Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and make the following resolutions:

1)         That Cabinet makes the following declaration of a climate emergency: “Chichester District Council declares a Climate Emergency and requests the Environment Panel to advise Cabinet and Council on how to move to a carbon neutral environment.

2)         That the Environment Panel draft Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix 1 are approved and that the Panel is tasked with evaluating priority actions for a Climate Emergency Action plan, and reports back to Cabinet in November 2019.

3)         That the Environment Panel is asked in its report to identify and evaluate the resources needed to achieve delivery of the action plan, including the proposal for a Climate Emergency Officer funded from reserves and the potential for the use of the Zero Carbon Graylingwell payment for implementing carbon reduction initiatives.

4)         That in the event that the Council is invited to accept a transfer of funds by Homes England associated with the Zero Carbon Graylingwell project, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment to accept the funds which are to be used towards specified carbon reduction projects, the spend for which will need to be first agreed in each case by both Homes England and the Council.

RESOLVED

1)    That Cabinet makes the following declaration of a climate emergency: “Chichester District Council declares a Climate Emergency and requests the Environment Panel to advise Cabinet and Council on how to move to a carbon neutral environment.

2)    That the Environment Panel draft Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix 1 be approved subject to the following amendments:

·       The final bullet point to read ‘to consider opportunities for joint initiatives and Partnership working and seek to influence the extent to which climate emergency is reflected in the development and implementation of cross boundary and county-wide strategies and plans;

·       that the Panel is tasked with evaluating priority actions for a Climate Emergency Action Plan, and reports back to Cabinet in January 2020’;

·       the frequency of the Environment Panel meetings to be monthly.

3)    That the Environment Panel is asked in its report to identify and evaluate the resources needed to achieve delivery of the action plan, including the proposal for a Climate Emergency Officer funded from reserves and the potential for the use of the Zero Carbon Graylingwell payment for implementing carbon reduction initiatives.

4)    That in the event that the Council is invited to accept a transfer of funds by Homes England associated with the Zero Carbon Graylingwell project, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment to accept the funds which are to be used towards specified carbon reduction projects, the spend for which will need to be first agreed in each case by both Homes England and the Council.

Mrs Plant introduced the item. Mr Day and Mrs Stevens were also present. Mrs Plant explained that the Climate Change Act 2018 set a target of 80% reduction of CO2 emission levels by 2050. She confirmed that the UK has seen a 43% fall in emissions mainly due to changes in electricity generation however CO2 from transport, building, industry agricultural and waste remain largely unchanged. In March 2019 the Council’s original draft budget resolution to transfer funds to the Investment Opportunities Fund, was amended to ask Cabinet to consider using £150,000 from reserves to fund a Climate Change Officer. Mrs Plant explained that an updated action plan is now required. She confirmed that carbon reduction is the focus of several work streams at the Council; there are several new policies in the Local Plan Review, the revised Air Quality Action Plan due early next year will include several new initiatives and the Council provides assistance to households in fuel poverty. Mrs Plant concluded that it would be appropriate for the Environment Panel to report back to the Cabinet in January 2020.

Mrs Stevens wished to make a proposal to amend the recommendation to increase the frequency of the Environment Panel meetings to monthly (and cancel if not required).

Mrs Lintill then invited Mrs Sharp to ask her questions which she had submitted in advance of the meeting.

Mrs Sharp’s first question:

What are the details of the Zero Carbon Graylingwell funds? What were they intended for originally, and would using the funds this way cause a loss to any other projects?

Mrs Plant provided the following answer:

The Graylingwell Development was required to be carbon neutral and in 2013/14 it was agreed that the development would need to meet the Zero Carbon Standard (ZCS).  The ZCS permits the inclusion of allowable solutions to reduce carbon emissions offsite, where this could not be achieved on site – now termed carbon offset. One model for carbon offset is for funds to be transferred from the developer to the local authority for the delivery of the reduction in carbon emissions offsite and elsewhere in the District.  The transfer of funds in this way will not result in a loss to other projects but just the delivery of the part of the reduction in emissions to be achieved offsite and facilitated by the local authority as opposed to the developer.

Mrs Sharp requested the opportunity to ask a further supplementary question which Mrs Lintill allowed. The question related to whether a study could be commissioned to analyse what remains incomplete at the Graylingwell development in Chichester. Mr Frost explained that agreements made between the developer and Homes England are not subject to monitoring by the council and should not be confused by planning permissions (which include conditions and Section 106 agreements) and which are monitored by the council.

Mrs Sharp’s second question:

The Terms of Reference of the Environment Panel include the need to “consider opportunities for joint initiatives and partnership working”. Should this wording not be strengthened to reflect the need to work to ensure that the climate emergency is adequately reflected in the development and implementation of all county-wide and district-wide strategies and plans; notably Transport Plans, given that transport is one of the major contributors to climate change?

Mrs Plant provided the following answer:

There is currently a requirement that all CDC Committee papers ensure that the impact of the proposals on climate change and biodiversity are considered.  In terms of county-wide strategies we can aspire to ensure that climate emergency is adequately reflected, however this will need cooperation from County and/or the other District and Boroughs.  The last bullet could be updated as follows:

To consider opportunities for joint initiatives and partnership working and seek to influence the extent to which climate emergency is reflected in the development and implementation of cross-boundary and county-wide strategies and plans.

Mrs Sharp’s third question:

In the “Other Implications” table on page 64, why have the effects on human rights and equality not been recognised?  Climate change affects the poor and the vulnerable most strongly and they often have the fewest resources to deal with it.

Mrs Plant provided the following answer:

The “Other Implications” section in the Cabinet report template is intended to only consider the direct implications arising from the report before the Cabinet. At this stage the report “Climate Emergency Declaration” and its associated recommendations do not directly impact on human rights or necessitate an equality impact assessment. However, when the Environment Panel are considering specific actions and making recommendations back to cabinet in due course which will hopefully make a positive impact an Equalities Impact Assessment will be required along with any human rights impacts.

Mr Dignum asked whether the council would consider granting Civil Enforcement Officers the powers to fine people sat in stationary cars running diesel engines. Mrs Stevens explained that it is under consideration as part of the new Air Quality Action Plan which will be brought to Cabinet in early 2020.

Mrs Plant took the opportunity to thank the members of the public who had attended for the item.

Decision

The Cabinet then voted unanimously to make the resolutions below.

RESOLVED

1)    That Cabinet makes the following declaration of a climate emergency: “Chichester District Council declares a Climate Emergency and requests the Environment Panel to advise Cabinet and Council on how to move to a carbon neutral environment.

2)    That the Environment Panel draft Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix 1 be approved subject to the following amendments:

·       The final bullet point to read ‘to consider opportunities for joint initiatives and Partnership working and seek to influence the extent to which climate emergency is reflected in the development and implementation of cross boundary and county-wide strategies and plans;

·       that the Panel is tasked with evaluating priority actions for a Climate Emergency Action Plan, and reports back to Cabinet in January 2020’;

·       the frequency of the Environment Panel meetings to be monthly.

3)    That the Environment Panel is asked in its report to identify and evaluate the resources needed to achieve delivery of the action plan, including the proposal for a Climate Emergency Officer funded from reserves and the potential for the use of the Zero Carbon Graylingwell payment for implementing carbon reduction initiatives.

4)    That in the event that the Council is invited to accept a transfer of funds by Homes England associated with the Zero Carbon Graylingwell project, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Environment to accept the funds which are to be used towards specified carbon reduction projects, the spend for which will need to be first agreed in each case by both Homes England and the Council.