Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management, Strategic Planning and Climate Changepresented the report which provided the fourth progress update on actions taken in response to the climate emergency.

Questions were received from the following members of the public in relation to this item:

·       Mel Boyle

·       Jeremy Wire

·       Andrew Nicolson

The Leader acknowledged that the questions had received a written response which had been published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting.

Supplementary questions were received from (i) Mel Boyle about the removal of the three temporary bollards; Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Streetscene and Flooding, and the Leader confirmed that the Council were monitoring the situation and were expecting a resolution to the issues raised; (ii) Andrew Nicolson about the Council joining the Carbon Disclosure Project and Carbon reduction outcomes; Cllr Nick Botterill reported that he was aware of the Carbon Disclosure Project and had responded to their request for the Council to join the project; the Council had not set interim targets as this would be undertaken nationally; and Wiltshire is a very rural county with differing issues to urban areas.

Cllr Jerry Kunkler, Chair of the Environment Select Committee, confirmed that the Select Committee would be considering the Local Plan report at their meeting on 14 July 2021 and had re-established the Global Warming & Climate Emergency Task group at its meeting held on 15 June 2021.

In response to questions from Cllr Ian Thorn about (i) measuring the Council’s performance against other similar Councils; (ii) working in partnership with communities to gain greater outcomes; (iii) development of the Local Plan and how it meets climate objectives. Cllr Botterill, (i) confirmed that the Council measured performance, although there is an expectation that the Climate Change Conference (COP 26) taking place in Glasgow during October and November 2021 would generate further targets that the Council could consider at that time; (ii) details of how the Council engages with the local community is highlighted in the report; and (iii) confirmed that the Government will publish how this would be viable following COP 26.

In response to questions from Cllr Derek Walters and Cllr Brian Mathew about the Northacre Energy from Waste Facility at Westbury and how (i) it delivers on a reduction in carbon emissions in the county; and possible predetermination by the Strategic Planning Committee; Cllr Nick Botterill and the Leader confirmed that (i) the development would demonstrate a reduction of 58,000 tonnes of carbon per annum and avoids residue going to landfill; and (ii) the Strategic Planning Committee considered the planning officers report in line with due process and there was no predetermination involved.  Cllr Pip Ridout, confirmed this as a new member of the Committee and Cllr Suzanne Wickham highlighted that she had objected to the planning application and at no time was she asked to withdraw her objections.

In response to a question from Cllr Gavin Grant about the Wiltshire Climate Alliance Youth event on 22 February 2021 and a suggestion that the Council holds a stakeholder conference at the same time as COP 26.  The Leader and Cllr Botterill confirmed that discussions to take this forward were being held with Wiltshire Climate Alliance.

In response to questions from Cllr Carole King about (i) carbon reduction works completed and underway on Council property and whether leisure centres would be included once they come back in-house; and (ii) queried why Westbury Library were not on this list; Cllr Botterill confirmed that (i) this would take place and (ii) a written response would be provided after the meeting.

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes the actions taken in response to the climate emergency following the last update in February 2021.

Reason for decision:

To provide Cabinet with an update on actions taken in response to the climate emergency.