Decision details

The Council’s Performance Manager and team of Graduate Officers provided the Sub-Committee with a detailed demonstration of the Carbon Footprint Dashboard project. The officers spoke of the importance of the Council understanding and reducing its footprint to contribute to Welsh Government’s Net Zero target.

Members were reminded that the Council had been calculating its Carbon Footprint for the past two years, but the aim of the Dashboard project was to make accurate data more transparent and accessible, to raise awareness of the footprint and to inform conversation about the actions needed to reduce specific emissions within the Local Authority.

It was noted that although there was scope for further development, the Data Dashboard was ready to be tested as an operational tool, and that external organisations had expressed an interest in its progress to date.

The Chair recognised that developing the dashboard was challenging and timely and took the opportunity to extend her thanks to the Graduate Officers for their hard work in developing such a beneficial tool.

The Climate Change Champion recognised that the Dashboard would be a useful tool for the Council but questioned whether it would be suitable for members of the public. The Performance Manager explained that at the current point in time, the Dashboard was for internal use but, resources permitted, could be further developed to include the footprint of the wider County Borough.

The Climate Change Champion commented that she would welcome an informal meeting with the officers to discuss her queries in terms of specific definitions.

The Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity took the opportunity to congratulate the Graduate Officers for the work undertaken and commented that it was a huge leap from the position the Council were in just two years ago.

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure also thanked the Graduate Officers for the presentation. The Cabinet Member commented that the dashboard gives reassurance to the Council that progress was being made, whilst highlighting the areas which require additional work.

The Chief Executive extended his gratitude to the Graduate Officers and to the Performance Manager for co-ordinating an excellent piece of work, which was sector leading in Welsh Local Government. The Chief Executive stated that establishing the Dashboard allows Managers to review, challenge and act upon data to improve the Council’s Carbon Footprint, when they hadn’t been able to do so before. An example used was the ability to compare school buildings and decipher whether action can be undertaken to reduce both energy costs and emissions.

The Chair thanked Members and Officers for their contributions.