Agenda item

To consider a report by the Climate Change Manager (copy attached) to provide members with information regarding the LEAP main report and technical report.

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport, along with Head of Corporate Support Service: Performance, Digital and Assets, the Climate Change Manager and the Insight, Strategy and Delivery Manager were in attendance to present the report on Denbighshire’s Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).

Lead Member Councillor Barry Mellor introduced the report as an effective route for the local area to contribute towards meeting the national net zero target, as well as meeting its local net zero target.

The Denbighshire LAEP would contribute towards the Corporate Plan 2022-2027 theme of “A Greener Denbighshire”, specifically providing a positive contribution to the Climate and Nature Strategy (2021/22 – 2029/30) by reducing emissions across Denbighshire County Council.  It also supported “A prosperous Denbighshire” theme, with the opportunity to stimulate economic growth and grow Denbighshire’s green economy.

Jane Hodgson, Climate Change Manager presented a Powerpoint presentation which outlined the LAEP.

During discussion it was noted that the key part was education and the sharing of information.  Officers were asked what DCC could do to promote that kind of information and avenues where people could find them as well as understanding the cost of them, as there was a perception that it would be expensive.

The Head of Service responded that there was an action within the LAEP report where schemes were mentioned and support was available for businesses, and residents.  The scheme was run by Flintshire County Council on behalf of DCC.  Unfortunately, it was limited due to resources but information, education and support was available for businesses and certain residents of DCC.   The Action within the LAEP report and all LAEP reports of the 22 Local Authorities in Wales, was for Welsh Government and it informs that the Climate Champion and Communication workplan that the climate change division in Welsh Government deliver.

DCC, and other Local Authorities struggled to engage with some private businesses eg: major haulage companies, and private house developers.  They could be working towards carbon net zero but there was a need to all liaise to meet the pace of change within the LAEP.

The Chair then stated that as a small business owner himself it was difficult as tax incentives had been removed, energy prices were rising and the retail cost of electric vehicles was very high.  He suggested passing that information on to the Welsh Government.

The Head of Service confirmed she would pass that on to the Welsh Government.

The Chief Executive, Graham Boase sat on the PAN Wales Climate Strategy Panel and there was a forum at which the point raised by the Chair could be submitted.

At this point, the Insight, Strategy and Delivery Manager informed Committee that there were opportunities coming up for businesses and communities to work with one of the growth deal projects called Smart Local Energy.  There would be funded packages that businesses and communities could obtain over 18 months to do some of the feasibility studies to look at how to roll out some of the projects that were outlined in the report.  She confirmed she would work with the team to look at how best to capitalise on that for Denbighshire within the Ambition North Wales broader programme of work.

Officers were asked if they had considered the use of green hydrogen within the scope of the report rather than blue or grey hydrogen.  Blue and grey hydrogen would not contribute to the target for net zero.  The statement within the report referred to hydrogen and not which specific hydrogen.

It was confirmed that the Plan did not decipher which hydrogen. 

The LAEP was to be presented to Cabinet on 24 September 2024 for endorsement and a Members’ Briefing session in autumn 2024.

The LAEP was provisionally due to be revied in five years’ time, as we approach 2030 and the public sector net carbon zero target deadline.

RESOLVED that –

(i)             Communities Scrutiny Committee considered the LAEP Main Report and Technical Report and provided feedback on aspects contained therein.

(ii)            Communities Scrutiny Committee had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment as part of its consideration.