Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that Cabinet:

1.    Notes progress to date towards NZ30 and NZ40 targets.

2.    Notes progress against the actions from the 2021/22 Climate Emergency Action Plan.

3.    Agrees the approach laid out for continued development of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency, including an updated Action Plan in 2022.

4.    Submits the Climate Emergency Annual Report and its decision to the next Council meeting, for information.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on progress against actions outlined in the 2021/22 Climate Emergency Action Plan. At its meeting on 30th October, 2019, the Council declared a climate emergency and produced a policy and action plan “Responding to the Climate Emergency”. This set out key policy themes of Energy; Housing; Transport; Waste; Built and Natural Environment; Influence and Engagement. On 23rd March, 2020, Cabinet had resolved to establish the targets of the Council’s carbon emissions be at net zero by 2030 and the Borough’s carbon emissions be at net zero by 2040.

Climate Emergency UK had produced a set of scorecards for local authorities’ Climate Action Plans, in partnership with Friends of the Earth, Centre for Alternative Technology, Ashden and APSE Energy. While these scorecards evaluated planned actions, rather than actions completed, it was positive that the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan scored 51%. This was above the national average (50%) and was the highest score achieved by a local authority in South Yorkshire.

Particular attention was paid in the report to the development of a carbon emissions baseline, which represented an important evidence base for strategic development of the Council’s climate change agenda. The report outlined the next steps, particularly the ongoing development of a refreshed Climate Emergency Action Plan, which would be developed once the new Climate Emergency Delivery Team has been established.

Appendix 1 to the report was a Progress Summary Table with appendices 2 and 3 containing case studies.

At the meeting, Cabinet Members and officers highlighted key parts of the report that related to their portfolios, such as decarbonising the fleet, improving health inequalities and tree planting. Councillor Allen confirmed that the report would be presented to the Parish Councils.

This report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process. The Board was fully supportive of the recommendations and requested that developments related to the Environment Bill, as referenced at paragraph 2.53 of the report, and the subsequent impact on the waste and recycling strategies be submitted to the Improving Places Select Commission in due course.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet:

1.      Note the progress to date towards the NZ30 and NZ40 targets.

2.      Note the progress against the actions from the 2021/22 Climate Emergency Action Plan.

3.      Agree the approach laid out for continued development of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency, including an updated Action Plan in 2022.

4.      That the Climate Emergency Annual Report be submitted to the next Council meeting for information.

5.      Agree that developments related to the Environment Bill and the subsequent impact on the waste and recycling strategies be submitted to the Improving Places Select Commission in due course.