Agenda item

To consider the six-month update report on progress relating to the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.

The Committee considered the six monthly update to the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, set out at Agenda pages 65 to 82.

The report gave details of highlights relating to each section of the Action Plan, along with deliverables planned for the next three months and new actions added to the Action Plan.

Gregor Murray (Executive Member for Residents Services, Communications and Emissions), Rhian Hayes (Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Place), Grant Thornton (Category Manager, Economic Prosperity and Place) and Andrew Collins (Specialist Climate Emergency Officer) attended the meeting to present the report and answer Member questions.

The report stated that, within the Borough-wide aim to achieve Net Zero, the Council aimed to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030. A breakdown of the Council’s emissions in areas such as heating, business travel and waste was included in the report. 2021 was the first year in which these figures had been fully accounted for.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Action Plan was noted in areas such as public transport usage, which had still to recover to pre-Covid levels.

In the ensuing discussion Members raised the following points:

Electric vehicle charging points (Page 70) – further information was requested on the location of EV charging points (on-street and at public car parks) and the way in which they were funded. It was confirmed that a report had been submitted to the Executive recommending that a pilot scheme be introduced (supported by Government funding). Installing charging points at on-street locations was more challenging than off-street. Over 30 potential locations for on-street charging points were being explored across the Borough. Members would be consulted on the potential sites.

Local Plan Update (Page 77) – confirmation was sought that the supplementary planning guidance underpinning the updated Local Plan would include a commitment to net zero development, clean energy generation and maintenance of trees. It was confirmed that the Local Plan Update would have to comply with the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the Government’s planning policies and how they should be applied. The Council had the power to set standards for carbon neutral buildings but needed to be aware of the impact, for example additional building costs. Further information would be provided for Members on the Council’s powers to require solar panels on new homes.

The report (Page 69) referred to Transport as one of the key sectors contributing towards emissions in the Borough. Two of the most important targets in the Action Plan related to reducing the number of cars on the road and the distance travelled by residents. Yet there was little in the report on these two issues. It was confirmed that the report was the six-monthly update. There would be much more detail in the annual update report, submitted to Council in July. In the meantime, officers confirmed that a more detailed update on the Transport elements of the Climate Emergency Action Plan would be submitted to the February 2022 meeting of the Committee.

In relation to Engagement and Behaviour Change (Page 79), how would subject experts engage with residents taking part in the ongoing deliberative processes? It was confirmed that the deliberative processes, now badged as “Let’s Talk Climate”, would include video evidence submitted by relevant subject experts. Having viewed the experts’ evidence, residents would then meet again to discuss ideas, supported by an independent facilitator. Ideas developed through the deliberative processes would then be submitted to Council for discussion. Council would decide which ideas should be subject to further investigation and carbon budgeting. These ideas would then go back to Council for a final, public decision on which ideas to include in the Action Plan.

Based on the information currently available, was the Borough on track to achieve Net Zero by 2030? It was confirmed that, currently, there was a gap between the forecast position and Net Zero. The aim was to reduce this gap as new ideas and projects came forward over the next few years.

The report (Page 69) referred to the London Road trial installation of a 1,321metre stretch of plastic kerbing with a carbon saving of 40,555kg. How did the use of plastic kerbing deliver this level of saving? It was confirmed that the use of recycled plastic kerbs (instead of concrete) delivered a saving through a reduction in manufacturing, transport and construction. It was confirmed that further information would be provided on the methodology for achieving the carbon saving and how this fitted into the Transport section of the Action Plan.

In relation to the retrofitting of domestic properties, it was suggested that EPC ratings should be used to measure success. It was confirmed that the Government target of achieving EPCs of C or above by 2025 for all newly rented properties was reflected in the Council’s targets.

Waste and Recycling (Page 76) – was the target of 80% recovery of wet paper achieved? It was confirmed that this target was met. Further information on the recovery of wet paper would be circulated to the Committee. It was also noted that the emerging Waste Strategy would build upon recent initiatives to deliver on the waste and recycling goals in the Action Plan.

Renewable Energy Generation (Page 72) – had the Barkham Ride solar farm now received the go-ahead? It was confirmed that further information would be circulated to the Committee on the current status of the project.

In relation to Transport, it was noted that car usage had returned to levels seen before the pandemic whilst public transport usage was still well below pre-pandemic levels. Increasing the usage of public transport would be a key element in delivering the targets in the Action Plan.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Gregor Murray, Rhian Hayes, Grant Thornton and Andrew Castle be thanked for attending the meeting to present the update report and answer Member questions;

2)     the six month update on the Climate Emergency Action Plan be noted;

3)     further information be circulated to the Committee in relation to the points and questions raised by Members;

4)     a further update report on progress against Transport targets in the Action Plan be submitted to the February 2022 meeting of the Committee.