Issue - meetings

To receive a report presenting the ongoing progress made towards achieving a carbon net zero Council by 2040, as set out in the Council's Climate Strategy and Action Plan.

Executive Councillor: L Davenport-Ray.

The Cabinet

(a)  commented on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan for 2024-25;

(b)  noted the progress made by the Council and its partners towards achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2040; and

(c)  commented on and approved the updated Climate Action plan as shown in Appendix 6 and note the amendment of actions in Appendix 7.

A report by the Climate Co-ordinator and the Development & Delivery Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which provided an update on progress of the delivery of the Council’s Climate Strategy and Action Plan since its adoption in February 2023. Key areas of success in the report would cover the 2024-2025 budget year.

The report also presented a summary of progress, highlighting the current position of Huntingdonshire District Council, demonstrating actions undertaken to reduce emissions through the approach set out in the Climate Strategy for the Council to be:

•  a positive example through its actions to be a net carbon zero Council by 2040;

•  an enabler supporting action within our communities and across our partners; and

•  an encourager to ensure the efforts of those that live, work, and visit our district help to achieve the aspiration of a net carbon zero Huntingdonshire by 2040.

The Executive Councillor – Climate, Transformation and Workforce highlighted the consistent progress made on the climate action scorecards which had been released the previous week, which the Cabinet were pleased to note. She also credited the excellent officers involved who had shown skill and hard work. Finally, she updated the Cabinet with her work with the Executive Councillor – Planning in drafting a technical advice note for the Council’s Planning team to publish which would give developers an idea of the things the Council would like to see happen in Huntingdonshire, helping to use the influence it had as a planning authority, which the Cabinet were pleased to see coming forward.

Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet

(a)  commented on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan for 2024-25;

(b)  noted the progress made by the Council and its partners towards achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2040; and

(c)  commented on and approved the updated Climate Action plan as shown in Appendix 6 and note the amendment of actions in Appendix 7.

The Panel is invited to receive a presentation and comment on the Annual Climate Report and Action Plan Update.

Executive Councillor: L Davenport-Ray

By means of a report and presentation by the Climate Co-ordinator (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book), the Annual Climate Report and Action Plan Update was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Criswell congratulated Officers on the report, which he felt was comprehensive except for demonstration of value for money and how the team assessed which projects are to be progressed. The Panel heard that cost benefit is considered with each decision made but that it was difficult to measure value for money as this was subjective. It was further questioned whether any projects had been ruled out due to the associated costs, following which, the Panel heard that costs were considered and options were weighed up ensuring a balanced approach was taken on the Council’s journey to Net Zero.

In response to a question relating to the Council’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and how success was being measured the Panel heard that the detail on this would be sought and brought back to the Panel at a future date, potentially via the Climate Working Group. It was noted that there was a desire for the Panel to be a critical friend in this process.

Concern was expressed that the journey to Net Zero would become progressively harder as more and more big ticket items were achieved. It was noted that the process worked as a funnel with big gains in C02 savings achieved initially filtering down to the smaller savings. It was also advised that with anticipated improvements in technologies the smaller savings would become more achievable.

It was observed that Climate Change is an abstract topic but that the report and presentation from the team demonstrated the wealth of good work undertaken and translated what that good work meant for residents.

It was advised to the Panel that the procurement training from Anglia Ruskin University had been specific for the Council’s procurement team.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations within the report.