Issue - meetings

Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources.

RESOLVED:

1.    To agree the annual Environmental Sustainability progress report (Annex 1) for publication on the Council website.

2.    To agree the proposed additions to the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (Annex 2)

3.    To reassert the Executive’s commitment to working in partnership with Surrey County Council and other Surrey districts and boroughs to achieve county-wide climate objectives.

The Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources, Councillor Lewanski, introduced the report which provided an update on the Council’s progress in delivering the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and proposed new actions to include in the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.

In line with the first area of focus in the Sustainability Strategy; change within the Council, the Council had:

·     Switched energy tariffs so more electricity came from renewable sources and offset the remaining purchased energy emissions

·     Continued to replace aging fleet vehicles with local carbon electric alternatives

·     Purchased green products, reduced printing and single use plastics, and provided training and advice to staff and members, to tackle the Council’s indirect environmental impact.

The next step was to develop and implement plans to improve the energy efficiency of Council buildings and introduce on-site renewable technologies.

In line with the second area of focus in the Strategy; to support residents and businesses to move towards a more sustainable borough and work to the national target of net zero by 2050, the Council had:

·       Adopted new planning guidance to help make new developments more sustainable

·       Continued to work with partners to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the borough and provided information to residents about how to make their homes more sustainable

·       Provided advice and run workshops to help communities plant trees in their local areas, and planted trees and native plans on Council land.

·       Installed new electric vehicle charging points in Horley and Banstead

·       Provided advice and information to local businesses, including the Reigate Business Guild.

These actions were on top of the day to day work undertaken by the Waste & Recycling team to educate and improve recycling and the Environmental Health team in relation to air quality and privately rented housing.

Councillor Lewanski explained that it was proposed to introduce new actions in the Council’s Action Plan covering topics like domestic retrofit, climate change adaption and carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, working with partner organisations would put the Council in the best position to make a positive difference.

The annexes to the report had been considered by the Cross Party Member Sustainability Group and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Lewanski explained that he would be happy to incorporate suggestions from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee into the Council’s future area of work.

Councillor Harrison, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, reported that the Committee had considered the progress update at the Committee’s meeting on 21 October. The Committee focused on the improvements needed to Council assets and had requested supplementary information on the Council’s carbon offsetting measures. The Committee also considered engagement with young people, publicising the Action Plan and planting new forestry, and requested a future update on the comments made by the Committee. The Committee were supportive of the work that had been undertaken.

In response to questions from Visiting Members, it was confirmed that:

·       The Council would continue to work with Surrey County Council and Action Surrey as they rolled out energy efficiency programs in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38

To receive a progress update on the work towards the objectives set out in the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and proposed new actions at Annex 1 and 2.

To provide any observations for consideration by the Executive on 18 November.

The Committee received an annual update on the work towards the objectives set out in the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, adopted in July 2020.

Councillor Lewanski, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Policy and Resources, outlined the work that had taken place over the past year. More detail was given in the environmental sustainability strategy update slide pack published as part of the agenda pack. In addition, the agenda pack included two annexes: Annex 1 which set out the progress, challenges and next steps of the Action Plan in 2020/21. Annex 2 set out additional proposed actions.

During the past year, the new sustainability team had been established at the Borough Council. Despite the challenges faced during the pandemic, good progress had been made and action on more sustainable ways of working was being weaved throughout services across the Council. These activities were based on four key themes: energy and carbon, low impact consumption, biodiversity & the natural environment and implementation cross-cutting areas such as Planning, partnership working and procurement.

The sustainability team had two main areas of focus:

1)    To work to become a more sustainable Council. Actions to date have included purchasing energy with renewable tariffs and offsetting so our energy supply could become carbon neutral; switching to low carbon vehicles as these were replaced and improving the Borough’s green spaces to absorb more carbon dioxide and to support biodiversity. A range of activities to support and train staff and Members to underpin a more sustainable future was underway.

2)    To support residents and businesses to become a more sustainable Borough such as: joint working with Surrey local authorities and Surrey County Council; bidding for Government funding for decarbonisation of housing stock; supporting schemes such as Solar Together to install solar panels in the borough; installing new electric vehicle charging points in Horley (with more to come in Banstead); working with community groups to identify areas to plant trees; planned work to engage young people on climate change through local schools.

Councillor Lewanski thanked the Cross Party Member Sustainability Working Group for their detailed questions and feedback on the strategy.

Written answers had been provided to members on the Council’s staged approach to working towards the Council’s 2030 net zero carbon target and use of carbon offsetting measures and hedge cutting in the borough.  A supplementary question from Councillor Essex requested more detail on offsetting schemes and costs as a follow-up written response.

Committee Members highlighted four priorities which would require significant planning, financial spend and delivery to achieve carbon reduction and get the Council to net zero by 2030.

These were:

·       Improving the Council’s own assets and buildings.

·       A plan to convert the Council’s fleet.

·       Rolling out electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure – including for taxis and private hire vehicles.

·       A plan for domestic retrofit programmes.

Members asked questions and made observations on the following areas:

Engagement with young people – Members asked about plans for working with young people on climate change and sustainability issues. Plans were underway  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38