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.