Purpose

To provide an update on the performance
against the Council’s Climate and Ecological Declaration
targets and Climate Action Plan

Content

RESOLVED that Cabinet:
-

(a)          
Noted the Climate Progress Report 2022-23;

(b)          
Agreed to join the UK100 initiative and adopt the Net
Zero by 2045 pledge thereby clearly defining the previous
commitment of ‘before 2050’ for our area-wide
target;

(c)          
Agreed the proposal to set interim reduction targets
for the Council owned estate, specifically the priority emission
sources of Council buildings and energy supply. In addition, we
will look to establish targets for energy use in homes and road
transport reduction in order to validate that both our corporate
and area-wide targets are achievable;

(d)          
Agreed to look at funding proposals, including
‘invest to save’ and consider a revolving fund for
energy improvements in Council-owned buildings and other
projects;

(e)          
Noted the proposal to establish a Carbon Neutral
Steering Group, to bring services together and to find solutions to
carbon reduction challenges across the corporate estate;

(f)           
Renew our work with external partners to shape and set
interim targets towards the area-wide commitment to Net
Zero;

(g)          
Create interactive
dashboards to highlight targets and progress towards the internal
and area-wide goals;

(h)          
Agree to the delivery of
carbon literacy training (with or without accreditation) for
officers and members, business and community, which will empower
decision making to meet carbon neutral targets and initiatives;
and

(i)            
Requests officers to explore the
benefits and practicalities of an anchor procurement partnership
for the BCP area.
Voting: Unanimous
Portfolio Holder: Climate Response,
Environment and Energy
Reason
This report informs
on progress made to date and proposes the next steps of climate
actions that the Council will commit to in order to deliver on the
ambitions of a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and a carbon neutral
region ahead of the UK’s 2050 target.