Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 23 March 2020 in respect to Responding to the Climate Change Emergency.

The Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener Communities, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment and the Head of Policy, Performance and Intelligence attended the meeting to present the report and to answer members questions.

The Cabinet Member noted that following the Council declaration of a Climate Emergency at its meeting on 30 October 2019 (Council Minute No.271), work had been undertaken to produce a draft policy document “Rotherham Council Responding to the Climate Emergency”, that set out the Council’s commitment to tackle climate emergency. The draft policy document was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

The Cabinet Member advised that a Member Working Group had been established to consider the Council’s response to the climate emergency and to propose a target for the Council’s carbon reduction. As a result of this work it was proposed that the Council’s carbon emissions should be at net zero by 2030 and Borough-wide carbon emissions should be at net zero by 2040. The Cabinet Member noted that the draft policy document, due to the constant improvement and development of technology in this area was a living document, and as such would be subject to amendment over time.

The Cabinet Member advised that work to deliver on the proposed targets would be approached by themes of activity supported by a set of actions for 2020/21 and that it was proposed that the Member Working Group would continue to develop the policy and actions for future years to meet the target outcomes. A full action plan of activity was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report. Actions for 2020/21 included:

·       Producing carbon impact assessments for all significant Cabinet decisions

·       Addressing gaps in data collection regarding CO2 emissions

·       Exploring the feasibility of renewable energy self-generation

·       Committing to requiring efficiency standards for private housing developers that were in line with net zero targets

·       Carrying out assessments of the Council's operational buildings to determine feasible energy efficiency upgrades

·       Developing a timeline for Electric vehicle fleet conversion

·       Developing awareness training for the Council’s work force around energy use behaviours

·       Promoting sustainable transport across the workforce

·       Strengthening South Yorkshire partnership commitments to reduce emissions associated with waste

·       Completing energy efficiency improvements to street lighting

The Cabinet Member advised that to deliver on the proposed targets engagement with staff, residents and partners would be essential and that the working group would be looking for both staff and members to become Climate Change Champions.  The Cabinet Member noted that the Council would look to work with both the Government and the Sheffield City Region combined authority in order to secure the extra funding that would be required to deliver on the proposed targets for carbon reduction.

Members welcomed the actions that had been taken since the Climate Emergency had been declared, and noted their support for the proposed targets, themes if activity and the specific actions detailed for completion during 2020/21. Members in particular welcomed the proposals for some members to become Climate Change Champions and that a tree planting policy be developed for the borough during 2020/21.

Members asked for assurance that their was communication across council departments on the actions proposed to respond to the Climate Emergency as the rerouting of heavy vehicles to improve air quality and reduce emissions in some areas could lead to increased traffic flow and road safety problems elsewhere. The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment advised that there would be communication across departments and that mitigating actions, such as extra pedestrian crossings on roads where traffic flow increased would be looked at.

The Chair welcomed the development of a borough wide tree planting policy and asked for further information on where the trees would be planted noting that if trees were planted near to roads that seasonal leaf fall could impact on the council’s ability to keep roads clear of leaves. The Cabinet Member advised that trees would be planted near to, but not directly next to roads and that mitigating actions regarding increased leaf fall would be taken if required. The Cabinet Member noted that while there was no current masterplan on where trees should be planted across the borough advised that any proposed new developments that were submitted to the Council for approval would be assessed to see how they could accommodate a tree planting scheme.

Members asked for information on how the Council could work with schools to enable them to recycle more, noting that most schools did not have access to a recycling scheme and asked whether schools would be able to access support from the Council in order to enable them to access recycling facilities. The Cabinet Member and the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment advised that they would look into this matter further.

Members expressed their approval for the list of actions scheduled for completion during 2020/21 noting that it was a set of specific and realistic actions that would lead to the development of rational, flexible and achievable policies.

Resolved: -

That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.