Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council

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Katherine Marriott, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, presented the update report on the collective work undertaken by N2 Local Authorities on the carbon reduction agenda following the D2N2 adoption of an Energy Strategy.

The report provides statistics for 2017/18 against the challenging D2N2 Energy Strategy Targets which are to be achieved by 2030.

The Key Themes have been identified as follows with further detail provided in the report:

·  Rationalising each Local Authority’s own estate to improve energy efficiency

·  Planning – reducing carbon emissions from new developments

·  Housing – retrofitting existing stock

·  Leisure – reducing emissions from and offsetting leisure centres

·  Transport and infrastructure – planning for alternative fuel sources for council vehicles and electric charging point infrastructure

·  Procurement – how to influence the supply chain to be more carbon neutral including reducing use of single use plastics

·  Off-setting with confidence and investing in alternative energy sources

·  Acting as community leaders to encourage change within communities

·  Supporting businesses to make their changes.

The Committee’s discussion included the following points:

a)  This work is welcomed and it is pleasing to hear that all representatives with N2 have attended all 3 working group events. Whilst a lot of LAs have already started work on the environmental agenda and included it within their Local Plans, it is essential that we work collaboratively for the best outcome and to avoid duplication;

b)  The broader impact of the recent Heathrow ruling by the court of appeal (that the Government's plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport failed to consider the UK's commitments to reduce carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement and so cannot proceed) should be taken into consideration with regard to how Local Authority environmental and energy plans and commitments are reflected within planning permission and new developments;

c)  It was noted that Warwick District Council is holding a referendum to ask residents if there should be a 1% rise in Council Tax to help fund and accelerate delivery of a ‘Climate Emergency Action Programme’;

d)  With the targets set for 2030 (and some for 2028), the timeline of action is important. There is already good work being undertaken but the supplementary planning measures need to be rolled out as soon as possible;

e)  A D2N2 meeting was held last Friday whereby several Local Authority high level representatives from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Architects, Developers and Planners met to try and find as strong as possible routes to swiftly progress the carbon neutral target.  However, it was noted that additional funds need to be found to progress the green agenda;

f)  It is important that Local Authority members who sit on Planning Committees take the opportunity to question the green commitment of developers;

g)  In a broader context, some LAs need more information and realistic advice to support the meaningful progression of environmental work to combat the climate change crisis. In a recent survey, whilst 25 of approximately 200 LAs had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14