Issue - meetings

This report sets out our progress on tackling the climate and ecological emergencies over the last financial year (2023-24). We have a commitment to report on our climate progress each year as set out in the Climate Emergency Strategy, and it is the first time we are reporting on the Ecological Emergency Action Plan. As Tackling the Climate & Ecological Emergencies is one of the council’s core priorities set out in the Corporate Strategy, this report brings together both elements for the first time.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, introduced this item and commended the Annual Climate and Nature Progress report to Council.  She mentioned some clarification that was needed to the walking and cycling numbers before final publication.

During debate, clarification was sought that paragraph 3.9 did not compromise Planning Committee members when the application came to committee, and this was given by the Monitoring Officer.

On a motion from Councillor Sarah Warren, seconded by Councillor Oli Henman, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Note the positive progress achieved over the past year across the priorities set out in the Climate Emergency Strategy and Ecological Emergency Action Plan and

2.  Approve the Annual Climate & Nature Progress Report, noting that a clarification will be included in the final version published on the website, to correct an error in the data on walking and cycling numbers.

[Notes:

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 43 Councillors voting in favour and 3 Councillors abstaining.]

The report sets out the Council’s progress on tackling the climate and ecological emergencies over the last financial year (2023-24).

Cllr Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation, and made the following points:

·  This is the first combined annual report on B&NES’ progress in tackling the climate and ecological emergencies.

·  This has been the warmest northern hemisphere on record.  Global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations stood at 425 ppm in July, up from 421 a year previously, when the safe level for human civilisation is calculated by scientists at 350.

·  It is pleasing to report that B&NES continues to be seen as a local government leader in this field, ranking seventh of all local authorities according to Climate Scorecards UK, and being awarded our first B score by the Carbon Disclosure Project. We were also one of just 24 local councils to have implemented, a year ahead of government mandating, a biodiversity net gain policy which ensures that biodiversity will be in a better state following a building project than before.  We have made solid progress in carbon emissions reduction.

·  Last financial year, we opened the Keynsham Recycling Hub with a 783kWp solar array, rainwater harvesting and more than 200 trees; and installed air source heat pumps in our care homes Cleeve Court and Coombe Lea, to utilise the solar panels previously put in, with further projects for decarbonisation of our estate in the pipeline.

·  A new council-led development at Englishcombe Lane will deliver new homes for people with autism or learning difficulties and will create a nature-rich setting and aims to achieve the Building with Nature accreditation and deliver 20% biodiversity net gain; whilst council-owned Charlcombe Meadow is being converted to a Community Nature Reserve thanks to developer funding from our new biodiversity net gain planning policy.

·  We have made three trial through-traffic restrictions permanent, with trials of another five either live or planned; and are working closely with our Transport Authority the West of England Combined Authority on planned improvements to infrastructure for walking, wheeling and cycling.

·  In terms of our regulatory role, we are consulting on planning policy that will be still more stringent in requiring energy efficiency and biodiversity net gain for developers (having already introduced regulations in 2023 requiring zero carbon new build housing), and we hope to further ease the planning pathway for renewable energy. We have also issued compliance notices to landlords whose rental properties failed to meet minimum energy efficiency standards, resulting in improvements in the energy efficiency of 70 homes.

·  This work has been challenging during these last years in local government, in the context of ever deeper cuts to budgets.

·  We remain just as committed, but to achieve net zero (both here in Bath and North East Somerset as well as in other UK local authorities) will require a step change at national level, in terms of leadership, of funding, and of loosening the shackles upon local government in the key areas of transport, renewable energy, energy efficient buildings, and protection of nature.

Cllr Dave Wood seconded the motion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44

Councillor Oli Henman (Cabinet Project Lead for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel) gave a presentation which covered the following:

·  Clear Ambition for Climate and Nature

·  First Joint Annual Progress Report

·  Where are we now: BANES Council

·  Highlights: Climate

·  Highlights: Nature

·  Highlights: Place-based Green Infrastructure

·  Next Steps

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

Councillor Johnson asked about decarbonising Council operations and how much of the electricity decrease was a result of direct changes made by the Council and how much was down to the national picture. The Cabinet Project Lead stated that he understood it was a mixture of both. He stated that he would check this and see if it is possible in the future to separate these statistics.

Councillor Heijltjes asked about timescales and deadlines that were shown in the original action plan. She asked about progress on the Ecological Action Plan and asked about risk assessments in terms of not achieving core priorities. The Cabinet Project Lead explained that the report shows the ambition for 2030. He said that it was a challenging picture and that there had not been the level of investment that was desired. A lot depends on the national picture. He added that the Annex show the original aims and progress.

Councillor Box ask the following questions, the Cabinet Project Lead answers are shown in italics:

·  Can public health be shown in terms of air quality. Councillor Box requested a written response regarding how many potential lives have been saved by clean air strategies. She commended the intervention. The Cabinet Project Lead agreed that this was a good idea and explained that the map on the website shows each air quality monitor. He agreed that this is linked with public health.

·  Suggestion of practical support for farmers and landowners with regard to biodiversity in hedgerows. Maybe a campaign/training. The Cabinet Project Lead agreed with this approach.

·  The school transport fleet is very old, this could be de carbonised. The Cabinet Project Lead agreed to take this comment back.

Councillor David ask the following questions, the Cabinet Project Lead answers are shown in italics:

·  It is good to see information on the ecological quality of parks and green spaces, a number of interventions have benefited from funding. The funding needs to be sustained. The Cabinet Project Lead agreed that community partnerships are a good way to give people ownership. We need to build on those.

·  The Corporate landlord model offers opportunities to improve nature – hopefully this includes parks and green spaces. This point will be taken back.

·  It is good to see a level of detail regarding rivers and glad to see the issue of sunken boats being gradually addressed. Plea to allow continued funding for this in the budget process. There are different responsibilities regarding rivers – the process with sunken boats has begun, there are currently 6 sunken boats in Bath.

Councillor Collins ask the following questions, the Cabinet Project Lead answers are shown in italics:

·  Green  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96