Agenda item

(Environment/Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holders) To consider the attached report (C-021-2016/17).

(1)        That the Environmental Charter, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, and the associated Commitments and Actions, attached at Appendix 2 of the report, be endorsed; and

(2)        That the Environmental Charter be approved for signature by the Leader of Council and the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener & Transport presented a report on the Environmental Charter and Objectives.

The Portfolio Holder reported that climate change was one of the most dangerous threats the world was facing today and there was little doubt that human activity was the primary driver of the observed changes in climate. In recognition of this, the Council had become a signatory to the Nottingham Declaration in 2007. The Climate Change Strategy was published in 2009 in order to demonstrate how the commitments of the Declaration would be met, and now required updating. The Nottingham Declaration had now essentially been replaced by the Climate Local Agreement and Framework. This was developed by the Local Government Association as a mechanism that local authorities could use to identify, and make a public statement of their commitment to, appropriate climate change initiatives. It was therefore considered appropriate that the Council had its own Environmental Charter based on the Climate Local Framework, to be signed by the Leader of Council and Chief Executive on behalf of the Council, and the associated Commitments and Actions framework to demonstrate how the Council would fulfil its obligations under the Charter.

The Portfolio Holder announced that, in recent developments, the Council had reduced its carbon footprint by 331 tonnes, which equated to a 9% reduction, was installing energy efficient windows in Council properties, and had engaged a company to monitor and reduce the Council’s electricity usage. It was also intended to install electric car charging points in the Council-owned car parks. The Environment Portfolio Holder reminded the Cabinet that recycling was also part of this process, and encouraged all Portfolio Holders to embrace this initiative.

The Portfolio Holder for Technology & Support Services highlighted that L.E.D. lighting had been installed throughout the Civic Offices, alongside sensors which turned the lights off if there was no movement in a particular room for a period of time. The Council’s Environmental Co-Ordinator added that the Superintendents turned off all lights and shut all windows in the evening as well, and all staff were encouraged to switch off lights and computer monitors when they had finished using them.

It was highlighted that the Commitments and Actions framework was a little too general with no targets or goals currently included, and that the Environmental Charter should be incorporated in the policies of the forthcoming Local Plan. The Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener & Transport emphasised that progress with the Commitments and Actions framework would be regularly reported on, while the Environment Portfolio Holder added that the Council worked to a range of Key Performance Indicators for Recycling which was also regularly reported to the Environment Select Committee. The Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy reassured the Cabinet that factors such as the Environmental Charter would be considered and included in the final Local Plan.

Decision:

(1)        That the Environmental Charter, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, and the associated Commitments and Actions, attached at Appendix 2 of the report, be endorsed; and

(2)        That the Environmental Charter be approved for signature by the Leader of Council and the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council.

Reasons For Decision:

The Council’s commitment to environmental issues had been outlined in the Climate Change Strategy, which was now out of date and required revision. The Charter and associated documents had been developed in accordance with the express wish of the Neighbourhoods and Communities Select Committee on 11 November 2015.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council had discounted the option of not having an environmental policy in place as, being a significant local employer and a provider of services, it could be criticised for not demonstrating its commitment to the ‘green agenda’ particularly in a time of transformation.