Decision details

To report to the Executive the scope of the climate change and carbon reduction work to be progressed by the Climate Change Working Group.

At the 26 September Executive Meeting the Executive Leader pledged the commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 and established the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG). This report outlines the priorities for the Working Group.

The initial priority will be to quantify the Council’s carbon footprint to establish a baseline for the development of the Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan.

The Working Group will identify and develop proposals for inclusion within the Plan, reporting to the Council’s Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel, prior to Executive decision.

This paper also seeks approval on the principle of commissioning the Greening Campaign to work with communities.  This work enables the community to lead itself in understanding, mitigating and building resilience to climate change.

Approval is requested for the inclusion of climate change and carbon reduction impacts in Committee Reports and Executive Decisions in the new municipal year.

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the content of the report and approves:

(a)  the scope of works to be undertaken on climate change and carbon reduction by the CCWG, as set out in the Executive Briefing Paper;

(b)  the principle of commissioning the Greening Campaign to work with communities within the borough;

(c)  a working budget of £10,000, funded from revenue reserves, to support the work needed to deliver the initial actions and projects proposed;

(d)  the inclusion of climate change and carbon reduction impacts in Committee Reports and Executive Decisions in the new municipal year;

(e)  that the Terms of Reference for the Climate Change Working Group include the additional wording: “Acting as the Member Champion on climate change matters, Councillor Martin will be the recipient of any informal proposals arising from elected Members for carbon reduction planning or other climate change work.  Councillor Martin will present any such proposals to the Working Group to allow these to be investigated and considered in more detail, in order to determine whether they should form part of any formal climate change proposals presented to the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Panel and the Executive for consideration and decision”; and

(f)   that the Members’ Newsletter will include updates on the progress of the Climate Change Working Group and that this be added to the Terms of Reference.