Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Executive

The Chairman invited Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, to introduce a report providing an update on progress and actions taken in response to the climate emergency. 

The Leader explained that the council has made significant progress in responding to the climate emergency. Delivery plans have been published setting out how the Council will deliver its objectives as detailed in the Carbon Neutral Council Plan 2022-2024 and Climate Strategy Delivery Plan for Wiltshire 2022-2024. He commented in detail on the seven delivery themes for Transport, Housing and the Built Environment, Natural Environment, Energy, Green Economy, Waste and Carbon Neutral Council.

Councillor Graham Wright, Chairman of the Climate Emergency Task Group, reported that the Task Group welcomed the council’s commitment to give an update every six months on progress toward tackling climate change. He spoke about the progress being made, the need for continued focus on the issues, discussions about the various delivery themes by the Task Group, and welcomed the opportunity to review the next report in May 2023 prior to consideration by Cabinet. He also recognised and appreciated the amount of work undertaken so far, particularly by the Climate Team headed up by Ariane Crampton, Head of the Climate Programme, and others across the whole council.

The Leader proposed the motion as detailed in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Laura Mayes.

Group Leaders were then invited to comment on the report.

Councillor Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, thanked officers, in particular the Head of Climate Programme, Ariane Crampton and her team for their role in progressing the Council’s response to the climate emergency. He also thanked the Climate Emergency Task Group for their contribution and welcomed the report from Councillor Wright as Chairman of the Task Group, acknowledging the role of scrutiny in the process. In addition, Councillor Thorn thanked Councillor Clewer for his leadership on climate emergency as part of his Cabinet portfolio. He welcomed the report which he felt contained a lot of detail and oversight. He commented on the enormous opportunity for the Council to influence the objectives of the Local Plan and national policy in relation to issues connected with the climate emergency. Other comments made included opposition to fracking, the opportunities to improve the delivery of waste management and continued development of partnerships and engagement with statutory partners, the third sector and private sector to ensure opportunities the Council were creating though its own response plans were transmitted across the whole county.

Councillor Ernie Clark, Leader of the Independent Group, and Councillor Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, also welcomed the report from the Leader and endorsed the comments and work of the Task Group set out by Councillor Wright.

The item was then opened for general debate with issues raised including:

·       A need to include information on electric vehicles in future climate emergency proposals, for instance the Co Car Scheme, potential for electric bikes and proposals for more cycle lanes;

·       Requests for Planning Policy to reflect climate aspirations, and for this to be recognised during policy development, and the impact on the council from the lack of a five year housing land supply;

·       The need to develop an EV charging infrastructure within Wiltshire, and whether this could be included as a requirement with the Local Plan, as well as creation of carpools and improvements to EV charging in parishes and possibility of associated grants for EV charging points

·       Providing an opportunity for the retrofitting of community buildings in order to achieve carbon neutrality;

·       Thermal imaging schemes for local communities to aid retrofitting,  

·       Requests for development of a framework to reduce the speed of traffic outside of schools, and continued multiagency work in relation to flooding and clearing of gullies;

·       Noting the success of the LED street lighting scheme, work undertaken at Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury, solar panel installations at 30 council sites and investigations into the decarbonising of the largest 17 council sites;

·       The work of Lendology in providing reduced rate loans.

In response to the debate the Leader welcomed the comments made and in summing up noted that the climate emergency was an important issue for everyone. He acknowledged that not all suggestions could be achieved and that decarbonising by 2030 was very difficult, and that everyone needed to contribute. In relation to the Local Plan, he confirmed that the Council would be as ambitious as possible with deliverable proposals that would be accepted by a Planning Inspector. He also stated that the success of EV charging would be dependent on the capacity of the grid, and it was acknowledged that the Ministry of Defence had serious plans to tackle the climate emergency and discussions were taking place with them and the Climate Team. He also noted the need to reduce car usage and create networks for cyclists.

Following a vote, it was then,

Resolved:

That the Council notes the actions taken in response to the climate emergency following the last update in February 2022.