Agenda item

‘How can local Councils challenge, encourage and enable residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint’

(Mr Matt Taylor, Carbon Reduction Systems Co-ordinator at the Low Carbon Innovation Centre at the University of East Anglia will be in attendance to address the Council.)

The Chairman invited Councillor P J Downes, Leader of the Opposition to open the debate on –

  “How can local councils challenge, encourage and enable residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.”.

In his opening remarks, Councillor Downes commended the Council for the opportunity offered to him as Leader of the Opposition by the new democratic arrangements to choose the subject for the Council debate.  As background, Councillor Downes congratulated the Council on its record in recycling and the publication of an Environmental Strategy.  However he also stressed the importance of the District Council taking a lead with local councils in encouraging individuals and the business community, in particular, to reduce their carbon footprint.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), Mr M Taylor, Carbon Reduction Systems Co-ordinator at the Low Carbon Innovation Centre, University of East Anglia addressed the Council.

Following the latter’s address, Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for the Environment and Information Technology thanked both Councillor Downes for his selection of such an important subject and Mr Taylor for his thought-provoking presentation.  Councillor Gray suggested that the Council had been elected to provide leadership to the community, but that he suspected that the majority of District’s residents had yet to be persuaded to change their lifestyle and that there were those who remained sceptical with little interest in environmental issues.  It was Councillor Gray’s contention that a District with clean air and sustainable villages would be one that all residents should aspire to.

Having commended the projects promoted by other local councils as set out in a paper prepared by Councillor Downes and reproduced in the Minute Book, Councillor Gray drew attention to those initiatives being pursued by the District Council which included the Green House (Retrofit) Project to educate and influence the community to introduce affordable energy efficiency, renewable energy and water efficiency measures in their homes.  Mention also was made of a number of other initiatives such as the “Go Warm” scheme, the Mayfield Road showcase new build project and the “Watts Going Down in Warboys” scheme. 

Councillor Gray accepted that there was still much work for the Council to do and where the Council could lead by example such as the car parking policy, the use of fuel efficient cars and home working.  In closing Councillor Gray urged the Council not to be complacent and to continue its commitment to action for climate change.

Councillor Mrs B E Boddington expressed her support for the Council’s Greenforce Project and the importance of communicating best “green practice” to parish councils and in parish magazines. 

In contrast, Councillor Mrs M Banerjee questioned the evidence that global warning had been caused by human activity.  Although acknowledging recent changes in weather patterns, Councillor Mrs Banerjee remained unconvinced that this was the result of increased carbon emissions.  She did indicate her support however for alternative energy sources and the creation of a clean environment, mentioning in particular the possibility of using the Great River Ouse to generate hydro-electric power.

Councillor P J Mitchell suggested that people should be encouraged to make greater use of public transport and he felt that new housing stock should incorporate efficiency measures in their design, with landscaping schemes to include the planting of trees.

Councillor A N Gilbert commended the progress made regionally and nationally on climate change but given that scientists had yet to establish conclusive reasons for the change, he cautioned the Council to consider the wider issues that might arise during any debate on environmental matters.  By way of illustration, he referred to a recent planning application for a wind turbine scheme which, although generating sustainable energy, had been refused because of the adverse effects of the scheme in the locality.

Whilst applauding the work of the Environment Team and the Council’s achievements thus far in terms of the 10:10 climate change campaign and the Green House “Retrofit” project, Councillor M G Baker suggested that the public should be better advised how to reduce carbon emissions via articles in District-wide.  Councillor Baker also considered that Building Control had a role to play in ensuring that energy efficient measures were incorporated in new dwellings.

Councillor R J West concurred with the points raised by the previous speaker in terms of communication with the public and referred to the consumerist society that had developed in recent years with foreign travel and longer journeys..

Councillor P D Reeve felt that the energy crisis was an illusion driven by experts and indicated his regret over the time spent on the issue when the Council had other urgent concerns to address in terms of unemployment and the local economy.

Other contributors to the debate were Councillors Dew, Mrs Reynolds, Rogers, Newman and Shellens.

To conclude Councillor Downes thanked Councillors for their contributions to the debate and following discussion, Councillor Bates undertook to liaise with the Executive Councillor for Environment and Information Technology and the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) to investigate and consider further the points made in the discussion.