Agenda item

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment concerning the Climate Change Strategy for the council.

55.1    Councillor Cook moved and Councillor Hannah Norman seconded the motion. Councillor Cook outlined that there would be further work conducted such as audits of building and examining changes to processes before presenting concrete proposals. This would seek to formulate a methodology to achieve a baseline for carbon emissions. He advised that the Environment and Ecology Forum had been involved and he was confident that the report provided for a good way forward to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

55.2    Councillor Stephens moved and Councillor Pullen seconded the following amendment:

          Council is asked to RESOLVE

(1)       That following the implementation of 2.1 (1) and (2) above, the actions contained in the CLS report (Appendix 1) are adopted as a plan for achieving the goal of net zero carbon emissions by the city council by 2030.

(2)       The steps needed to move the whole City towards carbon neutrality by 2050 are noted as per the appendix report, and that officers continue to develop this city-wide action plan.

(3)       That a detailed action plan based on the CLS report setting out milestones, timescale, resource implications and financing arrangements be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity.

55.3    Councillor Stephens clarified that the action plan sought was with regard to carbon neutrality for the Council rather than the City as a whole. He shared his view that the report was a major step forward but that further work was required. This would include what actions would be taken at what point how the measures would be financed. Councillor Stephens also stated that a framework within which the administration could be held accountable was necessary. He praised the detail in the report but suggested it may not be particularly accessible to the public. He stated that such a plan needed to be communicable to the public. Councillor Pullen’s view was that an action plan needed to detail what outcomes were being sought.

55.4    Councillor Cook and Councillor Hannah Norman accepted to the amendment which because the substantive motion.

55.5    In debating the motion, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Councillor Melvin commented that it was an outstanding piece of work and commended the work of the officers involved. She noted that numerous matters were considered including the operation of the indoor market and the carbon emissions that are emitted from it.

55.6    Councillor Wilson noted the remarkable detail in the report and that it illustrated the scale of the challenge. He suggested that areas needed to create their own electricity which was not a small endeavour and that cross-party groupings needed to be listened to. Councillor Wilson stated that the report provided a good starting point to set an example but that, as the Council was responsible for but 1% of carbon emissions in the City, the scale of the task would require significant investment.

55.7    Councillor Stephens noted that Gloucestershire Airport  had been, and in his view rightly, excluded from the target but stated that, as a 50% shareholder, there was an obligation to ensure the airport was working to neutrality. He further noted that the airport now had a new Managing Director and that this presented an opportunity to be briefed by her on business plans and what steps were being taken to achieve carbon neutrality.

55.8    Councillor Pullen stated that he believed that Member should be made aware of actions that were being undertaken.

55.9    Councillor Hilton stated that he was keen to vote in favour of the motion and that the report was an excellent piece of work. He expressed caution regarding some suggestions on the disposal of the deceased as this would ultimately be a family choice.

55.10  Councillor Cook thanked officers and the CLS consultancy for their work and encouraged Members to read the Airport Green Plan which outlined that, for example, a company was operating on site to develop electric flying.

55.11  RESOLVED :-

(1)  That following the implementation of 2.1 (1) and (2) above, the actions contained in the CLS report (Appendix 1) are adopted as a plan for achieving the goal of net zero carbon emissions by the city council by 2030.

(2)  The steps needed to move the whole City towards carbon neutrality by 2050 are noted as per the appendix report, and that officers continue to develop this city-wide action plan.

(3)  That a detailed action plan based on the CLS report setting out milestones, timescale, resource implications and financing arrangements be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity.