To receive a presentation from the Head of Democracy and Community on progress with the Climate Change Action Plan and proposals for the future.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from Andrew Colver, Head of Democracy and Community, on progress with the Climate Change Action Plan and proposals for the future.
The Committee was apprised of the background to the work on the Climate Change Emergency declared in 2019, and the philosophy and development of the Strategy Statement and Action Plan. It was noted that, the Action Plan was currently being reviewed in view of the Council’s Carbon Footprint findings and new Government policies. The process being undertaken to carry out the review had been to establish a programme of projects that were then assessed by assessing: projects versus business as usual, ranking into achievable deliverables and impacts, assigning projects against budget/resource and prioritising top actions by service. It was also advised that the Climate Change Action Plan would be closely aligned with the emerging Green Infrastructure Plan currently being developed.
The Action Plan highlighted five priority areas with 90 actions spread over three different time frames (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2023 onwards). The priorities included, energy performance, community engagement, planning and delivery of adaptation and mitigation measures in regeneration projects, introduction of a food waste service and waste minimalisation scheme and, supporting the Council’s new ways of working project.
The Committee was advised on actions that had been delivered to date, these included:
· Development of a climate change funding stream database
· Provisions within the Procurement Strategy established to ensure sustainable and ethical procurement
· Introduction of food waste scheme
· Participation in schemes such as the iChoser solar panel scheme and the LAD2 funding scheme
· Webpage update
· Schools outreach – Eco Schools and young people competition
· Southwood tree planting and edible hedgerow planting on the Blackwater Valley Path
· Membership of the Sustainable Business Network
· Joint working with Hart District Council
The Committee reviewed the reserve fund spend to date and it was noted that currently about half of the fund had been allocated. It was noted that a Climate Change apprentice had been employed within the Democracy and Community Team and this role had been funded through the reserve fund. Other spend to note was the work within schools and pump priming resources for EV Infrastructure projects.
The Committee noted that Rushmoor was to join an EV Charging Infrastructure trial with Hampshire County Council. The scheme was currently operating in Winchester and Eastleigh and the trial covered both on street and car park EV charging points. It was hoped that the trial would commence in Rushmoor later in the year.
A number of green events were scheduled to take place in the coming months, this included a Tour de Moon event in June, which was an initiative aimed at young people and consisted of a convoy of electric vehicles and floats housing, amongst others, a pop up cinema and recording studio. A sustainability fair and big green week were also planned for September, 2022.
In response to a query regarding the “on hold” and “removed” items that had been identified in the Action Plan, it was advised that officers had gone through a process of identifying projects within the programme that were resource intensive and/or had a low impact, the main focus for projects were ones that achieved the greatest carbon emission reduction. Details of the identified projects would be shared and discussed with the Climate Change Working Group, in the first instance.
The Chairman thanked Mr Colver for his presentation and it was agreed that the Progress Group should consider any specific areas in the Climate Change Action Plan for further scrutinty.