Issue - meetings

To gain agreement and commitment to the Climate Change Strategy.

(a)          That progress made in delivering carbon reduction measures to date is acknowledged;

(b)          That the Climate Change Strategy for 2022 – 2030 and its aims therein be endorsed;

(c)          That a briefing for new Members following the election be arranged to highlight the work undertaken to date and the commitments of the Council moving forward, and that the Climate Change Strategy forms part of the Member Induction Programme; and

(d)          That the Council’s website be updated to include the Climate Change Strategy.

The Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) presented the report together with the Climate Change and Carbon Reduction Programme Manager

In presenting the Climate Change Strategy it was explained that the Welsh Government (WG) declared a climate emergency in 2019 and called for the Public Sector to become carbon neutral by 2030.   The Cabinet resolved in December 2019 to resource the appointment of the Programme Manager to develop the Climate Change Strategy which would set key aims and actions for creating a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

The presentation included detailed information on the following: -

• Context
• Achievements so far
• Development of the Strategy – baseline
• Impacts from the Covid-19 Pandemic
• Development of the Strategy – Engagement
• The Strategy set out to achieve net zero carbon by 2030
• Climate Change Strategy
• Action Plan to Net Zero Carbon- behaviour
• Timeline to 2030

The Chief Officer (Planning Economy and Environment) paid tribute to the Programme Manager who, having joined the Council in June 2021, had undertaken an enormous amount of work with the Member working group to enable the Strategy to be presented today.  The work already undertaken to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint over the last 8 years was included in the Strategy.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Programme Manager for her contribution so far to the Council’s Strategy and the Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy).  He also paid tribute to Councillor Carolyn Thomas who had been instrumental in developing much of the initiatives.  He thanked Flintshire residents whose small changes in behaviour such as using public transport and recycling as much as possible were making a difference.  Most residents had risen to the challenge, and he thanked them for their support.  Referring to the WG call for Public Sectors to become carbon neutral he explained that Cabinet had taken a variety of decisions to enable the Council to reach the 2030 deadline.  Children were very interested in carbon neutrality and carbon reduction issues, and he felt that following the commencement of the new Council, consideration should be given to creating a Children and Students Consultative Panel to discuss these issues.  He moved the recommendation.

Councillor Sean Bibby spoke as Chair of the Climate Change Programme Board and paid tribute to the work undertaken by the Programme Manager and Chief Officer to formulate the Strategy.  In seconding the recommendation, he thanked his fellow Members of the Climate Change Programme Board for their challenges and contributions.

In response to questions from Councillor Richard Jones on the cost implications, the Programme Manager confirmed it was difficult to provide financial information as the projects had to be scoped further.  Business cases would be developed for each of the areas where investment was required with a clear understanding of the financial implications involved.    The Chief Officer (Planning Environment & Economy) added that it was too early to predict at present but reassured Councillor Jones that the investment business cases would be presented to Council.   The costs of new technologies which were required to achieve carbon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104