Agenda item

A report from the Chief Executive Officer, Terence Herbert.

The Chairman invited Councillor Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management, Strategic Planning and Climate Change, to present the report which provided detail in relation to consultation responses on the Climate Strategy, a six month update on the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency, and recommended the Climate Strategy for approval.

Councillor Botterill moved the proposals as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Richard Clewer.

Councillor Botterill provided details of the update on the council’s response to the climate emergency and the seven delivery themes set out in the report. Details included announcement of the bulk buy scheme for solar panels, a green electricity deal which had been signed up to by 128 schools, further details on schemes for low EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rated homes, with more retrofitting and more additional new homes, the warm and safe Wiltshire advice service, approval of the delivery plan for Electric Vehicle charging and council fleet replacement, the Salisbury River Park project, trees in Bradford on Avon, improvements to household recycling centres, reconfigured waste rounds leading to a reduction in the fleet, work to help business reduce energy consumption, and the bus improvement plan.

On the Climate Strategy Councillor Botterill noted it had been reviewed by Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet, and received a high number of responses during consultation, with changes made to reflect new government strategies and legislation.  He welcomed the Council’s recent excellent rating of 81% in Climate Emergency UK's Council Climate Plan Scorecards, ranking it as the fifth best unitary authority in the UK for its response to climate change, the highest non-urban authority, noting the 28 wide ranging aspects and five performance reporting themes. He emphasised that further delivery plans would be developed.

The Chairman then invited comments from Group Leaders.

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, noted there had been a very strategic and analytical approach to prepare the Climate Strategy. He noted the significant progress on decarbonisation on areas within council control, including new council housing being built to zero carbon standards, and the ongoing delivery of further plans. He stated Wiltshire Council was seen as leading the way by others, though much still depended on central government, with the strategy providing a plan to deliver on the council’s climate priorities.

Councillor Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, stated the Climate Strategy was an excellent document and praised the leadership in the council’s Climate Team. He celebrated that the council were highly rated and the position of the council compared to other local authorities in the development and implementation of proposals. He added queries on how the council would work with the many external organisations and individuals for those areas the council had no control over. He also commented on the challenge of monitoring progress in achieving the proposals detailed in the Strategy. He offered his support for the strategy.

Councillor Graham Wright, deputy for the Independent Group Leader, offered support for the strategy.

Councillor Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, welcomed the Strategy and indicated that there was plenty of interest in the council housing new builds and retrofit of existing properties. He highlighted potential concerns of private house builders in relation to the cost of building zero carbon homes, and the significant interest of members of the public in helping the council develop and perform on Climate issues.

As Chairman of the Climate Emergency Task Group Councillor Wright also stated he was encouraged by the consensus between political groups to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and that the Task Group welcomed the Strategy and recognised that it required more detail to achieve the road map.  The Task Group acknowledged the progress being made and he urged all partiers to move faster and go further in their endeavours. He thanked the Task Group for the tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, the Leader, Cabinet and officers for their continued efforts to bring about change.

Several public statements and questions in relation to this item were received as detailed under Minute 6. Question P22-09 from Andrew Nicoslon was received between Minutes 8 and 9 relevant to this item, seeking details on rail and bus strategies. Councillor Clewer responded that this depended on devolution arrangements as bus and rail franchise funding could depend on that, and some additional devolution arrangements such as a directly elected mayor would not be appropriate for Wiltshire. He stated the council was happy to engage with public groups

A question, P22-06, and statement was also received from Bill Jarvis. He asked the council to use its best resources, in finance and people, to deliver on the actions of the strategy. Councillor Botterill provided details of financial and other commitments, and the councils commitment to deliver on the strategy.

The Chairman then invited comments in debate.

Comments in support of the strategy and proposals included congratulating the Leader, Cabinet and officers for the positive rating of the council for its response to climate change, the need for the council to use its influence with partners to help delivery outcomes, and how to implement best practice and monitor progress. The need to be open minded to new ideas for delivery was highlighted, as well as the valuable contribution of pensions investments, including by the Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee changing its investment strategy statement.

A comment was made that not all residents were convinced about the climate emergency, although there was concern about the loss of biodiversity and changes to the climate. Work to improve trees, hedgerows and fields and encouragement of animal and plant species was mentioned. The community environmental toolkit was highlighted.

Other comments made included highlighting concerns around the collection and disposal of residential waste and the use of incinerators, examining use of wind power and questioning the effectiveness of current infrastructure delivery for electric vehicles, and a specific comment on the actions of Warminster Area Board holding an event on climate and environmental issues.

In response to debate Councillor Botterill commented on energy from waste plans and noted the Secretary of State had not yet called-in the matter of the proposed Westbury incinerator, that solar power had exceeded predictions beyond any underestimate of wind power, and drew attention to the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. He thanked Members for their positive feedback.

It was then,

Resolved

That Council:

1)    Notes the consultation feedback on the draft climate strategy;

2)    Adopts the final Wiltshire Climate Strategy (2022-2027) as part of the council’s policy framework;

3)    Notes the actions taken in response to the climate emergency following the last update in July 2021.