To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
Under Standing Order 9 the Mayor invited the following public questions:
George Gawlinski on behalf of the Kings Lynn Klimate Concern Group and Children and Young People in West Norfolk.
“This council signed up to the Norfolk Strategy for Climate Change (Tomorrows Norfolk, Todays Challenge) published in 2009. It was an excellent document with a real sense of urgency and clear targets. What progress has been made not only to adapt to climate change but to mitigate it through moving to a low carbon economy. Please can you report on progress.”
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“The matter was considered by Cabinet on 7 October 2008 to consider the conclusions of a Norfolk wide Officer Task Force set up to produce a Norfolk Climate Change Strategy in response to the National imperative.
The Strategy set two high level goals to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and for 2008-2011period, included the National Indicators to measure progress.
Firstly: The mitigation objective was “To cut carbon emissions by reducing energy consumption and promoting a shift to low-carbon technology” characterised by the National performance measure of “Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions” for our Borough
Secondly: The adaptation objective was “To improve Norfolk’s resilience to the changing climate, including reduction of the socio-economic and environmental risks associated with flooding and coastal erosion” characterised by the National performance measure of “Adapting to climate change”
After the strategy was adopted, Regular Reports were presented by the Deputy Chief Executive until DCLG removed the requirement to continue intensive monitoring in 2011.
On Climate Change Mitigation, the last report indicated, a 5.9% reduction in per capita CO2 emissions in 2010. However, by June 2011 a comprehensive programme of work was in place to maintain the pace of change, including a wide range of mitigation applications ranging from housing standards, to travel policy, building services and very importantly waste management. This continues today, with switches to the lowest electricity tariffs, Solar Panels fitted to many Council buildings, the ongoing multi-million pound Government sponsored REFIT programme across the Estate to ensure the best available technology is employed for cost-effective heating, lighting and energy conservation with an attractive payback criteria of less than 10 years! At the same time we have worked very hard to reduce our occupation footprint, for example with King’s Court floor-area down to just over 60% of the 2008 baseline. A very significant policy change during the period was the waste recycling programme and the separate collection of food waste and garden waste: this avoids landfill where they would emit both CO2 and more importantly Methane which is some 23 times more damaging than CO2. This has been a great success and we continue to encourage effective recycling across our Borough and make full use of the technologies available to us to mitigate our impact on Climate Change! More recently, the ongoing King’s Lynn Transport Strategy signposts other emission related endeavours. Overall, we have a healthy ongoing operational programme of mitigation activities to reduce our carbon footprint, which is sustaining and building on the early quantified CO2 reductions achieved.
The Second Objective on Adaptation is well documented and characterised by the Defra Flooding and Coastal Erosion Risk Management programme. It starts with the consultations and publication of the 2010 Wash Shoreline Management Plans, which led to the ongoing Wash East Coast Management Strategy. The first project was the annual Snettisham beach recycling and recharge actions to mitigate coastal erosion and prevent coastal flooding out to the A149. This project has attracted widespread commercial and domestic support through Wash East Coast Community Interest Company which is a National exemplar of true, socio-economic partnership funding, embracing the public and private sectors. More recently, a Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan for the iconic cliffs and the promenade has been drafted addressing the flooding, coastal erosion and climate change threats over the next 75-100 years.
Pluvial and fluvial flooding is actively managed to meet evolving demand through the extensive network of Internal Drainage Boards throughout the Borough and beyond. Board membership includes local Landowners, Parish and Borough Councillors as well as Professional Staff and representatives of the regional Drainage Authorities and Commissioners: another solid example of mutual, socio-economic endeavour! And, of course funded through the Council Tax system with the ‘cost’ of IDBs forming around half of the average Council Tax Bill for our Borough.
All of these endeavours are supported by very active and exhaustive Flooding Emergency Planning and Response systems. These include engineered preventive barrier systems and a network of warning arrangements together with the associated regular exercise programme! This was fully demonstrated in the December 2013 Storm surge around our coast.
Mr Mayor, a simple question demanding a comprehensive answer to demonstrate the long-standing commitment of this Council to mitigating and adapting to the implications of our Climate and Climate Change!”
By way of supplementary Mr Gawlinski asked that as climate change was escalating at an alarming level if the council would set up a local climate change partnership to mitigate what he considered was an impending disaster.
Councillor Devereux responded that the Environment Agency was drafting a strategy for the next 5 years, one of the themes of which was partnership working, where there would be consultation with relevant group across the Borough.
Michael de Whalley
“In the light of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2018 Special Report on “Global Warming of 1.5°C” will this Council heed the call for urgent action within the next 12 years to avoid a climate crisis and declare a climate emergency to protect the residents of West Norfolk from flooding, drought, heatwaves and other extreme weather events?”
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“We note the IPCC’s call for urgent action within the next 12 years and will work with Government, Local Government Authorities and associated Agencies to identify what specific actions under our control, may be needed to deliver a coordinated, balanced and effective response.”
By way of supplementary Mr de Whalley stated that the draft Local Plan had little mention of mitigating C02 emissions. He asked what the council could do to mitigate this.
Councillor Blunt as Cabinet member for Development responded that the draft Local Plan document was out for consultation, so if he wished to bring forward suggestions, any comments would be welcomed.