Issue - meetings

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019, committing to provide the leadership to enable Bath and North East Somerset to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. An annual update is provided to Council.

The Council considered the annual report setting out progress on delivery against climate emergency targets.

On a motion from Councillor Matt McCabe, seconded by Councillor David Wood, it was

RESOLVED to note;

1.  Progress on the delivery of the Year 2 (2021-22) Climate Emergency Action Plan;

2.  The extensive and wide-ranging action being taken across the council to tackle the climate emergency; and

3.  The latest available data relating to carbon emissions (Council managed and district-wide emissions).

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 3 councillors abstaining and the remaining 12 councillors voting in favour.]

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019, committing to provide the leadership to enable Bath and North East Somerset to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. An annual update is provided to Council.

The Council considered the annual report setting out progress on delivery against climate emergency targets.

On a motion from Councillor Sarah Warren, seconded by Councillor Alison Born, it was

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 25^th March to note;

1.  Progress on the delivery of the Year 2 (2021-22) Climate Emergency Action Plan;

2.  The extensive and wide-ranging action being taken across the council to tackle the climate emergency; and

3.  The latest available data relating to carbon emissions (Council managed and district-wide emissions).

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 2 councillors voting against, 8 councillors abstaining and the remaining councillors voting in favour.]

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, and Jane Wildblood, Corporate and Community Sustainability Manager (along with officers Nick Plumley and Christopher May), introduced the report and gave presentations which covered the following:

·  2021 Context

·  The Panel is asked to note and review

·  Climate Emergency Highlight Report

·  Carbon Emissions Progress Update

·  Achievements and delivery

·  Case Studies

·  Community Engagement

·  Climate and Biodiversity Festival

·  Action Plan 2022

·  Draft Route Map

·  Council House Building Programme – Approach to Energy Efficiency/Carbon reduction

·  AECB Standard – New build and Retrofit

·  Outcomes so Far – examples

·  Key messages

·  Keynsham Recycling Hub – Pixash Lane

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Shelly Bromley stated that she found the route map helpful. She asked if incentives for retro fitting private homes came from Government or the Council. Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, explained that there is a section on the website called ‘Energy at Home’ with details of grants. It is hard for the authority to do this on its own, we are working with WECA and lobbying. Jane Wildblood added that this is being looked at currently, WECA have an idea to set up a hub for the whole of the West of England. We also need to look at how to tackle the supply chain. Councillor Hirst asked that in future updates, progress with retro fitting is highlighted.

Councillor Lisa O Brien asked the following questions (Officers or Cabinet Members responses are shown in italics):

·  There are a lot of new initiatives regarding Climate Emergency. In point 10 on area wide emissions, information from 2005 and 2009 is used so the information on reduction covers a long period. Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, explained that there were problems with the newer data and we can get a better view over a longer period. Regarding reduction over the last 2 years – developments such as Keynsham Civic Centre had already been built so better to look over a longer period.

·  Grosvenor Place – it is great that the Grade 1 challenges have been tacked but this must have come at a high cost. The officer explained that with a complete refit, the cost was not as high as a retro fit.

·  Pixash Lane – the plan shows vehicles in parking lots, at the moment it is circular which is easier for residents so that they don’t have to carry so much – will the changes make it less easy? Also, the access roads for HGVs will need to be considered to prevent clogging. The officer explained that there would be a one-way rotary system, the idea is to keep the flow moving. The parking on the road is not ideal in terms of clogging, also HGV driving in and out has been transport modelled. Vehicle flow will be outside peak hours and will be controlled and monitored accordingly.

Councillor Grant Johnson commented that there was a lot to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49