Agenda item

The Panel will receive a verbal update on this item from the Corporate Sustainability Manager.

The Corporate Sustainability Manager gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item. A full copy of the presentation can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Timeline:

•  2006-9 – Our Big Energy Challenge

•  2007 – Climate Change prioritised

•  2009-14 – Carbon Management Programme

•  2009 – Sustainable Community Strategy – 45% CO2 ambition

•  2010 - Environmental Sustainability Partnership established

Initial Strategy:

•  Internal focus from 2006 to 2010 – getting our own house in order in order to lead in community

•  Carbon Management Programme lead to better analysis and understanding of carbon emissions

•  Expanded to community wide carbon and leadership role from 2010

Highlights:

•  Various in-house carbon reduction projects: lighting upgrades; voltage optimisation

•  Eco-schools programme (most schools engaged – 3 Green Flags)

•  Local Energy Champions scheme (8 new community energy projects 2011)

•  Bath & West Community Energy cooperation agreement

•  BWCE – 7 solar roofs at maximum Feed-in Tariff - £1million investment by SSE

•  BWCE Community Fund, community share-holding (£700K Dec 2011)

•  New public advice web pages

Strategic Approach:

•  Partnership Working:

Bringing together the right people to make things happen

•  Community Enablement:

Enabling residents and community groups achieve their sustainability aims

•  Taking Action:

Council & partners taking bold action to make things happen

Key Workstreams (2012-2015):

•  Domestic Sector (inc fuel poverty & Green Deal)

•  Clean Energy (inc Core Strategy targets)

•  Transport Sector

•  Low Carbon Economy

Domestic Sector development:

•  Existing action plan (raft of projects under HECA in housing, public health departments, PCT, Somer)

•  Key Development: How to ensure fair and effective delivery of the Green Deal; core team formed with key partners; research into community based delivery to meet our fuel poverty; local economy & carbon ambitions

Green Deal in brief…:

•  Addresses upfront cost of energy measures

•  Get energy efficiency measures installed at no upfront cost

•  A charge on electricity bill pays back the cost over up to 25 years

•  This charge should be no more than the measure will save you on each bill- the “Golden Rule”

•  The change stays with the house

Total Place Green Deal research:

How can the Green Deal be delivered through a community-based partnership in order to:

•  Maximise carbon reductions

•  Ensure maximum benefits  for those in fuel poverty

•  Create local business opportunities and local jobs

•  Develop a role for community enterprise and other community interests

Project timeline: February to September 2012

Councillor Geoff Ward asked if the hot water springs within the City could be used more.

The Corporate Sustainability Manager explained that a study had been undertaken and that this showed that it is not easy or may not be cost-effective to use hot springs directly. She added that parts of the Pump Rooms are heated by the water from the springs and that in the future it may be used to heat the under floor of the Abbey.

Councillor Neil Butters commented that the reality of the difficulty in harnessing the heat from the hot springs should be made clear to the public. He also asked how the Council will make the public aware of the available services on energy efficiency in the home, especially some of the harder to treat homes in the district.

The Corporate Sustainability Manager replied that the new sustainability web pages direct the public to the groups who can help with these enquiries and all aspects of living sustainably.

Councillor Malcolm Hanney commented that the Green Deal (new government energy efficiency scheme) would be helpful and agreed that the Council acting as introducer to the public was very important.  He also commented that the Climate Change strategy presented was reassuring and this it was good to see such a holistic approach.

The Corporate Sustainability Manager replied that in one of the Green Deal pilot schemes in the London Borough of Haringey saw an increase in participation from 2.6% to 11%, once the Council had endorsed the scheme.

The Chairman on behalf of the Panel thanked her for the presentation and felt that this was a subject they would like hear more about in the future.