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 having been recommended by both the Prosperous Communities Committee and the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee at their concurrent meeting in April 2021.

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, 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 Members from across the Chamber spoke in support of the Strategy and the need to address climate change and sustainability.  It was considered important that the Council made its financial investments in an ecological and considerate manner also. Members considered the document was well considered and welcomed delivery of the action plan commencing. Some would have liked to have seen greater aspiration for de-carbonisation of the District as a whole but acknowledged this would be further addressed and a long term plan developed. It was welcomed that the District Council as an organisation was a small contributor to the total carbon footprint of the District, but some Members considered further consideration needed to be given to fleet conversion options, given their significant contribution to overall total emissions.

In response Officers advised that a range of options had been considered and continued to be considered, the Council was keen it didn’t invest in short lived technologies, but rather technologies that would last decades. It was envisaged that proposals would be brought forward in coming years as part of the action plan.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         the recommendations made on 22nd April 2021 by the Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy and Resources Committees be accepted, and in doing so, the Council’s Carbon Management Plan and the Sustainability, Climate and Environment Strategy and action plan, be approved for formal adoption.

(b)         delegated authority be granted to the Head of Policy Strategy and Sustainable Environment in conjunction with the Chairs of The Prosperous Communities and Corporate Policy and Resources Committees to undertake housekeeping amendments to the Strategy document.