Agenda item

To consider a report by the Project Manager (copy attached) to provide information on the progress being made by the cross-party Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group.

 

Councillors Brian Jones and Graham Timms introduced the Climate and Ecological Emergency – Progress Report on Council Motion report (previously circulated).

 

At this juncture, the Chair thanked members of Friends of the Earth who were in attendance to offer their support to the Council.

 

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Notice of Motion was unanimously passed by Council on 2 July 2019 and committed the Council to a set of actions contained within it.

 

A range of activity had been delivered by the Council to contribute to the climate change and ecological improvement ambitions.  It included work delivered under and across the existing Corporate Plan, which included an “Environment” priority.

 

The following examples were given of how the Council had been and would be reducing carbon, increasing carbon sequestration and improving ecology:

·         Energy reduction programme in council buildings

·         On-going rationalisation of the corporate estate

·         Council housing energy efficiency work and new build council housing being constructed to “A” or “Passivhaus” standards

·         Tree planting and natural flood management

·         New fleet strategy (electric first) being rolled out along with electric charging points

·         Using council land and verges as green space for biodiversity

·         Staff flexible, home and remote working policies and practices

·         New buildings to BREAM excellent standards

·         All electricity used to be purchased from renewable sources

·         Renewable energy generation in or on our buildings has doubled and is growing

·         Invested in – and now open – two energy-from-waste plants.

 

A cross party political Working Group had been set up chaired by Councillor Graham Timms.

 

A public meeting had been organised to take place on 25 February 2020 where members of the public, representatives from environmental improvement community and school groups could give their ideas to feed into the Council’s developing plans.  The meeting would be webcast to enable more involvement with the residents of the county.

 

During discussions the following points were raised:

·         It was the consensus of opinion that Welsh Government should provide funding to local authorities to enable them to work towards being carbon neutral by 2030.

·         Issues regarding electric cars were raised.   For example, if everyone needed to charge cars at a similar time of day, the impact on the national grid would be overwhelming.  Also electric car batteries were extremely expensive to replace and what would happen to the old batteries?

·         Was there any possibility of hydrogen cars?

·         The Leader asked the question if the project was too big for the Working Group.  Cllr Graham Timms responded that it made sense for the Working Group to work through issues for at least the next six months.

·         It was confirmed that school pupils visited a new housing development in Llanbedr which had air source heating.  The pupils had been extremely impressed with the development.

·         Cllr Brian Jones informed the meeting of a proposed North Wales tidal lagoon which would benefit the coastal area from the Little Orme in Llandudno to past Prestatyn and alleviate flooding.

·         The Chief Executive confirmed that “remote attendance” at meetings had been included within the recent Local Government Bill.

·         Cllr Brian Jones confirmed an official response would be sent to the Friends of the Earth who handed out fact sheets at the meeting.

·         Scoping exercises needed to take place.  Further work was required to prepare the council to apply for funding from the Welsh Government.

 

RESOLVED for:

·         Council to note the progress made by the Climate and Ecological Emergency cross-party Working Group and the proposal to implement a programme management structure by 31 March 2020 to deliver on our ambitions as set out in the Motion

·         Council to note the imminent (01.04.2020) Welsh Government requirement on scope and reduction of carbon emissions which will form the basis of our action plans

·         Council to note the date for a public meeting (25.02.2020) to gather public ideas to feed into on our developing plans