The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report which provided an update on the Council’s response to the declaration of a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency, and an action plan which set out the activities required to adapt and mitigate against Climate Change.  The Cabinet Member for Environment explained that the action plan had already been considered by the Policy Development Review Committee (PDRC) and subsequently, there had been substantial changes to the original plan, including more detail throughout. He highlighted the ten key areas of priority on page 21 of the report. 

In response to a question from the Leader of the Conservative Group on what response had been received from Government on providing powers and resource to deliver the plan by the target of 2030, and how it would be delivered, the Cabinet Member for Environment advised that he had received a constructive response from the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, a less constructive reply from Gordon Henderson MP and no response from Helen Whately MP.  The Cabinet Member for Environment said that the targets were challenging, and that Government’s target was to reach 100% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.  He highlighted the pathways followed to achieve reduction as on page 13 of the report and said he was confident that Government would come forward to changes in policy in order to reach the targets set.

The Leader of the Conservative Group referred to page 6 – Risk Management and Health and Safety - and, on behalf of another member of his group, drew attention to no risks being currently highlighted. He asked why the action plan made no reference to the impact and protection of residents by extreme weather conditions and questioned whether Swale Borough Council (SBC) could achieve the targets on its own?  In response, the Cabinet Member for Environment said that the full co-operation of many organisations and residents was needed to deliver the low carbon pathway. He highlighted the risks set out on page 41 of the report which addressed the issues raised and advised that SBC’s Emergency Planning Officer worked closely with Kent County Council (KCC) on adaptations to the climate change risk.

A Member applauded the work being carried out to address climate change but raised concern with the costs, drawing particular attention to the cost of the re-fit for Swale House and the purchase of electric vehicles.  He asked the Leader for the predicted cost savings for Members’ mileage due to virtual meetings, sought clarification on using electric bikes on a public highway and asked whether the bike storage at Swale House was for staff?  In response, the Leader said that officers were looking at the most cautious and cost effective re-fit to Swale House, and Cabinet would need to balance the costs against the financial difficulties that Local Government was facing.  He reminded Members that funding was not yet committed, it was an action plan to be considered at each stage and that the Medium Term Financial Plan set in February 2019 for small incremental Council Tax rises over four years would continue to be followed.  The Leader said that the electric vehicles were rented and funded out of this year’s budget.  Finally, he said that virtual meetings had only just been set up and savings were not yet known, the use of an electric bike on a highway was already legal and the bike storage costs were £3,602.22, funded by building maintenance reserves, and to be used by staff.  The Cabinet Member for Environment clarified that the incentives referred to at point 7 on page 23 of the report were inadvertent incentives such as the allocation of parking spaces and car allowances for staff that drove a minimum number of annual business miles, but there was no intention of disadvantaging staff when considering these incentives.

In response to a question from a Cabinet Member, the Cabinet Member for Environment agreed that it was important to balance the ecological and biodiversity aspect with carbon reduction in planning applications, and renewable energy was being encouraged. 

A Cabinet Member highlighted the non-financial benefits of addressing climate change and drew attention to many residents maybe choosing to continue to work from home post-Covid 19.  The Cabinet Member for Environment agreed and said that recent data produced has shown a reduction in NOx emissions although particulate matter had not reduced, due to current weather conditions.

The Cabinet Member for Environment referred to point 14 on page 31 of the report and explained that the contract to undertake a feasibility study had been signed just prior to the current lockdown and would be looking at ways to implement a Clean Air Zone.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Mike Baldock and seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

Resolved:

(1)  That Cabinet adopts the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.