Issue - meetings

1.    That the approach to the development and delivery of the Climate Emergency Strategy and Action plan as set out in the report be provisionally approved subject to consideration of the comments and feedback from the June Strategic Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and, on the housing elements, the June Housing and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee. That a further report be made to Cabinet in June 2020 to formally consider the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

2.    That the Climate Emergency Statement in Appendix 4 be approved

Resolved to recommend:

3.    The creation of a budget for the Climate Emergency of £75,000 in 2020/21  and authority be delegated for its expenditure be made to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration and the Assistant Director Corporate and Contracted Services in consultation with the Leader be approved

4.    That an annual review of the progress of the Strategy and Action Plan be made to Cabinet each year and an update be provided to Cabinet in September 2020 on initial progress

5.    That a training and development programme for both staff and Members be delivered in 2020/21

6.    That a ‘Climate Emergency impact statement’ be incorporated into Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny reports

Decision

1.    That the approach to the development and delivery of the Climate Emergency Strategy and Action plan as set out in the report be provisionally approved subject to consideration of the comments and feedback from the June Strategic Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and, on the housing elements, the June Housing and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee. That a further report be made to Cabinet in June 2020 to formally consider the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

2.    That the Climate Emergency Statement in Appendix 4 be approved

Resolved to recommend:

3.    The creation of a budget for the Climate Emergency of £75,000 in 2020/21  and authority be delegated for its expenditure be made to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration and the Assistant Director Corporate and Contracted Services in consultation with the Leader be approved

4.    That an annual review of the progress of the Strategy and Action Plan be made to Cabinet each year and an update be provided to Cabinet in September 2020 on initial progress

5.    That a training and development programme for both staff and Members be delivered in 2020/21

6.    That a ‘Climate Emergency impact statement’ be incorporated into Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny reports

Corporate objectives

The Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan will help to support all 5 corporate objectives:

·         Safe and clean environment: e.g. contains actions relating to the quality of existing environments and design and layout of new development that promote security and safe access;

·         Community Capacity: e.g. provide a framework for local communities to be better informed and involved in climate emergency mitigation.;

·         New and Affordable housing: through both direct delivery and setting improved sustainability requirements in new homes would help to reduce both the cost of energy and water and the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions the homes would produce;

·         Dacorum delivers: fulfilling the zero carbon pledge will make a huge contribution to local sustainability and assist in the national target to reach zero carbon as a nation by 2050;

·         Regeneration: the strategy and action plan will provide improvements to air quality, biodiversity, opportunities for cycling and walking as well as major economic potential for ‘green’ businesses.

Monitoring officer

The Strategy and Action Plan will require continual review against the baseline data in order to measure the effectiveness of the agreed actions.

S151 Officer

The recommended £75k budget can be funded through draw down from the Climate Change and Sustainability Reserve.

Whilst the Council remains ambitious in the delivery of its Climate Change Action Plan, it should be acknowledged that there may be occasions when financial restrictions prevent the implementation of desirable service changes in the future.

Future recommendations to Members will need to be presented within the context of the Council’s broader financial position in order to support evidence-based decision-making.

Advice

Councillor Williams introduced the report to members and notified the meeting that he had made some minor changes to Appendix 4 to reflect comments made by the Liberal Democrat group. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48