Agenda item

Appendix 2 of this report will be accompanied with a verbal update at the meeting to provide further information on the Sustainability Team.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The report presented the fourth annual update to Cabinet on progress towards commitments made in the BCP Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration, made on the 16th of July 2019. Given the urgency of the climate crisis the Council remains committed to achieving its strategic objectives by the deadlines, ahead of national targets. The Council recognises that whilst this report is focused on reporting progress made during 2022-23 under the previous administration, changes need to be made if we are to stay on track to meet our ambitious targets. In addition, the Council also acknowledges the significant lack of national progress in areas such as grid policy and technology adoption; alongside external factors such as the disruption of international supply chains and global inflation, the Council recognises the scale of the challenge and the significant resource required to achieve its ambition. Evidence of global and local effects of accelerating climate changes are becoming manifest, and this needs a focus also on mitigation to prepare our area for more extreme weather events.2022-23 progress, a period under the previous administration, in summary:

· Make BCP Council and its operations carbon neutral by 2030 -progress continues to be made, with scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduced by 9.9% from the 2019 baseline

· Work with the wider community to make the region carbon neutral before the UK target of 2050 – according to most recent data total area-wide emissions for 2022-23 have reduced by 8.3% from the2019 baseline. In recognition of the urgency to decarbonise, and that progress has not been as rapid as hoped or needed, it is proposed that our priorities during this next reporting period, include clear actions to accelerate progress, interim milestones and funding proposals.

The report contained 8 recommendations to Cabinet to highlight things that could be changed and there had been modest progress in the reversal of the cost of energy.

The committee were informed that there is a target to become a member on UK100 by 2045.

The papers had 2 appendices and at this point the Chair advised that appendix 2 would be a separate item.

It was stated that there was a 9.9% increase in energy reduction and in another 5 years by 2030 there will be 12% which is a long way off the target, what was the plane to accelerate that? The local area energy plan sets out what needed to be done locally.

The Council was on average where it should be and now looking at acceleration beyond area wide.  Data was given about energy usage in the council buildings, the largest of which was the Civic Centre and thesecond was 2 Rivers Meet leisure Centre.  The Crematorium was the largest in gasses.

The Committee was pleased to hear that Carbon Literacy training was available and would like to see it become compulsory for Councillors and staff.  The climate team had prepared a paper to go to Corporate Management  Board for it to go onto the mandatory training for staff.

It was commented that when Ensbury Park Road was resurfaced the contractors were from Essex and whether local contractors could be used in future.  Procurement rules could specify local contractors but price also plays a part.  Materials could be recycled which was the original plan for Ensbury Park Road.  Local contractors should be used where possible within rules of public procurement and best value.

The waste material processing was described to the committee.  It was explained that there were emissions from collecting and transporting waste to the final point. Officer to provide detailed note to committee.

It was noted that the Council were using less paper waste, paper agendas had been stopped and laptops had been issued to staff and councillors.

There was not much detail in the report about sea level rise, Bournemouth and Poole beach would be lost over time.  How was that being communicated to the public to help them to consider changing their behaviour. The sand on the beaches was at the level of the prom to protect the cliffs, work was being done to replenish the sand and reduce carbon footprint.  The sea level will continue to rise as the sea level does.  It was suggested that the public would relate to losing the beaches and that would be a great opportunity to educate people.

It was noted that there was a Climate Action plan in previous years and that was missing. Could see there were actions however there were no timescales, the Council were looking to join UK100 which would change targets area wide.  How confident were officers about the 2024 and 2030 targets?

There were 157 initially set and the team were working backwards to create a new set of targets.  The decarbonisation of the National Grid was originally set to be 2030 but was now 2035.

It was noted that the report was difficult to read without any SMART objectives but now was the time to move forward and plan.

The Chair thanked the team and agreed to take the following recommendation to Cabinet:

For the administration to focus on progressing an ‘anchor procurement partnership’ for the BCP area.

RESOLVED that E & P Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report.