Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report provided an update on progress so far in 2021 on the 2021/22 actions of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2021-26. As part of this, the report includes an update on progress in implementing the projects to reduce our direct carbon emissions from our corporate buildings, fleet vehicles and business travel as detailed in the Council’s Carbon Management Plan 2021-26.

 

The Officer’s report also provides an update on: 

·                 The council’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2020/21

·                 UK100’s Net Zero Pledge as in Appendix C

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre

      i.          Noted the progress achieved in the first five months of 2021/22 in implementing the actions in the Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Management Plan.

     ii.          Approved the updated Climate Change Strategy action plan presented in Appendix A of the Officer’s report.

   iii.          Agreed to sign the UK100’s new Net Zero Pledge as detailed at Appendix C of the Officer’s 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 Partnerships Manager.

 

The Strategy and Partnerships Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          The Council had approximately 7,000 properties. It was looking at measures to retrofit these to net zero. Residential and commercial properties with the lowest energy efficiency performance would be targeted first.

     ii.          The City Council has lower emissions when benchmarked against neighbouring and similar authorities.

   iii.          Climate Change Strategies of similar authorities have been reviewed to see if the City Council can learn from them.

   iv.          The Environmental Services Team were reviewing the electric vehicle charger trial:

a.    Rapid chargers that took 1 hour.

b.    Fast chargers that took 2-7 hours.

c.    Capacity/resources would determine if/where chargers could be placed in other wards after the trial. The City Council would have to work with power networks and Central Government to implement this, the City Council could not do work on its own.

d.    The pilot would be reviewed after March 2022. The Council would then decide if it would bid for more funding to take action.

e.    The following were needed in order to put in chargers:

1.                   Power.

2.                   Demand for chargers.

3.                   Parking spaces.

    v.          Traffic regulation orders were in place in carparks to ensure only electric vehicles used spaces where chargers were available. Pulse were the company awarded the contract to install and maintain these.

   vi.          A report on Corn Exchange boilers would be brought to committee in March 2022. Gas boilers were installed as the previous ones were at request of failure. The new boilers were more efficient and would have 20% lower emissions.

 vii.          The Council Environmental Awareness e-learning course could be promoted as good practice to other organisations.

 

Councillor Copley said the City Council could better inform residents of the nature of the climate change emergency and how Central Government needed to take action. Personal action was not enough to effect change. For example, housing was at risk of flooding. The City Council could explain that residents could lobby Central Government direct.

 

The Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre replied:

      i.          Agreed that Central Government should take action. The City Council was trying to engage residents on how to lobby Central Government, for example, through Cambridge Matters. Welcomed ideas on how to do more.

     ii.          There were 2 electric vehicle charging point projects:

a.    One with the County Council for on-street parking. Another separate one for City Council carparks.

b.    There had been issues regarding infrastructure in place to support electric vehicle charging.

   iii.          The intention was to insulate all council homes as per the aims of Insulate Britain. It was unclear if this could be achieved by 2025. Sufficient funding from Central Government and a skilled workforce were required to do this.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.