Agenda item

CEEAC is asked to consider the report on the progress of the operational net zero target and provide recommendations to Cabinet.

The Corporate Energy Officer introduced the report. This report was regarding the net zero target for council operations only. There were four scenarios in the report (committed projects, potential projects, a potential solar farm and potential low carbon fleet). The officer informed the committee that whilst the report was being formed, they had secured funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme 3C. This would move some leisure centre projects currently in scenario two to scenario one (committed projects).

Members asked questions and discussed the content of the report and made suggestions.

• Members discussed offsetting opportunities. An officer reminded members that offsetting was not the priority, the priority was to decarbonise operations, however officers were aware of offsetting options.
• A member considered that some areas, such a leisure centres, were achieving more success. Would it be better to segment targets to show the areas of good progress in operations (leisure centres etc). This would also highlight areas to work on. One overall target can miss those details.
• Staff and councillor mileage – was this in the residual or measured? An officer explained that this was measured via HR system claims. It was added that there would be residual emissions as we can’t make staff transition to low carbon vehicles.
• A member suggested that the committee revise recommendation a) to show that it was not our direct actions since 2009-10. We should acknowledge reduction overall, but state what we were responsible for and from 2019 when the climate emergency was declared. An officer answered that we could take figures from Climate Action Plan (CAP) baseline.
• A member asked about Woodland Trust and buying land. An officer explained that we cannot claim carbon credit on existing land. It needed to be created to gain carbon credits on it.
• Can the report reflect the previous central government U-turns on climate targets. Officer explained this was more a district level impact, not operational. The report was developed by the climate team to consider our targets and the progress to date, not based on central government decisions. A member suggested that we should recognise such decisions as a barrier to achieving targets.
• A member suggesting creating a homeworker’s charter
• A member asked if there were opportunities for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to volunteer. Can this be demonstration of offsetting if not formally accredited. It was suggested by an officer that this was more relevant to the district targets.
• Glidepath tool – do other councils use it in the county? It was confirmed to be used in the private sector.
• Can we talk to Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) about land for a potential solar farm? Officer replied that OCC were already considering this themselves, but we could lease other land if needed.
• Car park solar panels. An officer considered that roof installation was more viable at the moment (such as leisure centres). Solar car ports could be a future consideration.
• Could the council ask for upgrades to building regulations zero carbon via Government
• Discussed Didcot Gateway, green procurement/construction and embodied emissions. An officer acknowledged that this was best practice, officers could propose to members a method for measuring this. We needed to ask the right questions to those who come to tender
• Could there be a future generations champion – how do we consider impact on future generations from actions today
• A definitions glossary was requested for phrases such as embodied carbon
• It was confirmed by officers that those councils closer to their net zero targets have done so via more offsetting
• British offsetting options had lead-in times and there was high demand. There were concerns regarding overseas offset credits.
• Waterpower was suggested but an officer explained that there were limitations on our land. We were looking for actions that were about renewable energy in the new CAP. The solar farm was a specific action in the current CAP, so it was referenced in this report. We will look at all renewable options.

Members showed support for the recommendations but added some further suggestions.

Recommendation(s)

Recommendation (a)

That CEEAC recognises the significant progress made in reducing our operational carbon emissions by 50 per cent since 2009/10.

• Members asked that, based on the discussion had in the meeting, that this recommendation includes the progress the council had made since 2019. Members wanted to show recognition of the challenges faced by the council, considering the national context.

Recommendation (b)

CEEAC recommends that Cabinet adopts a revised overall operational net zero target of 2030.

• Members supported the overall target but ask Cabinet to consider having segmented and nuanced targets. Cabinet was asked to consider ways in which this data could be measured and communicated by service area.