Issue - meetings

This report presents the progress on the climate and ecological emergencies work over the past year and sets out future work plans.

The Council considered a report which set out the progress on the climate and ecological emergencies work over the past year and described future work plans.

On a motion from Councillor Sarah Warren, seconded by Councillor Jess David, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Note the positive progress and achievements over the last year on implementation of the council’s Climate Strategy.  This is summarised in the Climate Progress Report, at Annex 1, which includes a range of climate and nature case studies and the annual carbon performance dashboard for the whole area;

2.  Note the particular progress made in understanding renewable energy in Bath and North East Somerset and in the development of the delivery pipeline shown in the renewables section of the Climate Progress Report, at Annex 1.

3.  Note the Climate Action Plan and Route-map to 2030, at Annex 2.

4.  Note the updated Climate Strategy, at Annex 3.

5.  Note the development of the Ecological Emergency Action Plan, at Annex 4.

6.  Note that the ambition on nature recovery contained in the Ecological Emergency Action Plan will only be fully realised with external investment and through working in partnership; and

7.  Approve the Climate Annual Report and the new Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was carried with 48 Councillors voting in favour, and 1 Councillor abstaining.]

The report is attached. There will be a presentation at the meeting.

Cllr Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, introduced the item and drew attention to the progress and achievements over the last year as detailed in the Climate Emergency Annual Report and the new Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

Jane Wildblood, Strategic Manager: Climate & Environmental Sustainability, gave a presentation on the Climate Emergency Annual Report which covered the following:

·  Climate Dashboard 2022

·  Climate Action: Progress in Buildings

·  Climate Action: Progress in Transport

·  Climate Action: Progress in Renewable Energy

·  A Focus on Achievements

·  Community Engagement Highlights

·  Route Map Projected Milestones 2023-2024

·  2023-24 Key Climate Actions

·  Renewable Energy Focus:

·  Acceleration of renewable energy delivery

·  Climate Action & achieving net zero carbon 2030: Our asks of central government

Panel members commented and asked questions as follows (Officer or Cabinet Member response shown in italics):

Cllr Crossley asked the following questions:

(1)  How could Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) encourage the downward trend in private car journeys which had started during the Covid pandemic?  This was an ongoing challenge for both the Government and local authorities as car journeys had started to return to pre-pandemic levels.  B&NES was looking at investing in infrastructure as well as other options such as converting Park and Ride sites into multi modal interchanges and workplace parking levies.

(2)  Was more information available on the Government’s timescale for requiring Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to have Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) C rating and minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) requirements EPC D rating.  Was there a risk that landlords would not make the required improvements? The target date was this year and the MEES requirement would apply to all types of other buildings being let.  There would be no public money available for private landlords to make improvements for HMOs although funding and grants would be available for social housing.  It would be a national standard that landlords would be expected to comply with before renting out property.  Further information on the detail would be made available.

Cllr Hirst stated that he welcomed the report and the progress made since the last annual update and asked the following questions:

(1)  How soon could the Park and Ride sites be redeveloped into multi modal transport interchanges?  Council officers were currently undertaking feasibility work and speaking to national grid operators.  There were issues relating to the connection of solar rays to the grid which may require a battery storage solution.  The timescale would probably be a couple of years rather than months due to the complexity of the work.

(2)  How could residents be persuaded to opt for greener carbon negative heating systems and move away from the use of fossil fuels?  There was practical advice on the B&NES website, but it was a challenge to encourage people to switch due to the cost and disruption of installing alternative heating systems.  B&NES was working with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to develop the Retrofit Accelerator which would provide an easily accessible support service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66