Chichester District Council
Issue

Issue - meetings

Climate Emergency Action Plan

Meeting: 28/01/2020 - Council (Item 80)

Climate Emergency

The material relevant to this item is the report on pages 17 – 33 of the Cabinet agenda for 7 January 2020.

 

The following recommendation was made to Council:

 

That a Climate Emergency officer post at a total cost of £120,000, plus an operational budget of £30,000, is funded from reserves for 2 years (full time) to support delivery of the Action Plan.

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Mrs Lintill on behalf of Mrs Plant to introduce the item and drew attention to the report which could be found on pages 17 to 33 of the Cabinet agenda for 7 January 2020. She confirmed that there was one recommendation to Council detailed on the agenda front sheet.

 

Mrs Lintill drew attention to the local level response to the Climate Emergency Declaration and explained that the council would endeavour to do the following as part of the Climate Emergency Action Plan:

 

·         Implement carbon reduction measures

·         Access funding through Homes England from the Graylingwell development

·         Increase tree planting

·         Reduce green waste

·         Consider transport options with local partners

·         Consider lifestyle options with local partners

 

Mrs Lintill then explained that the Environment Panel had been tasked with evaluating all possible options for how best to implement the Action Plan and had agreed on a recommendation to fund a permanent full time Climate Emergency Officer with funding currently available for a two year period. The Panel had agreed that the postholder should ideally be experienced in carbon reduction and energy management projects.

 

Mr Oakley asked whether the post provides value for money and whether the postholder would be able to achieve the climate impact the council requires. He gave examples of how else the money could be spent including land drainage to mitigate climate change, environmental protection, recycling and food waste. He also asked whether the existing grants scheme could be utilised to seek additional funding. Mrs Lintill responded and explained that the post had already been considered by the Environment Panel and officers had also expressed a need for a dedicated officer. Mrs Evans was invited to respond further and explained that consideration had been given to the existing Environment unit and it is felt that it would not be possible to begin additional projects without losing other workstreams. She added that the new post would help to achieve the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

 

Members shared their support for the new post. Mr Oakley confirmed that he was reassured by the responses. He then asked how the performance indicators for the postholder would be measured. Mrs Lintill explained that this would be addressed by officers. Mrs Sharp added that the Environment Panel had discussed the postholder’s involvement in reducing carbon emissions which would be measurable by percentage.

 

Dr O’Kelly wished to encourage the postholder to address joint partnership working across the county.

 

Mrs Lintill proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Mrs Taylor.

 

In a show of hands the Council voted in favour.

 

RESOLVED

 

That a Climate Emergency officer post at a total cost of £120,000, plus an operational budget of £30,000, is funded from reserves for 2 years (full time) to support delivery of the Action Plan.

 


Meeting: 07/01/2020 - Cabinet (Item 88)

88 Climate Emergency Initial Action Plan pdf icon PDF 93 KB

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendices and make the following resolution and recommendation to Council:

 

1.    That the Climate Emergency Initial Action Plan, as presented in Appendix 1, is approved.

2.    That Cabinet recommends to Council that a Climate Emergency officer post at a total cost of £120,000, plus an operational budget of £30,000, is funded from reserves for 2 years (full time) to support delivery of the Action Plan.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

That the Climate Emergency Initial Action Plan as presented in Appendix 1 be approved.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

 

That a Climate Emergency officer post at a total cost of £120,000, plus an operational budget of £30,000, is funded from reserves for 2 years (full time) to support delivery of the Action Plan.

Minutes:

Mrs Lintill clarified that the Cabinet recommendations are first to approve the Climate Emergency Action Plan and then to recommend to Council funding for a Climate Emergency Officer for a two year period.

 

Mrs Plant then introduced the report. She drew attention to the local level response to the Climate Emergency Declaration and explained that the council would endeavour to do the following as part of the Climate Emergency Action Plan:

 

·         Implement carbon reduction measures

·         Access funding through Homes England from the Graylingwell development

·         Increase tree planting

·         Reduce green waste

·         Consider transport options with local partners

·         Consider lifestyle options with local partners

 

Mrs Plant explained that the Environment Panel had been tasked with evaluating all possible options for how best to implement the Action Plan and had agreed on a recommendation to fund a full time Climate Emergency Officer for a two year period. The Panel had agreed that the postholder should ideally be experienced in carbon reduction and energy management projects.

 

Mr Day then provided background on the Low Carbon Chichester Fund offered by Homes England following the development agreement at Graylingwell.

 

Mrs Evans then clarified that the Action Plan included in the agenda pack is interim. If the Climate Emergency Officer role is approved the postholder would be tasked with creating a more detailed Action Plan.

 

Mr Wilding raised a point of concern relating to the planned reduction of CO2 emissions as he explained that the emission levels were likely to be out of the council’s control. Mrs Evans explained that the Low Carbon Graylingwell funding is aimed at projects which seek to reduce carbon emissions. Mr Wilding responded by outlining that transport and heating systems are two of the highest carbon emitters. Mr Day clarified that the carbon reduction levels would be calculated by taking account of national and community actions in addition to those of the council.

 

Mrs Taylor with reference to page 24 of the agenda pack relating to the Local Plan Review queried the timelines. Mrs Evans explained that the wording makes allowances for possible changes.

 

Mrs Graves with referenced to page 18 of the agenda pack sought clarification on tree planting. Mrs Evans explained that the Strategic Wildlife Corridor project would help considerably.

 

Mr Briscoe acknowledged that the 10% carbon reduction target is both realistic and achievable. He encouraged the Climate Emergency Officer to work in partnership with other local organisations to provide a positive platform for the future.

 

Mrs Lintill welcomed the proposal and the initial Action Plan.

 

Mrs Lintill then invited Miss Barrie and Mrs Sharp to ask their pre-submitted member questions (the answers provided are in italics below).

 

Miss Barrie asked the following:

 

With the very limited budget allocated to the work of the proposed new environment officer – will the cabinet please commit to a specific date for carbon neutrality for the council to work towards.  This will enable said officer to use their post to influence and motivate officers to create and implement policy and make decisions that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88


 

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