Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Executive.

Please note that this report is subject to the decision of Cabinet on 10 October 2023. Following Cabinet, the minute of the item and any updates to the report/recommendations will be circulated in a supplement.

Introduction

The Chairman invited Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to present a report providing the council’s eighth progress update on actions taken in response to the climate emergency, including a proposed update to the council’s Environmental Policy and a proposal to adjust the annual reporting cycle.

Cllr Holder presented the report, noting it had been reviewed by the Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group and approved by the Cabinet. There had been engagement with the Wiltshire Climate Alliance, whom he thanked for providing honest feedback and seeking clarification on several points. He stated it was intended to further develop the council’s relationship with the Wiltshire Climate Alliance to assist the council in delivering on its commitments.

It was explained that the climate motion adopted by the council in 2019 had included committing to the council as an organisation to become carbon neutral by 2030, and to seek to make the county carbon neutral by 2030, noting the distinction between matters the council could affect directly or indirectly. Pathway reports had been prepared by consultants to help produce delivery plans with specific actions, and it was reported that the council was on track to meet its target to being carbon neutral by 2030, though it would not be complacent about achieving this.

Examples were provided of work being undertaken, such as installing solar panels on the Five Rivers Leisure Centre which helped power the building and electric vehicle charging points, with renewable energy production on the council’s estate trebling in the past year, as well as working with contractors to reduce their emissions. The number of staff within the climate team was increasing further, with all service areas involved in developing and carrying out actions under the climate strategies, action plans and policies such as the draft Local Plan, with details provided on key performance indicators within the report.

Cllr Holder moved the proposals as detailed within the report, which were seconded by Cllr Richard Clewer.

Public Participation

Bill Jarvis, Wiltshire Climate Alliance, stated the report showed real progress, though he expressed concern about lack of progress on scope 3 emissions, engagement with business, and climate adaptation. He hoped that a streamlined reporting on climate progress could still be provided publicly on a more frequent basis even if the proposal for a full report to Council to take place annually was approved.

Andrew Nicolson, Wiltshire Climate Alliance, stated the council’s net zero pathway as only average for an organisation of its size, and county wide emissions data was not very positive. He questioned inclusion of certain actions with the report actions. He urged Area Board leads and all councillors to engage with local organisations and groups to learn more about climate actions which could be taken in their areas and discussed methane emissions.

Bill Jarvis asked a supplementary to his submitted questions as detailed in the Agenda Supplement. He asked how the council would be able to demonstrate reduction in scope 3 emissions by business without base data and updates.

Cllr Holder stated he would provide information on how the council recorded or received relevant data where possible. He added the council did engage with businesses, but much of that engagement could not all be made public. He encouraged the Wiltshire Climate Alliance to pursue its own engagement directly with businesses in Wiltshire.

Bill Jarvis asked a second supplementary, regarding the climate adaptation plan. He said the plan had not been updated in 7 years and asked for reassurance that actions had been tested against the existing plan, and against major impacts that had since occurred.

Cllr Holder acknowledged the adaptation plan review had not yet been completed. He stated all directorates were working with the climate team to address actions, and work was being coordinated to bring forward recommendations in 2024.

Andrew Nicolson asked a supplementary to his submitted question as detailed in the Agenda Supplement, regarding supporting small and medium enterprises during procurement processes regarding emission requirements in contracts.

Cllr Holder responded that the proposed Environmental Policy included details to engage with all suppliers around environmental objectives. He provided details of the socially responsible procurement policy approved in 2022, and toolkits developed for contract and procurement process. He also responded to the comments about Area Boards, and how the council was seeking to support them to communicate on climate issues and take actions in their areas.

Group Leaders and Scrutiny

Comments were then made by Group Leaders as follows:

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, welcomed the report and the evidence it provided of the major work undertaken to tackle carbon emissions and other issues. He stated the council was on track to meet its environmental targets whilst also making savings. On scope 3 emissions he stated central government needed to establish frameworks which Wiltshire and others needed to then deliver on, and that everyone needed to take responsibility for their own emissions. He emphasised the importance of bringing people along with actions to reduce emissions and other climate actions, as the wrong approach could create tensions and undermine the ability to take further necessary actions. He noted there were limitations of what the council could demand of businesses under national policy, and it was necessary to take a joined-up approach to take every action that was possible to achieve results.

Cllr Gordon King, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, stated the report was helpful and informative, and positively engendered further questions and debate. He welcomed details of future plans that needed to be developed and commented upon waste policy.

Cllr Ernie Clark, Leader of the Independent Group, noted his support for the report and proposals.

Cllr Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, said he was happy to support the proposals. He noted the importance of moving forward, as an example detailing changes in industries such as the building trade, and the work needed to engage with residents.

Cllr Graham Wright, Chairman of the Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group, then addressed the meeting. He welcomed the report and provided details of the questions and challenges that had been made to the Cabinet Member, for example on reducing wider carbon emissions across the county, air quality improvements, encouraging bus travel, retrofitting homes, and more. He commended the progress made though expressed concerns regarding the adaptation plan, the offsetting strategy and local nature recovery strategy, which the Task Group would continue to seek more information on.

Debate

During debate Members welcomed the detail of the report and progress that had been achieved towards targets.

There was support for the proposal to report to Full Council annually, though it was requested the Task Group receive details of metrics more frequently as the data became available. It was also requested commissioned reports and other information for example from consultants be published upon receipt unless there were clear and justifiable reasons otherwise.

There was discussion over precise language relating to achieving carbon zero housing and the extent to which the council was or would be achieving this as well as policies in the draft Local Plan to facilitate this, the need to ensure future reports were as quantitative and measurable as possible, and the importance of a joined-up approach with partners and challenge made to businesses and others.

Other comments made in debate included concern at the level of recycling dropping in the past year, with an increase in energy from waste, with other comments highlighting the increase in waste diverted from landfill in recent decades, with other comments asking about food waste recycling at other authorities.

Cllr Holder then responded to the points raised. He confirmed information would be provided for scrutiny on a regular basis, and that non-confidential reports should be made available. He confirmed the council had won an award for the communication of its most recent waste campaign.

It was further explained that a high proportion of kerbside waste was food waste, and the council was awaiting guidance from the Department of Food, Environment, and Rural Affairs on food waste collection before any plans for introduction of its collection was made. He noted there were issues regarding vehicles for collection and other costs, as well as financial and contractual impacts to assess and consider before any such decision could be made and implemented.

At the conclusion of debate, it was then,

Resolved:

That Full Council:

1)   Note the actions taken in response to the climate emergency following the last update in May 2023, and notes the progress made against key indicators as well as areas of limited progress;

2)   Approve the updated Environmental Policy in Appendix 1 and add it to Paragraph 1.2 of Part 3B of the Constitution for inclusion as part of the Policy Framework;

3)   Agree that future climate updates are received annually at its October meeting.

In accordance with the constitution there was a recorded vote. 

Votes for the motion (77) 

Votes against the motion (1) 

Votes in abstention (3) 

Details of the vote are attached as an appendix to the minutes.