Agenda item

Northumberland Climate Change Update

To provide an update on progress against the Climate Change Action Plan 2021-23, published in January 2021.

Minutes:

The report?provided an update on progress against the Climate Change Action Plan 2021-23, published in January 2021.  (A copy of the report is attached to the signed minutes.)

 

Matt Baker, Service Director - Climate Change, Business Intelligence and Performance, gave highlighted a number of areas within the report including:

 

·        Grants of £8 million had been received to date to make improvements to the Council’s estate and also assist residents earning less than £30,000.

·        A 50% reduction in carbon emissions had been achieved ahead of the 2025 target, although a fall in business miles during the Covid 19 pandemic had contributed.  The contribution made by colleagues in other departments, particularly Local Services, was acknowledged.

·        There had been an 8% reduction in emissions across the county based on 2019 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) data.  This compared favourably to other Local Authorities where the average was 3.5%.  It was difficult to assess whether the Council was ‘on target’ due to the complexity of calculations, but it was making good progress.

·        Implementing climate change at the centre of key decisions in policy, planning, procurement and performance:

·        Use of carbon impact assessments and mitigations, if required.

·        Updating the next version of the local plan to align to net zero plan.

·        Assessment of net zero credentials of third parties.

·        Implementation of a robust reporting process for climate change, setting specific targets for each service.

·        Involving Members with their contacts with community groups and town and parish councils to create a coherent plan for climate change.

·        Regular reporting to the Communities & Place OSC to increase visibility and transparency and improve the county and opportunities for all residents.

·         

The following information was provided in answer to questions from members:

 

·        The Net Zero Investment Strategy set out the approach and framework to assist the region to become net zero.  It contained 4 themes:

-       natural resources

-       generating supply and storing energy

-       changing fabric of homes and communities

-       moving around and through the county.

·        The impact of the economy, jobs and skills on climate change was to be considered and opportunities where the county could become a leader.

·        Net Zero considered the balance between carbon dioxide emissions and natural biodiversity assets which captured carbon.  The county benefitted from natural assets such as trees and peat and an audit was being undertaken to calculate sequestration potential of peat.

·        Officers were working with planning to update policies which were not climate change friendly.  Examples given included the requirement to obtain planning permission where more than one ground source heat pump was required due to the size of a property, and not required in other LA areas, or prevented an EV charging point in a conservation area.  The Climate Change Team were now a consultee on all planning applications that could impact on climate change.

·        Performance data could be presented every 6 months given the complexities and time required to collect data.

·        The opportunity to look at specific aspects of climate change in more detail was welcomed, for example, the net zero investment strategy or sequestration etc.

·        A solar car port was to be constructed at County Hall which would generate 800 kwh which provide some of the electricity required by the facility and insulate against energy price increases.  Opportunities to replicate this at other locations which could be utilised by members of the public were to be investigated.

·        All councils and community groups needed to work together to make plans that worked for all residents.  Tree surgeons and ecologists within the county council would be involved in discussions regarding location and type of trees.

·        Grants for green energy solutions were available for residents in receipt of universal credit and earning less than £30,000, living in an energy inefficient home and on the edge of fuel poverty.  It was hoped that funding from Government would continue for more schemes.  Feedback would be given on eligibility criteria and income thresholds to see if adjusting these would bring more people into the scope of the scheme.

·        Consideration of schemes which provided environmental credits.

·        Options would be explored for an arm’s length company if the market failed to meet demand, was too slow or too expensive, particularly in areas where the return on investment could be maximised.

·        The carbon cost of the supply chain was included within the county wide figures.  To incorporate embodied emissions would be a significant task and could be discussed further by the working group.

·        The national approach had been followed regarding the measurement of emissions and did not include individual consumption.  Small changes by individuals led to bigger cumulative changes such as a commitment to park further away or reduced use of personal vehicles on a set frequency, with benefits on fuel savings, public health and climate change.

·        A schedule on carbon literacy training would be published and shared in the near future.

·        Information regarding the location of the surplus free trees would be confirmed, following the meeting.

·        A report on the Great Northumberland Forest would be provided to a future meeting.

·        More information would be provided after the meeting regarding the connection of off-grid residential dwellings to the national grid.

 

The following issues were highlighted by Members:

 

·        Working with community groups and climate change champions.

·        Continued use of virtual meetings, where possible.

·        Inclusion of fruit trees in the free tree scheme and creation of community gardens to enable residents to benefit from free produce which could be expensive for some residents to buy, contributing to sequestration from plants and other social benefits.

·        All parties were working to address climate change.

·        The right tree in the right place.

·        Involve town and parish councils in the identification of preferred locations for trees and EV charging points.

·        The Council should encourage, educate and support residents, local groups and the private sector to address climate change.

·        The Council had to be reasonable in its planning requirements until the local plan came fully into effect.

·        A suggestion that a leaflet on climate change schemes be included with the annual Council Tax bills in addition to recycling information.

 

Members of the Committee expressed their appreciation to the Climate Change Team for the report and the work that was being done, including those installing the EV charging points around the county.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

a)      The governance arrangements and grants of over £8m awarded to date in 2021/22 with a further £6m identified, be noted.

b)      The progress made to date, including achieving the 50% reduction in County Council emissions, ahead of the 2025 target, and the 8% reduction in County emissions, be noted.

c)      The strategic changes implemented to embed Climate Change into everyday ways of working, which may result in recommendations to change or adjust key decisions (Policy, Planning, Procurement, Performance), be noted and supported.

d)      Members pro-actively engage with the Climate Change team to enable even more engagement with residents, communities, and local businesses.

e)      The Communities & Place OSC continue to engage directly with the Climate Change service, to scrutinise and support key decisions, but also to be active in considering the Climate Change impact when providing scrutiny across all areas of the Council.

f)       Performance data be presented on a 6-monthly basis.

g)      A report on the Great Northumberland Forest would be provided to a future meeting.

Supporting documents: