Agenda item

Decision:

 

RECOMMENDED:     1)         That the Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan be adopted.

 

2)         That the Borough Council’s carbon footprint net zero date be brought forward to 2035 or sooner if financially and practically deliverable

 

Reason for Decision

To provide a Strategy and Action Plan to achieve the Borough Council’s carbon footprint net zero target by 2035 and work towards the UK’s net zero target of 2050.

 

Minutes:

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Cabinet considered a report which explained that the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (CCS&AP) presented followed on from the Climate Change Policy document and provided a clear Strategy and an Action Plan to deliver the Council’s Climate Change agenda.  The CCS&AP had been split into Phase 1 works which would deal with the reduction of the Council’s own carbon footprint to carbon net zero by 2035. Phase 2 would deal with the BEIS district carbon emissions and would be led by several factors such as national policy initiatives and local stakeholders such as the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership to deliver net zero by the Government’s policy target date of 2050.

 

Under standing order 34, Councillor Kemp addressed Cabinet calling for district heating, green transport, rail transport to Hunstanton and no incineration.

 

Under standing order 34 Councillor de Whalley drew attention to the low lying coastal element of the Borough and called on the same response as given to covid.  He called for more meaningful community consultation on the documents and a community assembly.  He considered that £25,000 too small a figure for the work.

 

Under standing order 34 Councillor Parish commented that the public were concerned about the impact of climate change now on their lives.  He asked ow strong mitigation levels on things such as surface flooding, he asked if the Borough would monitor the plans of other agencies on programmes of mitigation and improvements and maintenance.

 

Under standing order 34 Councillor Ryves supported the comments on flooding, and asked if the borough could encourage planning laws to expect more environmentally sound houses working with the developers.

 

Under standing order 34 Councillor Morley supported the comments about surface water flooding and the need for it to be in the policy.  He considered it a practical and reasonable document, but felt the tone of the document should reflect the urgency, and the organisation should embue the emergency.  He felt the Task and Finish Groups should be ongoing.  He drew attention to the new ways of working and building assets which could potentially be disposed of, and that the pathway was backloaded, he felt more vigour needed to be brought to it.

 

Councillor Kunes reminded Members that the costs of all things had to be considered and vehicles would be changed when they were due.  He did not agree with delaying the plan to carry out more consultation.

 

Councillor Long considered it was a sensible raft of measures, he congratulated the officers for the work on this.

 

Councillor Blunt re-iterated this comment.  He asked what was happening in the rest of the County, to which it was explained that there was a Norfolk Climate Change Partnership of all local authorities and the NALEP, which was chaired by the Chief Executive.  It worked to look at joint working and climate change opportunities for Norfolk.  The Chief Executive confirmed the arrangements.

 

Councillor Middleton acknowledged the important work carried out by Councillor Kunes and Officers.  He commented on suggestions made by standing order 34 members and drew attention to the fact it would be implemented over a number of years, working with the Chamber of Commerce, supporting businesses.  He congratulated Henry Saunders for the work completed.

 

Councillor Dark drew attention to understanding the starting point of the situation, the document was a living document, and anything would be considered. He acknowledged it had to be actions, not just words, and drew attention to the works already completed and planned and would work with residents and businesses.  He reminded members that £1m over a 4 year period would be allocated to Climate Change work. 

 

RECOMMENDED:     1)         That the Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan be adopted.

 

2)         That the Borough Council’s carbon footprint net zero date be brought forward to 2035 or sooner if financially and practically deliverable

 

Reason for Decision

To provide a Strategy and Action Plan to achieve the Borough Council’s carbon footprint net zero target by 2035 and work towards the UK’s net zero target of 2050.

 

Supporting documents: