Agenda item

Members gave consideration to a report which presented the Council’s Carbon Management Plan and draft Sustainability, Climate and Environment Strategy and action plan for approval prior to submission to Full Council for adoption.

In summary the report provided

·                a brief reminder to Members setting out the original rationale for this work, arising from a Motion to Council and the approach adopted to undertake the task 

·                information produced by the Carbon Trust detailing the Council’s revised carbon footprint and an associated carbon reduction action plan.

·                the proposed Council’s Sustainability, Climate Change and Environment Strategy and action plan for consideration and an outline of the process followed to develop the Strategy; and

·                details of further matters for consideration to progress this agenda.

In presenting the report it was noted that a key message of the Strategy was that in addressing climate change a number of important co-benefits could accrue. In addition to greenhouse gas reductions, long-term sustainable financial savings; better development; improved health and wellbeing; new technologies and skilled employment; greater community resilience and secure energy supplies could be realised.  Further information was contained in Section 2 of the report.

Climate change and its adverse impacts was considered one of the biggest issues individuals, communities, organisations and nations faced. Reference was made to the special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which stressed the urgency with which greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The draft strategy and action plan, supported by a CMP, before Members set out the Council’s response to this challenge. It provided a path way for the Council to follow in order to reach a net-zero carbon position across its own operations and for the wider District to achieve the same position by 2050 at the latest. It was considered not taking immediate action was not an option.

The scale of the carbon reduction challenge had been calculated. The Council’s most recent carbon footprint had been calculated at 3428t CO2e pa, with an initial targeted footprint of 2089t CO2e pa. to be tackled.  The  Council’s current carbon ‘hotspots’ have also been identified. The carbon footprint of the whole District was estimated at 524kt CO2e pa. which signified that the Council’s overall impact was minimal in comparison. However, as a leader of place it was considered vitally important that the Council brought to bear its influencing skills to support and encourage all stakeholders across the District to also meet the challenge.

The key contributory factors to climate change had been identified and were discussed and detailed within the strategy. Their identification provided a robust framework against which action could be taken to mitigate their harmful effects on a themed approach.

The report also set out the key steps undertaken during the strategy’s production. These included work with the Carbon Trust to deliver the CMP; two phases of consultation; training/awareness packages for staff and Members; the production of a communications plan; updates to the website and keeping abreast of the review of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan. 

Consultation and feedback had shown that the Council had considerable support from stakeholders across the District. The Consultation findings were summarised within the report.

It was stressed the route towards achieving a net-zero carbon position would require a strong level of ambition.  The creation of the Strategy was in effect “the end of the beginning”.  Members were advised that a number of matters remained to be determined. These related to the overall internal governance arrangements of the work required; how to achieve both District and County-wide collaboration and exert influence; and on-going resourcing requirements in terms of both officer capacity and skills and finances.  There was a need to identify projects which would work on scale and whilst Officers and Members understanding had significantly increased through the development of the Strategy and by working with such bodies as the Carbon Trust, there would be a need to procure technical expertise as the Council moved forward

In concluding it was again stressed the route towards achieving a net-zero carbon position would require the Council to continue to display a strong level of ambition. There was a strong mandate from the public to take action and the Strategy provided the road map by which this may be achieved.

Debate ensued, and in opening the level of work undertaken in producing the Plan was formally acknowledged.  The Chairman stressed tonight’s debate was not about discussing solutions, for which there would be many opportunities to do so in the future, but about signing up to the Action plan in order that the Council could move to delivery stage.

A Councillor who had been one of the proposers to the original motion, made reference to the original motion having requested that the Strategy should report on the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan had.  This information had been provided in a previous progress update report but did not appear within the final Strategy and as such it was suggested that this should form an Appendix when the document was submitted to Council. 

Officers confirmed such information had been provided to the Prosperous Communities Committee as part of an update, summarised its content and agreed to include/ append the information to the Council report.  Officers also advised of a further amendment which would need to be made given the recent change in Government Target.  The target currently stated within the Strategy referenced the Government’s December target, with that now having been revised.

A Member proposed that granting delegated authority for Housekeeping amendments should be considered.

Members again acknowledged the huge subject area and the level of work undertaken to date.  There was even greater acknowledgement that this matter touched every aspect of every service delivered and beyond.  The Strategy was considered to provide a robust framework whilst still allowing for flexibility and changes going forward.  The focus on embracing the co-benefits was welcomed as was the opportunity for all Members to engage in identifying projects and solutions as the work moved forward. Members understood partnership working would undoubtedly be required and considered the Authority had a good record of working this way.  Levering in external funding would also be an important part of success.  The West Lindsey One Council approach had been displayed in preparing the document and would be the ethos required in delivering the agenda.   The work aligned with all the aspirations of the Corporate Plan.

Returning to the earlier suggestion of including a housekeeping delegation and inclusion of additional information in respect of pension fund investments, procedural advice was sought and if Members were agreeable and content, as seemed to be the case, no separate motion needed to be voted on.  Members did however indicate that any housekeeping delegation should reference “in consultation with the Policy Committee Chairmen” as opposed to the Working Group as had been suggested.  

With the recommendations for both Committees having been moved and seconded, and with all Members indicating their agreement to the two additions cited throughout the meeting, on being put to the vote to the Prosperous Communities Committee Members first, in accordance, with the concurrent procedure, it was  RESOLVED that

(a)     the Carbon Management Plan and the draft Sustainability, Climate and Environment Strategy and action plan, be approved by the Prosperous Communities Committee and recommended to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee subject to the following: -

(i)         information relating to the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan had, being included in the report to Council; and

(ii)        delegated authority be granted to the Head of Policy, Strategy and Sustainable Environment, in consultation with both Policy Committee Chairmen to make housekeeping amendments to the Strategy. 

The recommendations as amended above were then considered by the Corporate Policy Resources and on being put to the vote it was resolved that: -

 (a)   the recommendation from the Prosperous Communities Committee be accepted and as such, the Carbon Management Plan and the draft Sustainability, Climate and Environment Strategy and action plan, be approved by the Corporate Policy and Resources for recommendation to Full Council for final adoption, subject to the following: -

(i)         information relating to the level of investment in the fossil fuel industry that our pensions plan had, being included in the report to Council; and

(ii)        delegated authority be granted to the Head of Policy, Strategy and Sustainable Environment, in consultation with both Policy Committee Chairmen to make housekeeping amendments to the Strategy .