Decision details

The Director of Corporate Estates provided the Sub-Committee with an update on the Welsh Public Sector Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Reporting Scheme and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s submission under that regime for the Financial Year 2021/22.

The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer explained that the scheme was still evolving, hence the Welsh Government had introduced three additional carbon emission reporting requirements from 2021/22 namely:

·       Staff Business Travel

·       Staff Commuting

·       Home Working

The officer paid tribute to colleagues across the Local Authority, who now had to collect data, when there was previously no need.

The Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity took the opportunity to thank the officers for the tremendous amount of work undertaken in not only gathering the information, but for producing the user-friendly Dashboard.

The Chair echoed the comments and expressed her gratitude to officers for undertaking the work in such a timely manner.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation & Welsh Language commented on the quality of the data, which would allow Members and Officers to track progress and increase efforts to decarbonise as a Local Authority. The Cabinet Member noted the changes introduced by Welsh Government in terms of the recording of emissions requirements but felt that the overall picture was that emissions were reducing, despite the embedded emissions being in the supply chain. The Cabinet Member was pleased to note initiatives such as the Council’s bid to Welsh Government for the construction of new schools, one of which had a fully funded net zero option.

The Chair thanked the Director for the report and the Sub-Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To note the contents of the report as part of the ongoing work under the remit of the Climate Change Cabinet Sub Committee;

2.    To publish the data on the Councils Carbon Footprint Dashboard; and

3.    To receive further reports providing additional updates on progress as / when deemed appropriate.