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Issue - meetings

Climate Change Strategy Annual Report

Meeting: 20/10/2021 - Council (Item 34)

34 Carbon Reduction Action Plan pdf icon PDF 87 KB

At its meeting on 7 July 2021 the Executive Committee considered the Climate Change Strategy Annual Report and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that from April 2022, a permanent Carbon Reduction Programme Officer post be included within the ongoing base budget of the Council at an estimated cost of £40,600.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

34.1           At its meeting on 7 July 2021, the Executive Committee had considered the Climate Change Strategy Annual Report and recommended to Council that, from April 2022, a permanent Carbon Reduction Programme Officer post be included within the ongoing base budget of the Council at an estimated cost of £40,600.  

34.2           The report which was considered by the Executive Committee had been circulated with the Agenda for the current meeting at Pages No. 12-30.

34.3           The Chair of the Executive Committee proposed the recommendation and the Vice-Chair seconded it.

34.4           A Member indicated that he was happy to support the report but noted it talked about changing the heating system and he questioned the current status of that project. In response, the Head of Finance and Asset Management explained that, unfortunately, the price of replacing the heating system had risen following the tender process and the external funding had subsequently been withdrawn. The Council had now received confirmation that the funding provider would be happy to support the development of a solar canopy in the car park but, in addition, the Council had also put in a different funding bid to support the replacement of the heating system for the higher cost. A Member felt it was sad that progress on the new heating system had stalled and he hoped Officers could find a way to overcome the issues as soon as possible. In terms of the Countywide Carbon Reduction Programme Officer, the Head of Finance and Asset Management confirmed that was a shared post for Gloucestershire. That Officer had been appointed in the summer and was now drawing together all the plans in the county with the aim of helping to deliver them.  

34.5           Accordingly, it was

                  RESOLVED          That, from April 2022, a permanent Carbon Reduction                                        Programme Officer post be included within the ongoing base                                  budget of the Council at an estimated cost of £40,600.


Meeting: 07/07/2021 - Executive (Item 22)

22 Carbon Reduction Action Plan pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To note the progress made in in delivering the year 1 action plan; to approve the year 2 action plan; and to recommend to Council the inclusion of a permanent Carbon Reduction Programme Officer post within the ongoing base budget of the Council from April 2022.

Subject To Call In:: 1. No - Item to Note. 2. No - Ongoing Matter. 3. No - Recommendation to Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.       That the progress achieved in year one of the action plan be NOTED.

2.       That the recommended year 2 action plan be APPROVED.  

3.       That it be RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that, from April 2022, a permanent Carbon Reduction Programme Officer post be included within the ongoing base budget of the Council at an estimated cost of £40,600.

Minutes:

22.1          The report of the Head of Finance and Asset Management, circulated at Pages No. 143-161, asked Members to note the progress achieved in year one of the action plan; approve the recommended year two action plan; and recommend to Council the inclusion of a permanent Carbon Reduction Programme Officer post within the ongoing base budget of the Council at an estimated cost of £40,600 from April 2022.

22.2          In July 2020, the Council had approved an initial baseline report and associated action plan. In the last six months, a lot of good progress had been made in moving forward some of the actions – those were set out within the report with the targets. Appendix A to the report highlighted the achievements in the first year of the action plan which included: submitting an application and gaining agreement for external funding to support the feasibility study and delivery of a replacement heating system at the Council Offices; significant work to establish energy diaries for all Council operational buildings which provided a baseline of energy usage and carbon consumption and a means of monitoring those issues in the medium term; survey work at the Roses Theatre and the Council’s domestic properties; consultation with Human Resources to approve a cycle salary sacrifice scheme; and a range of smaller achievements, including the appointment of a countywide Climate Change Coordinator and the works required in the car parks. In terms of monitoring, data had been gathered for the Offices which showed a saving in the last 12 months in carbon emissions due to Officers working from home; however, the amount of gas usage had increased as less heat had been generated by people. Overall, 26 tonnes of carbon had been saved during the period. Data was still being collected from other properties, the grey fleet and the Ubico fleet.

22.3          In terms of the second year of the programme, a balanced set of actions were proposed and had been grouped under four themes of: communications and engagement; technical implementation; scoping studies, policies and schemes; and budgets and external funding and included actions such as furthering the carbon reduction agenda and raising wider awareness; continuing to source further funding opportunities; update of policies; and delivery of projects to save carbon emissions. The Officer report included a recommendation for a post to support the project. The Council had appointed a part-time Low Carbon Consultant and his work had been supported to date by the Asset Manager and Head of Finance and Asset Management but the potential for the project was huge, as was the amount of work, so it was not sustainable for a part-time post. The Lead Member for Clean and Green Environment was supportive of the recommendation and he hoped the Committee would agree the recommendation to Council. The Lead Member advised that the achievements the Council had made so far were exceptional but it had to be recognised that the Head of Finance and Asset Management could not sustain the amount of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22

Action By: HF&AM