Agenda item

Mark Gaynor presented the report.

MG told the committee that an appointment had been made for the post of Emergency and Sustainability Officer and the person appointed was Melanie Carr who is known to some as she works in Environmental Services at present.

MG explained that the report, which went to Cabinet in May, is referred to this Committee to review and comment on the developing strategy and action plan.  He said that the plan is and will be evidence based and it’s got a credible baseline on emissions with the ability to monitor progress in reductions of CO2 over time. MG added that the officers had worked with the Association for Public Section Excellence, who have a specialist arm for energy and the climate.

MG said that the Strategy isn’t fixed but will be refined and adapted over time. Working with APSE, training and workshops for members and staff will be provided in the near future. He said that there has been a Corporate Officer Group in place for some time working on the subject.  The work that has been done shows that the Council can get to 0 carbon by 2030 for Scopes 1 and 2. These are the Scopes  that result directly from the Council’s actions and service delivery and the reality is council housing forms the vast majority of the Council’s overall emissions; namely, over 87 percent.  We don’t control how tenants use energy. For this reason the Report notes that achieving the goal will take longer than the 2030 deadline.  The reasons for this are contained in the report and the Strategy and Action plan also concerns itself with sustainability and bio-diversity as linked issues. The report refers to actions already delivered over a number of years. MG added that one thing we have not done so much work on but that will be a priority is how we engage with the community and interest groups and it is important that we have a clear communication strategy and this will be part of actions going forward. The Action Plan is in draft. It is not fixed in stone.

Cllr Ransley said that she was really pleased to see a report.  She said that some communities have already made a good start on communication with residents, so it would be good if some of the things already done were picked up on and that a Town and Parish conference for clerks and members would be very useful.

MG replied that there is a lot of further work to be done on communication with residents and communities.  Covid has slowed it down, it is key and we want to work with groups to assist where we can. A separate Town and Parish Conference would probably be warranted, rather than the annual conference.  We need to talk to a range of people to get different views.

Cllr Timmis said that she was pleased that climate change was being given this priority but did not see anything about electric car points in the report She also said new housing developments should not be using gas boilers but more sustainable type of heating and another issue not mentioned is recycling of waste as a power source within our own borough

Cllr Birnie said that charging points for cars are being dealt with in the new Local Plan.

MG agreed that recycling of waste as a power source was not really mentioned in this report. As far as electric power points are concerned, developers are starting to put them in as they realise they are a good selling point. There is very extensive coverage of this in the local plan which will be setting the standards. We will push to meet energy efficiency and other factors like that, but there is a limit to the degree to which we can require new homes to comply. Those things will be considered and there will be a separate part which will look specifically at the climate change policies within the Local Plan. There is also a task and finish group working on the local plan and there is member involvement in that. All points will be considered and the issue of power generation will be covered.

Cllr Hobson said it was good to see the report but it was agreed at Council that there is a climate emergency and she regretted that the report is only coming out a year later.  She added that this is for the benefit of all in the future and that she is really keen that Dacorum is seen as a leading light and press coverage would be great.  Hemel Hempstead does not have town or parish councils so borough councillors are very keen to help and have good links with the community. So community involvement does not have to fall exclusively on officers.  Businesses can also take a leading role in this

MG said that he accepted the point of time taken and that a lot of actions that will be taken are not short term. So such actions can start quickly, but the results will take time to show. For example, technology is changing and new homes are not allowed gas boilers so industry must provide better alternatives.  He welcomed the statement that members have a big role to play and said that they are working with Hemel Hempstead business ambassadors, covering more than just Hemel Hempstead and also with business group dealing with climate change.

Cllr Hobson agreed that we can’t do everything tomorrow but we can make very firm commitments that we will change things and what our intention is.

Cllr Beauchamp asked that if homes should meet maximum green standard was this new homes only, council properties or all homes?

MG replied that as far as new homes are concerned there is likely to be a future home standard through building control which would be set to a target significantly above current arrangements may be able to go further.  In terms of council housing, the commitment is to over time get it zero carbon.  Issues about alternative heating sources and there is reference to that in the report.  In the private sector we have authority over private rented and they will have to achieve the energy certificates. This will not be an easy task.  With owner occupier properties we need to make a new green deal with utility providers and the government. The shift is towards greener homes

Cllr Beauchamp observed that private homes will probably have to have some kind of encouragement.

MG agreed that we will have to look to have some resource to assist.

Cllr Taylor asked if it would be possible to make commercial premises display their energy certificates in entrances and doors. He said that he had a question relating to electricity supply various estimates on demand on grid most say would need to double capacity and wanted to know what evidence there was to support that statement.

MG said that we could make commercial premises display if we are the owners but he said he doesn’t think that we have any control apart from health and safety notices over what they would have to display

In terms of electricity there are a number of sources that would confirm that if we shift to a position where the current vehicle fleet changes to electric, the strain on the grid would be massive.  Other solutions are also electric and over time they will require a shift in how we generate energy. This may involve carbon capture or more likely wind and solar power and other techniques.  There will need to be other pushes to generate energy in a way which does not use fossil fuels.

Cllr Taylor – asked whether the use of vehicle to grid technology had been considered.

MG replied that it was a developing technology and full advantage would be taken from it if it comes in. 

There was a discussion around other solutions to replace gas power and MG said that these systems work best with new developments.

Cllr Taylor said that the report mentions the shift towards walking cycling etc and asked how should we go about getting better cycle paths in the wards.

MG replied that with new developments we want to make sure there is greater emphasis on this. Hemel Garden Communities is an example.  There is an opportunity to improve the existing network in partnership with the County Council.

Cllr Birnie said that the Council should not be entirely wedded to one kind of technology, such as electric vehicles. For example there is work being done to reduce the cost of  Hydrogen as an alternative fuel source using off shore wind at power demand down time. He offered to share his research in this area. Cllr Taylor and MG accepted this offer.

Cllr Woolner gave thanks for the report and said that it was good to go forwards as fast as possible. She asked whether, as the report mentions the willingness of developers to co-operate, there is a mechanism that could be used to force them to use the best technology going forward.

MG said that the strongest possibilities lie with building control and local planning. Better developers will see a market niche, as some things are relatively cheap to do.

Cllr Ransley asked if a solar panel club with council leading was feasible so that we could encourage private owners and Landlords to install panels that would cut down on energy use and show that we are taking a lead.

MG replied that solar panels are good for water heating. As a local authority it would be difficult to operate as a business, or recommend companies.  When the government gives action on what it intends to do to improve energy and sustainability across the housing stock, solar will probably be part of that and we can promote,  provide information and encourage.

Cllr Beauchamp said that blind and elderly residents are worried about the potential for mixed cycle and footpaths. He said that he believed we are looking to ensure adequate demarcation and we need to ensure this does happen.

MG completely agreed that good demarcation is essential. 

Cllr Anderson said that he would like to answer an earlier question regarding energy from burning refuse. There is not enough in Dacorum to make this viable.  Also the County Council is having difficulty in procuring a site. He added that regarding the report, it is early days and as MG has said, it is flexible and there will be new ideas etc as time moves on.  We want to look at future reusable energy sources, but everything has to be

Cllr Woolner asked if community engagement such as competitions with schools could be run in the autumn.

MG explained that Melanie already does this with waste and so would be interested in this. 

MG said that issues with trees had been mentioned and confirmed that there were plans for 4,200 to be planted largely in Gadebridge Park.  Proposals within the Local Plan will be looking for more than 1 tree to replace any taken down for development. Trees have an important impact long term.

Cllr Birnie remarked that APSE appeared to be well priced for the work they had done and wondered what the Council got for the money.

MG replied that there are a variety of different things they are looking at and doing for the council.

Cllr Birnie asked about the cost of becoming carbon neutral for scope 1 and 2.

MG said that there will be a degree of offsetting which has to be done in a way which is genuine, verifiable and preferably local. The degree to which it would be required is relatively small in scopes 1 and 2.

Cllr Birnie asked if there was any future in enterprises such as solar powered farms?

MG agree that they produce energy at low cost, but daylight hours are not times of peak demand and improvements to batteries would make a huge difference.

ITEM 12 CONCLUSIONS

The Committee;

1.     Welcomes the report as the basis for a climate change strategy action plan.

2.     Approves of the proposed £75K budget in para 4.6 page 85 and of those to whom it is proposed that expenditure from this budget should be delegated.

3.     Suggests that further work needs to be done to identify land for tree planting and possibly solar panel installations.

4.     Urges DBC to lobby central government to allow requisite work on the housing stock to be at least partly offset by rent increases.

There being no other comments, Cllr Birnie thanked officers and the Committee for their time.

The Meeting ended at 21:10. Next meeting scheduled for July 28 2020