Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council

This item does not contain any decisions subject to call-in.

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 declared a climate change emergency, only 4 had actually acted to meet those policies;

h)  If there is too much emphasis on pursuing the renewable electric route for carbon reduction, and diversification doesn’t take place, there is a risk that it will not be possible to meet demand, so a broader consideration of energy generation is needed with the inclusion of other environmentally sound energy sources incorporated into the energy supply framework. Heat pumps need to be reconsidered as large areas of Nottinghamshire are built over coal mines where the ambient temperature is approximately 30° and can be utilised, particularly as one heat pump can serve up to 30 individual homes and structures. Methane extraction is ongoing and has been further extended at some former landfill sites, and anaerobic digesters are already in use;

i)  Whilst electric vehicle technology continues to develop, there needs to be wider, better quality information and advice for their use to ensure that they can be effective in the majority of environments, even hilly landscapes. There are different approaches to driving which can save and generate power and extend charge life. Whilst the purchase of electric cars remains very expensive, LAs need to encourage more use and promote the availability of charging points and the ease of charging;

j)  The current issues with the urgent Clifton Bridge works on the A52 have highlighted the need to improve the transport infrastructure with an additional bridge across the River Trent to the South of the County. In addition to the economic and social impact, such traffic delays are causing additional air pollution;

k)  The scale of an energy efficient retro-fit to existing housing stock is a huge challenge. Some Housing Associations are willing to take rent but are not acting to address basic energy efficiency issues for tenants such as fitting double glazing and insulation. The investment required of home owners is extensive and loans may be applied with a pay-back timescale so long that it if home owners move house, the debt may well transfer with them, which is an added deterrent. There needs to be either a local or national solution. Central Government needs to be lobbied to support a loan system whereby repayment is attached to, and remains with the property, not the owner, possibly via the Council Tax system;

l)  The City Council is undertaking a retro-fit of energy saving measures to its older housing stock, but this has only been possible with the grant funding support of the European Union and resources from Energiesprong which is based in Holland. With the withdrawal from European Union, Central Government needs to be pushed to meet the funding gap from Europe;

m)  More agility and flexibility is required with regard to recycling to include further materials. Contracts of providers are being reviewed within the County but each household needs to engage and ensure they recycle appropriately;

n)  We should not lose sight of some of the positive local achievements to date in the region, such as HS2 which will enable faster travel and UDICA, the operator of the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station Site is moving from high carbon fuel to low carbon fuel;

o)  However, there is still much to do, including preventing the pumping stations along the River Trent from discharging raw sewage into the Trent at times of excessive demand and a ban on single use plastics;

p)  Nottinghamshire County Council is spending £28m on ensuring that its offices are fit for purpose and as carbon neutral as feasible, or replaced. It is essential that they are based where the demand is so that officers and citizens do not need to travel. There needs to be ongoing consideration of space sharing to increase efficiency;

q)  Green energy generation, such as photovoltaic cells, needs to be included on all spare Local Authority roof capacity as a matter of common policy;

r)  Across the county weed killer will not be used on road verges and they will not be cut more than twice a year (unless there are safety issues). Trees and hedges will be planted where possible;

s)  There should be further encouragement for citizens to install their own charging points for electric vehicles where this is possible, although it is not yet practical in terraced streets, but does merit further consideration. Already requested in new developments, the new Broadmarsh Centre Development will include electric charging point for buses and also 82 electric vehicles;

t)  Incineration of non-recyclable waste to generate heat energy needs to be reconsidered, specifically the initially proposed plant at Mansfield which initially failed to achieve planning permission due to the objections of environmental protestors. With no alternative, this has resulted in continued use of landfill;

u)  Although obviously unplanned and to be rectified as soon as possible, the impact of the A52 Clifton Bridge closures and traffic delays has resulted in a positive behaviour change for many commuters who are now utilising public transport including the tram, buses and trains. It is hoped that this will continue even once the bridge works are completed;

v)  Central Government needs to reconsider the unrealistic targets for housing provision to take into account any additional cost, space and build time required for many environmentally efficient homes, with added pressure to revise building regulations which support the green agenda. If efficiently insulated and heated, it is possible for household running costs to be significantly reduced in cost and carbon footprint;

w)  By working together a lot more can be achieved in Nottinghamshire much faster and possibly at a lower cost if agreeing elements of a shared supply and procurement policy;

 Resolved to note the update.