Issue - meetings

The Council considered a report presenting the Annual Climate & Nature report 2025 which updates Council on the progress made in tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergencies in 2024-25, both as a Council and as a wider district.

On a motion from Councillor Sarah Warren, seconded by Councillor Joel Hirst, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Note the progress made in tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergencies during 2024-25, as set out in the Attachments; and

2.  Approve the Annual Climate & Nature Progress Report before publication.

[Notes;

1. The above resolution was carried with the votes as set out below;

For (44) – Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alex Beaumont, David Biddleston, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Anna Box, Stuart Bridge, Paul Crossley, Chris Dando, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, David Harding, Ian Halsall, Gavin Heathcote, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge,  Shaun Hughes, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Ruth Malloy, Hal MacFie, Lesley Mansell, Paul May, Simon McCombe, Manda Rigby, Sarah Moore, Ann Morgan, Robin Moss, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Karen Walker and Sarah Warren

Abstain (3) – Councillors Saskia Heijltjes, Sam Ross, Joanna Wright]

The report updates Cabinet on the progress made in tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergencies in 2024/25, both as a Council and as a wider district.

Cllr Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, introduced the item, moved the officer recommendation and made the following points:

•   2024 saw record rises in atmospheric CO? and methane, intensifying global heating.

•   The UK experienced four heatwaves this year during its hottest summer on record.

•   The COP30 in Belem, Brazil highlights insufficient global commitments, risking 2.5°C warming.

•   The International Court of Justice suggests that climate reparations may be due from non-compliant nations.

·  Renewables are accelerating globally, but climate denial from major emitters like the US poses challenges.

  Bath & North East Somerset Council continues to lead among similar local authorities on climate and ecological action.

•   Carbon emissions in B&NES have halved per person over 20 years.

•   B&NES Council is ranked top among small provincial unitary authorities in the UK’s climate action scorecard.

·  The Council has added 15 electric vehicles to the council fleet; £10M has been budgeted for electric waste/recycling HGVs.

•   We have secured funding for the first new national forest in 30 years with Forest of Avon partners.

•   Rooftop solar panels have been installed on Bath Sports and Leisure Centre.

•   There are planned upgrades for Carrswood Adult Day Centre and Keynsham Civic Centre with solar/heat pumps.

·  Decarbonising buildings and transport remains a major challenge.

•   We are collaborating with the West of England Combined Authority to promote walking, cycling, and public transport.

•   We are supporting retrofitting of listed buildings via the Green Heritage Homes project.

·  £4M has been budgeted for further building decarbonisation.

•   We are exploring hydroelectricity at Pulteney Gate to power heat pumps in historic buildings.

•   There is a proposed increase in the Biodiversity Net Gain requirement from 10% to 20% in the new Local Plan.

Cllr Joel Hirst seconded the motion and made the following points:

·  The Council has developed strong partnerships and is taking action on the council-owned estate and vehicle fleet.

·  Across the authority emissions are down by 46% since 2005.

·  In B&NES we continue to have lower emissions per capita compared to the rest of the South West and England averages.

·  Decarbonising of transport remains one of our biggest challenges – we are slightly ahead in B&NES in Ultra Low Emission vehicles – but we need to do much more on EV chargers and more on supporting our bus network to get passenger numbers back to pre-Covid levels, with WECA support.

·  We need to deliver the new railway station at Saltford.

·  We are seeing high demand for cycle hangers, which are very popular across the authority.

·  In terms of the ecological emergency there is much to celebrate including:

o  The delivery in green infrastructure projects.

o  Tree planting in places like Rush Hill open spaces, Pennyquick.

o  The Bath River Line project.

o  The Somer Valley Rediscovered greenspaces.

Cllr Paul May welcomed the progress that has been made and the engagement of local communities in this work.

Cllr Matt McCabe highlighted the adaptions unit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, introduced the report and presentation.

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

Councillor Wait stated that the target of 20% biodiversity net gain in the Local Plan is encouraging, what will this look like. The Cabinet Member explained that an ecological report measures the site before and after the development. There are many ways sites can improve biodiversity. The officer added that developers can also make biodiversity improvements on registered areas off site too which would enhance the district.

Councillor Wait stated that there had been a lot of building in Keynsham and a lot of biodiversity net gain has been off site. Is this more likely when it is raised to 20%. The Cabinet Member stated that generally wildlife and humans don’t mix well. He shared the concern that it can be difficult for people to see the benefits. We will test the 20% target. Developers will ask the priority – biodiversity and retrofit or affordable housing.

Councillor Malloy asked if there is a geographical limit to off site biodiversity net gain work. The officer explained that there are offsite habitats within BANES so it would be in the area.

Councillor Box thanked the officers for a good report. She stated that places such as Stanton Drew use oil – Government subsidies could address this which would be an easy win.

Councillor Heijltjes stated that she would like to see more data and predictions in the reports and that it is hard to find KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). On issues such as transport, how can members understand how we are doing. The Cabinet Member referred to the Corporate Performance report. The officer added that they are currently working on a transition plan.

Councillor Leach stated that it is good that the Council is reducing its own emissions which can be used to help encourage other organisations such as Wessex Water. The Cabinet Member explained that there is a ‘Future Ambitions’ Board including local organisations with a Climate Emergency subgroup. We also need to get the message out to residents. The officer added that there is a Climate and Nature Network Forum in November.

Councillor Heijltjes asked when the new Climate and Nature Strategy Draft would be coming to this Panel. The Cabinet Member stated that this could be programmed in as a piece of policy development work.

Councillor Walker asked about longer contracts for WECA (West of England Combined Authority) buses. She mentioned the A37 junction (Radstock/Peasedown St John) and the changes to allow buses to move more freely. The Cabinet Member agreed with the comment regarding longer contracts, bus contracts are commercial and also agreed that infrastructure was important.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Members and officers.