Agenda item

To undertake pre-scrutiny of the outcome of the consultation on the Council’s Draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-2025).

The Service Director, Democratic Services presented his report which provided

the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to undertake pre-

scrutiny of the report on the Draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-2025)

Consultation Responses.

The Corporate Policy & Consultation Manager advised that the Climate Change

Strategy engagement was branded as “Let’s Talk Climate Change RCT” and had been

undertaken virtually through an online portal which had facilitated stories, chats short

polls and videos. The Social Media team had linked the consultation to key campaigns

such as ‘Earth Day’ to generate more interest and discussion amongst the residents,

businesses, schools and Older Persons Groups that had engaged. It was hoped that

face to face consultation would be possible in the summer

Members welcomed the ‘much needed’ draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-

2025), which had initiated a positive debate amongst the residents and

businesses of RCT. They noted the appetite for green initiatives being

undertaken by numerous community groups across the county borough but

stressed the importance of coordinating the good work locally to avoid a

‘scattergun approach’

One Member raised concern regarding the questioning within the consultation which

they found to be too ‘apple pie’ and encouraged only the right responses. The Member

felt that more could be done to engage with residents and businesses, asking harder

and more challenging questions about the dis benefits and setting priorities.

One Member was disappointed that only 56% of respondents thought that the

Climate Commitments would help the Council to meet its carbon reduction targets.

The Chief Executive referred to the many actions within the draft Strategy such as

supporting landlords to make their properties ‘green’ as long-term actions that will be

implemented over the next 15-20 years. He stressed that many of the actions, however

small, will contribute to the overall strategy and key to achieving targets was to engage

with residents as much as possible.

Members made comments and sought assurance that ongoing climate conversations

and the draft strategy would consider:

·       Support for tree planting which would help mitigate against flooding;

·       Community groups purchasing woodland and developing urban garden projects;

·       Adopting national minimum standards for contractors and suppliers to encourage them to support the council to become carbon neutral;

·       Hydro schemes;

·       Appropriate infrastructure to support and facilitate home EV charging and to investigate ways to realise on-street charging, how to make this feasible;

·       Early discussions with developers to install EV facilities into all new builds

In response to the queries raised, the Chief Executive advised that a strategy was

being developed to ensure natural regeneration of woodland which results in ‘the

right tree in the right place’ more so than planting and can avoid the introduction of

disease. Peatbog restoration projects are also underway as a way of mitigating

increased storm frequency and potentially higher rainfall by storing more

water in the uplands. Restoring the many degraded peatbogs can also increase

carbon sequestration in RCT.

Members were keen to applaud that new- build houses will be carbon zero but

acknowledged the number of older properties and homes across the county borough

that would benefit from retrofit schemes to prevent them from ‘leaking energy’

The Local Member for Taffs Well provided an update in relation to the Taffs Well

Spring Renewable Energy Project which it was hoped could expand beyond the

supplying the Park Pavilion and Ffynnon Taf Primary School.

Members agreed with the main themes identified within the consultation responses

such as ‘everyone must play a part’ and ‘engagement and education’ with the

suggestion that all councillors can play a key role in influencing their local communities

and schools through their roles as School Governors.

RESOLVED to:

1.     Provide the comments and observations of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to the Council’s Cabinet in advance of its meeting on the 24^th June 2021; and

2.     Acknowledge that this is the starting point of the climate change discussions

            with residents and businesses across RCT with additional public engagement to follow and opportunity for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to further engage with the issues raised.