projects were required however, if the target was to be achieved.

Having regard to the relative pay back periods of the various proposals, Members questioned the reason why the planned wind power project in St. Ivo Leisure Centre, was proceeding as the pay back period was twice as long as other schemes.  It was reported, however that 50% of the funding for the proposed wind turbine already had been secured and it was hoped that further grants also could be obtained.

Details were presented of the funding opportunities available to implement the first tranche of projects, savings from which could be re-invested into the next stage of projects. 

The Panel was informed that behavioural change was important if the savings identified were to be achieved. In that respect the Panel suggested that incentives could be offered to encourage employees to car share, and the importance of the green force scheme to promote ‘green’ awareness across the Council was recognised.  Having regard to staff travel accounting for 6% of the Council's baseline CO­² emissions, the Panel was informed that this did not include travel by Members and it was suggested that this be included in the statistics in future. 

The Panel acknowledged that the Council's carbon emissions could be affected by external decisions beyond the Council's control and that there could be conflicts between the achievement of differing targets, where a saving in one service might increase carbon emissions elsewhere. 

Members welcomed the financial savings that could be achieved by the measures proposed but queried whether these had been included in the financial forecast for the Council's future budget that had been prepared by the Head of Financial Services.  Finally it was noted that progress towards achievement of the Carbon Management Plan targets would be included in future performance monitoring reports.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be advised of the Panel's views on the proposed Carbon Management Plan.