Decision details

The Chief Executive provided Members with an overview of the work of the Council in respect of Climate Change, advising of the positive commitment made to meet and contribute to global, national and local targets to reduce carbon across the Council’s services. Members were advised that the Council already purchases 100% of its electrical energy supply from renewable energy sources and has reduced its carbon footprint by 37% or 12,725 tonnes over the past five years. 

Reference was made to the work of the  Climate Change Steering Group, a sub-committee of the Council’s Cabinet, which is charged with developing the Council’s response to the Climate Change agenda and supporting Cabinet to achieve the 2030 Net Zero target. The focus of the Steering Group has been on understanding the various carbon issues within the County Borough, making a series of recommendations to the Council’s Cabinet and gathering information to inform the development of the Council’s Tackling Climate Change Strategy.

The Chief Executive referred Members to the Council’s draft Tackling Climate Change Strategy set out in Appendix A of the report, which set the overall direction for the Council over the coming five years, describing its vision, purpose and ambition as local authority in respect of the Council’s carbon footprint and the carbon footprint for the County Borough.

Members were advised that subject to Members determination, the draft Tackling Climate Change Strategy would be subject to a comprehensive public consultation over the two months to 31 May 2021. It was also the intention for the strategy to be scrutinised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, also noting the importance of involving all elected members in the consultation process.

The Deputy Leader welcomed the engagement with the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the local communities to ensure that strategy was focused in the right direction.

The Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Well-being & Cultural Services commented on the wide ranging and ambitious draft strategy presented which incorporated both long- and short-term objectives.  The Cabinet Member commented on the planned robust consultation process and the need for such engagement.  He added that the strategy would be reviewed periodically to ensure it was always ‘fit for purpose’ and reacted to changing climate priorities.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and the Leader also spoke on the item and welcomed the consultation process on the strategy.

Following discussions, it was RESOLVED:

1.    To note the contents of the report and the Draft Council Tackling Climate Change Strategy appended to the report.

2.    To the draft ‘Council Tackling Climate Change Strategy’ and the recommendations arising from the Climate Change Cabinet Steering Group on 17th March, in particular that officers engage and consult with residents and businesses on the Council’s response to Climate Change.

3.    To request that the results of the consultation on the ‘Draft Council Tackling Climate Change Strategy’ is presented to a future meeting of Cabinet.