Decision details

Note the Annual Climate Change Strategy progress report and the Carbon Management Plan and Climate Change Fund Status Report.

Matter for Decision

 

The report provided an update on progress during 2014/15 on actions to deliver the three strategic objectives of the City Council’s current Climate Change Strategy, which covers a five year period from 2012/13 to 2015/2016. As part of this, the report included an update on progress in implementing the Council’s Carbon Management Plan. The Plan sat under the Strategy and played a key role in achieving its first strategic objective, which was to reduce carbon emissions from the City Council’s estate and operations.

 

The report also provided an update on the position of the Climate Change Fund, which provided support to projects that help to reduce the Council’s own carbon emissions and/or manage climate change risks to Council staff and property.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

The Executive Councillor:

 

     i.        Noted the progress achieved during 2014/15 in implementing the Climate Change Strategy and the Carbon Management Plan.

    ii.        Noted the Climate Change Fund Status Report.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategy and Partnership Manager regarding the Annual Climate Change Strategy Report.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

     i.        Expressed concerns that the Carbon management plan had encouraged many projects but appeared to show few completions.

    ii.        Suggested that there were better ways of presenting carbon usage data which would add to the decision making process.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Director of Environment, the Head of Strategic Housing and the Strategy and Partnership Manager stated the following:

     i.        The Code for Sustainable Homes had been discontinued and would no longer be available for Planning Policy. However, the planning department would continue to encourage high standards

    ii.        Cambridge City Council had joined the Good Homes Alliance which would encourage high standards.

   iii.        Some projects had been reconsidered or rephased as new information or initiatives became available.

  iv.        Information on carbon use was audited and the results published.

   v.        Previous problems of recording accurate energy usage had been addressed and systems were now in place to provide an accurate base line measurement.

 

Councillor M. Smart undertook to supply Officer’s with useful contacts at Bath University who were working in this field.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.