Agenda item

Committee to receive a report that provides an update on the status of the Climate Emergency Work Programme since the most recent Climate Emergency Advisory Committee meeting on 28 January 2020 in the context of COVID-19.

The committee went through the report provided by the insight and policy manager, who was present to answer questions.

The committee chair led the committee through the report page by page, and the main points raised are listed below.

·         Item 1:  the committee discussed Aether’s work on calculating the district’s carbon baseline. This was due to be presented at a Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) meeting, but we cannot technically have external presenters at this stage. Therefore, it was agreed that a teak and finish group would be presented to and would feedback to the CEAC. The volunteers for the task and finish group are Councillors Wilson, Robb and Roberts. The Aether report will be provided to the CEAC.

·         Item 2: Creation of a vision for a future low carbon South Oxfordshire – this item is paused and the insight and policy manager explained that there is no timescale at present but she is happy to accelerate this item if it is seen as high priority. The pause is due to a possible revision of the vision due to Covid-19. This vision will be brought back to the CEAC.

·         There was mention of potential sustainable plans for the ARC.

·         Item 3 - South Oxfordshire Greenhouse Gas Emissions report 2018/19 – corporate energy officer updated the committee that this was taken on by the officer team and took time to understand and complete well. The team studied district council emissions between 2009-2013, and there was a 20 percent drop in greenhouse gases. It is expected that in 20-21 data, a drop will be seen due to Covid-19 measures.

·         Item 4 - Baseline review of council energy consumption and CO₂ emissions – Concept Energy are critiquing the greenhouse gas report. Discussion was had about artificial reduction in emissions due to the lockdown. It was suggested that a 5-6 percent reduction in emissions during lockdown has been created, but when we need around 7 percent, can we achieve this?

·         The issue was raised about measuring air quality and the use of diffusion tubes and asked whether we can get more regular measurements than yearly. Councillor Rouane added that there are three air quality management areas where there are regular, real-time month by month recordings.

·         The work planned on Faringdon leisure centre to have renewable energy for heating – the CEAC could learn from what they are doing – task and finish group item?

·         Item 6 – Tree mapping – concerns in Henley regarding mapping of hedgerows – these are important wildlife corridors that need inclusion.

·         It was agreed that a biodiversity planning officer would speak to a task and finish group or a CEAC meeting.

·         Item 7 – solar energy – The corporate energy officer said we are in the early stages of working with the low carbon hub. The council are keen to focus on the local area for offsite solar energy.

·         Item 10 – grounds management – Councillor Rouane, Cabinet member for housing and the environment, updated the committee that potentially bringing the maintenance in-house could give better control of how we manage our grounds and cleaning in a sustainable way.

·         Item 12 -Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy – Insight and policy manager to circulate an update. It is noted that the council is waiting to see where Oxfordshire County Council (who has funding for this) places their charge points so we know where is best to place ours to fill in the gaps.

·         Item 14 – the planning design guide: A task and finish group would help to develop the zero carbon aspects of the guide. The council target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 is one of the drivers to redesign the guide for the emerging local plan. The inspector has been asked to involve the task and finish group in DES 11 to make it more ambitious and to fit out intent.

·         It is requested that CEAC and the district should start to ask questions in response to current planning applications – are these zero carbon. A view was expressed that within the core strategy, builds must be code four but we have yet to recruit an enforcement officer. Noted that there is a relaxing of permitted development rights on existing buildings in order to allow businesses to pick up since the lockdown. Can planners keep in touch with central government so we can get something we can enforce – as task and finish group was suggested of Councillors Casey-Rerhaye, Wilson, Robb and Roberts. DES 11 is the urgent item – inspection in a month’s time.

·         Item 15 – local engagement obviously has slowed due to social distancing, but a very important point raised by the policy and insight manager is that we have created new contacts and networks who help locally, who could possibly be involved in tackling climate issues locally. Grassroots level.

·         A meeting of the CEAC in late June will be held to discuss the climate change and health themes of the draft corporate plan and make recommendations to Cabinet, before it goes out to public consultation.

·         Item 16 - Oxfordshire Pension Fund Consultation on Investment Strategy Statement – Councillor Jo Robb is working on this. Noted that a green event is held each year and is scheduled for next year.

·         Item 17 – the recruitment of a climate change lead. The insight and policy manager updated that she is working on the job description and the salary, which will go to Senior Management Team to explain why the role is needed. Uncommitted discretionary funding may be challenged in light of Covid-19. This is not unusual but prudent.

·         22.- Biodiversity theme projects – a planning officer will speak to the CEAC on tree mapping.

·         Conference – can we look at doing this virtually, or a similar workshop or webinar event.

·         27. South grants programme- this is paused, but councillors have been allocated £2,000 each for Covid-19 community support.

·         29. Cosy Homes – encourage retrofit and advise – currently people who are able to pay – can we in future help on the financial front, so that others can afford to do it.

·         31 – town-based energy data – Cholsey Parish Council asked how they can baseline their carbon footprint. It was confirmed that town-based energy data is planned for October-November 2020.

·         34 – enforcement officer – for private rented homes. Energy certificate minimum “E”.

At 19:27, Councillor Newton left the meeting.

The committee requested the actions be tabled and reviewed at each meeting. The democratic service officer will work with the insight and policy manager to create this.

Farmers and landowners item to be added.

Other items to include in future meetings:

• Bicycles and walking
• Travel plans for council staff – active travel. Cycling champion to speak at the next meeting – Councillor Casey-Rerhaye. Strategic travel network development.
• ARC government update
• Opportunities for air quality data – feedback
• Councillors note it is Bike Week