Agenda item

To consider a joint report by Councillors Brian Jones, Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment and Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities (copy enclosed) presenting the final strategy document to Cabinet for consideration and recommendation to Council for adoption.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       recommends to Council adoption of the Denbighshire County Council’s Climate and Ecological Change Strategy (2021/22 – 2029/30), and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix A to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillors Brian Jones, Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment and Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities presented the final DCC Climate and Ecological Change Strategy to Cabinet for consideration and recommendation to Council for adoption.

Councillor Brian Jones referred to the significant amount of work carried out since the Council’s Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Declaration in 2019 which had culminated in the Strategy document detailing how the Council’s aims of becoming net carbon zero and ecologically positive would be achieved.  If the Strategy was approved the Council would need to commit in the region of £9m over the next three years, with more needed in future years, and he had absolute confidence that it was the right thing to do and would stand the authority in good stead going forward.  As Lead Member for Biodiversity Councillor Tony Thomas reported on the tree planting programme and tree nursery project together and work undertaken in supporting many eco systems.

The Climate Change Programme Manager (CCPM) referred to the Welsh Government’s target for Wales to be carbon zero by 2050 and the Climate Change Committee’s advice on carbon reduction and absorption to cap global warming temperatures and limit the impact on climate change and biodiversity.  The Strategy represented the Council’s contribution in tackling the climate and nature crisis and help Wales meet its carbon zero ambitions and deliver on biodiversity duties.  It had been produced collaboratively across the Council and with members of the public, and provided the Council’s vision for 2030 together with a route map of how it would be achieved, banking benefit of reduced carbon, increased carbon absorption and improved species together with co-benefits in economy, health and wellbeing.

Cabinet welcomed the Strategy and acknowledged the significant amount of work in its development which had been carried out at pace since the Council’s Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Declaration.  In fully endorsing the Strategy Cabinet paid tribute to all those involved across the Council and political parties together with members of the public for their contribution, recognising the enthusiasm and widespread support.  Whilst acknowledging the substantial funding required to deliver the Strategy and likely difficult financial climate going forward Cabinet highlighted the importance of the Strategy and its delivery for future generations and were unanimous in their view that it was the right course of action.

During debate Councillor Mark Young raised a number of questions regarding the Strategy and as Lead Member for the Local Development Plan (LDP) he was also keen for the LDP to be as green as possible.  In response the CCPM advised that –

·         affordability had been recognised as a key risk for the Council being able to deliver the Strategy but many of the measures to be implemented would save money in both the short and long term and also generate income; grant funding opportunities from both UK and Welsh Governments would also be maximised

·         work was ongoing with the Planning Policy Department and learning from Conwy County Borough Council in terms of their developing LDP to take into account the green agenda and the continued support of Councillor Young in that regard was much appreciated; there was already developer engagement through the pre-application planning process and further planned actions through planning policy in terms of development sites within the LDP and through development control

·         council buildings accounted for the largest amount of carbon emissions and the target was to halve those emissions over the next nine years from energy and water; the Strategy would be reviewed every three years to align with current circumstances and technologies.  Councillors Mark Young and Bobby Feeley both referred to the future potential to rationalise council buildings given the changing working patterns and shift to remote working which could have a major impact on maximising ambitions to further reduce the council’s carbon footprint

·         regional working was a developing feature and discussions were ongoing with counterparts in other local authorities; the intention was to engender a regional approach through the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) and the Smart Local Energy project and national links to the Local Government Decarbonisation Strategy Panel.  It was recognised within the Strategy that collaboration would deliver better benefits and greater success in securing grant funding.  The Leader advised that he had written to the NWEAB asking for greater consideration for the climate change agenda in the future economic growth of the region and highlighted the importance of a regional approach.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill reiterated the financial considerations given the significant funding required over the period of the Strategy.  As part of the budget setting process members agreed to allocate £389k of revenue funding to support prudential borrowing which would enable the Council to help fund the programme of works required for 2021/22.  However significant additional funding would also be required over the length of the programme.  Councillor Bobby Feeley queried the amount of external funding sources available and Councillor Brian Jones confirmed that the wider climate change agenda was moving at pace and generating more opportunities both in terms of available technologies and funding streams, and both officers and members needed to be alert in order to maximise opportunities as they became available with greater regional collaboration going forward.

The Leader thanked all those involved in progressing the Strategy and considered the collaborative approach and commitment shown would ensure the Council was in a strong position to deliver it.  At the Leader’s invitation, Councillor Graham Timms, Chair of the Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Working Group reported on the excellent work in developing the Strategy with widespread support across the county.  He felt key officers such as the Biodiversity Officer and recently appointed Tree Officer and Moorland Officer stood the Council in good stead, and took the opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Climate Change Programme Manager and Climate Change Project Officer in coordinating the project.

In response to questions raised from non-Cabinet members –

·         Councillor Tony Thomas confirmed that increasing tree planting on all scales would be required to meet carbon absorption targets including tree planting in urban settings where appropriate. Planting schemes would be developed and delivered over the years of the Strategy and grant funding sought where possible and Countryside Services had a proven track record of securing available funding.  A full time Tree Officer was employed with two Tree Officers appointed on a temporary basis which may develop into permanent positions

·         the CCPM confirmed that the UK Government had recently announced £60m for tree planting but it was unclear at this stage as to how Wales would benefit and she agreed to investigate the matter further with a view to reporting back to the next full Council meeting thereon.  Welsh Government had already pledged funding for tree planting which was administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and assurances were provided that any available funding for planting schemes would be actively sought to maximise funding opportunities

·         the CCPM also agreed to provide Councillor Glenn Swingler with an update on the tree planting schemes in West Rhyl and Upper Denbigh.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       recommends to Council adoption of the Denbighshire County Council’s Climate and Ecological Change Strategy (2021/22 – 2029/30), and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix A to the report) as part of its consideration.