Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s endorsement of the North Wales Energy Strategy, and to note the information provided regarding the commencement of Local Area Planning in Denbighshire.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       endorses the North Wales Energy Strategy and associated Action Plan as attached to the report, commends the vision and ambition of the strategy, but wishes to express misgivings about the use of nuclear in achieving the region’s decarbonisation ambitions, and

(b)       note the commencement of Local Area Energy Planning in the county.

Councillor Barry Mellor presented the report seeking Cabinet’s endorsement of the North Wales Energy Strategy and Action Plan, and to note the information provided regarding the commencement of Local Area Planning in Denbighshire.

Each region in Wales had developed its own Energy Strategy and Action Plan and democratic support from each constituent local authority was now being sought.

The Climate Change Programme Manager explained that Wales had a legislative target to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.  The North Wales Energy Strategy set out the key priorities and opportunities to deliver its ambitions for decarbonisation and the Action Plan translated the priorities into strategic actions and interventions.  Work had been carried out over the last few years by the Welsh Government and Ambition North Wales, and with stakeholders including the Council, to produce that documentation.  There were some actions where local authorities had been identified as the lead; many did not require funding but would involve staff time from across a range of services.  One action was to complete a Local Area Energy Plan for each county, including Denbighshire, to provide an evidence based approach to identify the most effective route to meeting both local and national net zero target.  That work commenced January 2023 and was due for completion in January 2024 with plans to be submitted to Cabinet for endorsement.

Cabinet noted the comprehensive report and the importance of an energy strategy to deliver on the region’s ambitions for decarbonisation.  During consideration of the report, main areas of debate focused on the following –

·       Councillor Rhys Thomas raised his own concerns, and that of others on the Council, regarding the potential use of nuclear energy in the region as referenced in the Strategy. The Climate Change Programme Manager explained that nuclear had been listed as part of the technology mix, particularly in relation to renewable electricity generation in order to meet the 2050 target, and was in line with UK and Welsh Government policies.  Attention was drawn to the scale of contribution the Strategy assumed nuclear would make to meeting the target alongside onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and tidal and marine energy.  It was assumed that nuclear projects would be restricted to already licensed sites at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd with waste managed in situ.  Councillor Rhys Thomas proposed an amendment to recommendation 3.1, seconded by Councillor Barry Mellor, to express misgivings about the use of nuclear in achieving the region’s decarbonisation ambitions, with all Cabinet voting in favour of the amendment

·       Councillor Gwyneth Ellis referred to Local Area Energy Planning and advocated the use of local energy schemes, such as the one in Corwen, as part of that process and commended the work in that regard.  Councillor Julie Matthews was also keen to ensure local communities benefitted.  It was confirmed that local ownership of renewable energy featured in the Strategy’s priorities

·       Councillor Barry Mellor was pleased to report on his forthcoming visit to Ysgol Tir Morfa, Rhyl and work to reduce the school’s carbon emissions with new equipment commissioned by the Property Section Energy Team.  UK boiler manufacturer Ideal had provided two air source heat pumps for installation at the school as part of a field trial and the Energy Team had installed a solar PV and battery storage to also support the reduction of carbon emissions on site, which would reduce fuel bills and lower carbon emissions

·       Councillor Bobby Feeley was keen to ensure that sufficient funding would be made available from the Welsh Government in order to deliver the Action Plan.  It was recognised that more detailed work was required to establish funding requirements and sources for any un-costed actions, and that some actions would be delivered by Denbighshire but many would fall to other sectors such as energy and transport providers etc.  Reference was made to potential funding streams for such work, including growth deal projects and smart local energy projects.  Both the Leader and Lead Member reported on the open dialogue with the Welsh Government through both the Welsh Local Government Association and other channels on a ministerial level with a common aim of reducing emissions.  The Chief Executive added that many had a part to play in delivering on the Strategy and Action Plan, both private and public sectors, communities, and other stakeholders, at both local and national level.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      endorses the North Wales Energy Strategy and associated Action Plan as attached to the report, commends the vision and ambition of the strategy, but wishes to express misgivings about the use of nuclear in achieving the region’s decarbonisation ambitions, and

(b)      note the commencement of Local Area Energy Planning in the county.