Agenda item

The Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, Councillor L Davenport-Ray to present the Council’s Climate Strategy for approval.

(The Strategy was considered by the Cabinet at their meeting on 24th January 2023 and it was agreed that it should be recommended to Council for approval).

In conjunction with a report by the Assistant Director Strategic Insight and Delivery (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, Councillor L Davenport-Ray presented details of the Council’s Climate Strategy. In so doing, she thanked those that attended the Climate Strategy sessions over the Summer and feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel that had helped inform its development. Attention was drawn to the two main aims of the Strategy, to reduce the Council’s emissions to net zero by 2040 and use the position of leadership to encourage residents, businesses and other authorities to take climate action. In referring to the direct control over the first aim, Councillor Davenport-Ray suggested that the second aim could have a much greater impact on climate change globally.

With reference to the motion approved at Council on 12 October 2022 on the cost of living and climate crisis (Minute No. 22/34(b) refers) Members were informed that it was more than just cutting carbon and reducing global warming, it was concerning protecting the Council and residents from fluctuating fuel prices and the effects of extreme weather.

Members were appraised with details of the six objectives of the Climate Strategy that had been influenced by input from residents, businesses, Town and Parish Councils and young people and their top priority for tackling climate change was changing rules for new developments to meet sustainability standards, therefore the climate work must influence the Local Plan review, closely followed by a requirement for restoring nature and planting trees. This has resulted in the upcoming Biodiversity for All Programme to work with local communities to restore nature across the District. It was further explained that the six objectives had also been based on evidence with transport being the highest priority to focus upon in terms of carbon emissions.

Members noted that the Strategy also contained details of a trajectory of how the Council would lead operations to net zero by 2040, whilst ensuring that this was flexible as different technologies become available and evolve over the next 17 years and had resulted in a proposed annual review through a Climate Action Plan.

In referring to the budget for the Climate Strategy proposals, much of which was contained in the appropriate service areas annual budget as well as £150k allocated for a climate action accelerator reserve earmarked as necessary to unlock external funding. Members were further appraised with existing and proposed schemes throughout the District to tackle climate action.

Councillor T D Alban welcomed the proposal to build upon the green inheritance that had been left from when the Conservatives were in office and throughout the discussions on the proposals through Overview and Scrutiny it was evident that with changing technologies and solutions, the Council must be ready to adapt to that and welcomed the cross-party support tackling climate change. He highlighted his concerns with the ethical dimension of the proposals, as well as the reporting process, but was confident that these issues could be addressed through the Overview and Scrutiny process.

Councillor S Howell outlined her support for the Climate Strategy and referred to the three key Council priorities of shifting to a renewable energy system and reducing energy use, decarbonising the fleet and procuring wisely and fully supported the work with local communities to drive this change for more sustainable future.

Councillor S Cawley outlined his support for the Strategy and thanked the Executive Councillor for her time in briefing him in advance but reminded her of their discussions that it provided a good base, there needed to be more detail on the work to be done and how this was going to achieved, whilst drawing attention to the proposal of tackling a climate emergency was not immediately evident as one of the first actions would not commence until February 2024 and urged that consideration be given to identifying actions sooner rather than later.

Councillor J A Gray indicated his support for the Strategy with general recognition cross-party and alluded to potential missed opportunities with the budget as to whether actions needed to be taken faster to address the perceived lack of pace of tackling a climate emergency. He further welcomed the annual update and a feedback loop to a Group in Overview and Scrutiny.

Councillor S Bywater encouraged Members to continue with their moral duty to ensure that young people are engaged on this journey to continue to drive forward the change.

Councillor S Taylor thanked the Officers and Executive Councillor in the speed of compiling the Strategy and commended them for their hard work.

In concluding, Councillor Davenport-Ray thanked Members for their feedback, whereupon it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Climate Crisis and Ecological Emergency be formally recognised;

(b)  that the Council’s Climate Strategy in response to the Climate Emergency be adopted;

(c)  that the initial Climate Action Plan, with annual refresh in conjunction with our communities, businesses and partners through the Climate Conversation, be adopted; and

(d)  that progress be reported annually to Overview and Scrutiny, with more frequent collaboration with the Overview and Scrutiny Climate Working Group.