Agenda item

Carbon Management Update report attached.

Jane Wildblood – Corporate Sustainability Manager, introduced the report.

The Panel raised the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Gerrish asked if the Green Living Fair would be taken to Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, he explained that Waste Services go along to farmers markets to promote the recycling message. The officer explained that the project is a joint one with Bath Preservations Trust and Transition Bath and is linked to Bath Green Homes, which was started by those two groups. It would be possible to explore this sort of joint working with Transition Keynsham and other groups who might be interested in this sort of activity in the future.

Councillor Gerrish mentioned that there were bulk buying arrangements for heating oil in some of the rural parishes where discounts had been negotiated, this could be extended to Bath.

Councillor Barrett asked if the officer had been consulted on the 20mph speed limits schemes and if the effects would be monitored. The officer stated that the air quality officers would have been consulted. Following a comment from Councillor Barrett, the officer said she would check if lower vehicle speeds did result in lower carbon emissions.

Councillor Barrett asked if the spa water was used in Council buildings. The officer explained that it is used in the heating for the Pump Room and there were investigations about its use in the Abbey. She explained that there was a high mineral content in the water so it was only used for certain things.

Councillor Macrae stated that he would like to see the results of work done on carbon management in terms of how much money had been saved compared to how much had been spent. He quoted an article stating that global warming is not happening. Councillor Roberts stated that the scientific facts proved that global warming and thus climate change is happening and that he would prefer to listen to the scientists. Councillor Bull pointed out that it was not just the financial outcomes that are important but also the benefits in terms of carbon emissions.

The officer gave some examples where results could be seen in numbers such as the replacement of street light bulbs with LED lights which had saved £135k per year and resulted in a 2.9% reduction in carbon emissions. She also explained that green projects in schools helped to offset the increase in energy usage in schools that has been seen in recent years.

Councillor Roberts explained that the Government had woken up to a win/win tax regarding carbon emissions. He stated that he found the dashboard (Appendix 1 to the report) useful and asked about the next steps towards meeting the Council’s targets. The officer explained that it is hard to see the results of carbon reduction strategies quickly as there is a time lag with the data. She stated that there was an expectation that energy use would drop when the Keynsham project is complete. She stated that there was a plan to replace street lights on side roads and also there would shortly be a detailed energy efficiency programme for schools, following completion of the surveys. She further explained that a local community partnership was developing regarding the Green Deal in order to ensure maximum benefit to local residents.

Councillor Gerrish asked if academies would be included in the future projects for schools. The officer explained that they had been surveyed but were not part of future work.

Councillor Rigby stated that there had been a survey in Abbey Ward regarding the street lighting and the LEDs may have to be removed. She also stated that lighting on pedestrian routes is poor and she had had complaints about this. The officer offered to report this back to the relevant officers in the street lighting team.

The Strategic Director stated that there had been a lot of information discussed some of which goes beyond carbon reduction. He explained that the Panel can request that any points outside this remit be put to the relevant officer.

The Panel noted the report.