Agenda item

Report of the Head of Environment

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, updating Members of the progress of the Carbon Management Strategy and Action Plan.

 

The Head of Environment began a presentation on the progress of the Carbon Management Strategy and Action Plan.

 

He noted that all councils across the country have been graded on their climate action plans and activities to date, with the organisation Climate Emergency UK assessing authorities across nine key sectors. Councils were given a percentage on how well they are meeting their targets and addressing each area. Gedling Borough Council has been recognised for its actions and ambitions to tackle the climate emergency, along with Rushcliffe who both were graded the highest of the seven Nottinghamshire councils with a score of 46 per cent each.

 

APSE Carbon Benchmarking & Key Actions:

 

In order to see how much work is required to reach the council’s target by 2030 the Council’s carbon footprint baseline has been established and an additional piece of work on our grey fleet has been undertaken through a GBC staff travel survey. This will enable the council to monitor and cut emissions moving into the future.

 

Internal Influence

·       In the public estate, buildings, fleet, housing, parks and woodlands

·       Align procurement & commissioning with Net Zero

·       Embed climate action in decision making and business cases

·       Provision of training and building skills for climate change and energy system

 

External Influence

·       Leading partnerships and supporting/co-designing initiatives

·       Growing supply chains and low carbon skills and economic growth

·       Local Area Energy planning for EVs and Heat Pumps, flex and storage

·       Planning policies for net zero

·       Transport and active travel

·       Consistent recycling & waste collections

·       Public engagement

·       Project readiness

 

It was noted that the following projects had been implemented so far:

 

Buildings

·       Installation of solar panels – Civic Centre, Richard Herrod Leisure Centre, Jubilee Depot

·       Installation of energy efficient LED lighting – Civic Centre

·       Installation of pool covers and new energy efficient pumps at our leisure centres.

·       An energy efficient window replacement programme is included in the Council’s approved budget.

 

Car Parks

·       Installed new LED street lights.

·       EV charging points installed at High Street

·       Arnold (2 units)

·       Fredericks Avenue, Carlton (6 units)

·       Haywood Road South, Mapperley (1 unit)

·       Morrison Street, Netherfield (6 Units)

 

Waste and Recycling:

·       The Council is working with countywide partners to reduce contamination levels for recycling whilst increasing recycling rates.

 

Fleet

·       The Council is currently trialling a number of electric vehicles which aims to reduce pollution in Gedling.

 

Parks and Open Spaces

·       The Council has created a solar panel farm at Gedling Country Park, has a large programme of planting new trees, and is developing new wildflower pollination areas.

 

Planning:

·       The Council is pushing developers to install electric vehicle charging points as standard on new homes, and the Council’s Local Plan has a number of policies on climate change, energy efficient designs and renewable energy generation.

 

The Climate Change Officer, Sim Duhra, introduced herself and detailed the community engagement activities she had been involved in, outlining the action plan going forward.

 

The Food, Health and Housing manager then gave a brief overview of one of the actions to maximise available funding and promote schemes to help retrofit housing within the borough, prioritising low EPC rated owner occupied and rented homes (both social & private), privately owned properties (D and below) and social landlord housing where possible. He confirmed there was a scheme ongoing in Netherfield called the Local Authority Delivery Phase 2, which is prioritising external wall insulation and solar panels.

 

An overview of some other council projects were also highlighted, such as the next phase of the Green Homes Retrofit. Details of which are below:

 

·       Sustainable Warmth Competition – LAD Phase 3 and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)

·       Netherfield & Newstead Village 22/23 – TBC

·       £120,000 HUG, £690,000 LAD 3, up to 69 homes. Including EWI, Solar PV, Loft, 6x Air Source Heat pumps

 

A summary of the current and future projects were also noted, which are as follows:

 

·       EV charging points at Civic Centre and Gedling County Park

·       Energy efficient lighting replacement programme at Civic Centre and Netherfield Car Park.

·       Review into thermal windows at the Civic Centre

·       Transition to a Bio fuel - Hydro treated vegetable oil, otherwise known as HVO. The next-generation low-carbon diesel, derived from renewable sources of energy plants, animals, or algae.

·       Electrification/hydrogenation of fleet

 

The Committee then posed questions to the Head of Environment, Climate Change Officer and the Food, Health and Housing Manager:

 

Councillor Boyle asked whether anything can be done regarding businesses in the borough to reduce their carbon emissions.

 

The Climate Change Officer explained that the Environmental Health Officers go out to businesses as part of their visits and agreed that a scheme in which they assess the businesses carbon emissions is something they would like to look at. The Food, Health and Housing Manager also explained that there are national initiatives being developed to look into the sustainability of food produce as well.

 

Councillor Ellwood asked whether there will be issues with the Jubilee Depot facilitating a hydrogen hub and electric charging infrastructure.

 

The Head of Environment explained that the Council is due for transition over to HVOs over the next three to four years but the Council is currently looking at its assets to form an overarching strategy to decide what the best course of action is to help facilitate these changes.

 

Councillor Creamer asked whether there is a timetable or target for when the transition to HVO will take place.

 

The Head of Environment explained that at present, there are not enough producers of HVO to ensure a consistent supply. Providers have explained that HVO will be supplied primarily, along with the occasional delivery of diesel where supply fails to meet demand. The current assets need to be assessed so the strategy for this is a working document and providing a timeframe for this will be difficult at this moment in time.

 

Councillor Martin Smith asked whether the strategic initiatives mentioned are designed to save the council money, purely for environmental purposes, or designed to achieve both.

 

The Head of Environment explained that the priority has to be with the environment however it is true that HVO and other Carbon reducing initiatives are generally more expensive than current resources such as diesel.

 

 

Councillor Murray left the meeting.

 

 

 

Councillor Ellis asked whether road safety for cyclists is being considered such as separating cyclists from the roads in newly developed areas to encourage more people to cycle to work.

 

The Head of Environment explained that they work closely with planning to ensure new developments facilitate cyclists in the area.

 

Councillor Feeney asked whether the Council’s buildings are surveyed to look at energy saving methods such as double glazed windows.

 

The Climate Change officer explained that reports have been undertaken to assess energy saving efficiencies.

 

 

Councillor Murray returned to the meeting.

 

 

Councillor Sam Smith asked whether we have had any engagement with Nottingham County Council’s Environment Ambassador in securing funding for planting trees within the borough.

 

The Head of Environment explained that due to the size of green patches within the borough, the council was unsuccessful in securing the first round of funding from the county. The council is currently working to secure the second round of funding.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the information.