Agenda item

RECOMMENDED:  1)  That officers be requested to prepare a climate change policy & separate climate change strategy with action plan.

2)  That the Councilfully recognise the evolving climate crisis and work towards Borough Council carbon footprint neutrality and net zero district carbon emissions. The dates will be determined taking into account emerging policies at the national and local level. 

3)  The current 12 month UEA Intern post should be extended to a temporary 2 year fixed term post.

Reason for Decision

1)  To ensure the Council is able to mitigate its carbon footprint

2)  To consider and respond to Motion 5/19

3)  To ensure the work plan and other areas of work are progressed

Councillor Devereux presented a report which referred to the Notice of Motion 5/19 submitted to Full Council in October 2019 by Councillor M de Whalley.  Council referred the matter to Cabinet to consider the issue further and then report back to Full Council in due course.  Cabinet had requested a report to consider the Motion and its potential impacts.  The appendices to the report set out the work being done, and planned to be carried out by the Council.

In presenting the report Councillor Devereux explained that it addressed how the Council was addressing climate change, which had been ongoing for a number of years.  The report suggested officers be instructed to produce a Climate Change Policy and strategy with an action plan.  He informed members that an officer working group on the subject was ongoing and drew attention to the list of work within the authority which was being carried out.  He explained that the Chief Executive was involved with the County Climate Change Group.  In referring to the carbon footprint of the borough he reminded members that it was a reasonable observation to make that a lot of the areas of responsibility were global and national and were out of the council’s control, but referred to the action plan prepared addressed those issues which were within the councils remit.  He acknowledged that there was still much work to do and that circumstances would change but the Council needed to remain active in dealing with the issue.  He moved that recommendation 1a in the report be put forward with recommendations 2 and 3.

Under standing order 34, Councillor M de Whalley spoke in support of his Motion drawing attention to the town of Stroud which had achieved carbon neutrality, and the district was working towards this for 2030.  He drew attention to a survey which showed that 56% of respondents wanted this by 2030.  He drew attention to Sir David Attenborough’s call for 2020 to be the year of action on climate change and urged cabinet to declare a climate emergency.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Parish drew attention to the views of the Planning Committee on the wish to insist on photovoltaic panels being included on new builds particularly when it was a Council project.  He considered officers should be instructed to do so.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Joyce commented that he felt decisions were taken outside of policies which were already in place.

Councillor Long drew attention to the work he had been undertaking since his position as portfolio holder for Environment, for example working with the IDBs, Chairing the Norfolk Coast Partnership which administered the AONB.  He considered that if the council had not been involved to the degree it had the area would be in a much worse position.

Councillor Long drew attention to the fact that this authority had for many years been applying for Salix funding, and was investing in a “Refit” scheme which looked across the council’s property portfolio to upgrade the properties.  He acknowledged that West Norfolk had high CO₂ levels, but reminded members about the types of industries which were present in the area.  He acknowledged that the Council wasn’t able to force the hand of the industries in the area, but through the Climate Change Strategy could try to influence them to change.

Councillor Long drew attention to the Intern post which was being extended in order to help progress the work involved.

RECOMMENDED:  1)  That officers be requested to prepare a climate change policy & separate climate change strategy with action plan.

2)  That the Councilfully recognise the evolving climate crisis and work towards Borough Council carbon footprint neutrality and net zero district carbon emissions. The dates will be determined taking into account emerging policies at the national and local level. 

3)  The current 12 month UEA Intern post should be extended to a temporary 2 year fixed term post.

Reason for Decision

1)  To ensure the Council is able to mitigate its carbon footprint

2)  To consider and respond to Motion 5/19

3)  To ensure the work plan and other areas of work are progressed