Agenda item

The Committee will consider a progress report in respect of the development and establishment of the Kirklees Climate Commission.

The report also includes an update on the Council’s annual internal carbon emissions reporting, against the target set in 2010.

Contact:

John Atkinson, Project Manager, Public Protection

Colin Parr – Strategic Director, Environment and Climate Change and John Atkinson - Project Manager, Public Protection presented a progress report in respect of the development and establishment of the Kirklees Climate Commission. The report also included an update on the Council’s annual internal carbon emissions reporting, against the target set in 2010. Councillor Paul Davies, the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Greener Kirklees was also in attendance.

The presentation highlighted the following points:

·       The background to the establishment of the Climate Commission, based on a model developed by the University of Leeds.

·       The Commission would be an independent body which would utilise a collaborative and partnership approach to promote leadership on climate change, provide advice to inform policy and shape the actions of local stakeholders, enable and encourage the sharing of ideas and best practice, and consider the development of a Kirklees Green Charter.

·       The ‘road map’ for implementation and priority actions.

·       Achievement of the target set in 2010 to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions by 40% by 2020/21.

·       The transition, in 2021, to reporting against a ‘net zero’ target for the district as a whole, which would be a significantly more challenging target to achieve.

Members asked questions and commented on the issues raised with the following key issues being covered:

·       Achievement of the target set in 2010 was applauded. It was acknowledged that achieving a district wide target of net zero would present a greater challenge.

·       The creation of the Commission was welcomed.

·       It was important that the Commission became accepted as a ‘critical friend’.

·       It would be beneficial to take a more global perspective of action on climate change and link to organisations/networks such as ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability or the Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate Change.

·       Actions should be framed in terms of their contribution to national goals and this approach recommended to the Local Government Association (LGA) to encourage other local authorities to do the same and to feedback to national government.

·       It was essential that the Commission retained its independence and considered Kirklees as a whole.

·       It was acknowledged Professor Andy Gouldson from Leeds University, who was assisting in the implementation of the Commission, was recognised as an expert in best practice in this area.

Councillor Davies said that he welcomed the creation of the Commission and resultant partnerships and acknowledged that part of the role may be to challenge and act as a ‘critical friend’. He undertook to discuss the adoption of a global perspective and framing actions in terms of national/international goals with officers.

Further comments and questions were made as follows:

·       The move from carbon reduction to carbon capture/offset in order to achieve the net zero target would be challenging and would encompass a wide range of issues/actions at both local and national level.

·       There were positive initiatives that could be progressed now, such as expanding woodland planting and creating/restoring quality green infrastructure.

·       The development of a ‘road map’ to achieving the 2038 target would be part of the next phase.

·       It was important that the Climate Commission’s work programme aligned with the Council’s budget process to ensure recommendations could be submitted/actioned in a timely way.

·       The Council had previously undertaken research work in relation to the Passivhaus standard for construction and consideration should be given to its use, particularly in respect of Council projects.

·       The pilot funding for deep retro fitting was welcomed; this work and development of the necessary skills to undertake it would be important in the longer term.

·       Smaller organisations and individuals would need sufficient time to allow them to make the necessary changes.

·       Consideration was needed in relation to engagement and mechanisms for feedback on outcomes, to ensure transparency.

·       Tree planting schemes were an excellent way to encourage cross-community involvement and to engage with young people.

RESOLVED –

(1) That officers be requested to consider the points and suggestions raised by the Committee, as set out below, and where appropriate they be used to inform the development of the Climate Change Commission:

i.      The need for the Commission to be progressed as soon as possible.

ii.     The adoption of a wider global perspective of action on climate change.

iii.    The benefits of working with the Local Government Association.

iv.   Recognition of the need to consider carbon capture/offset.

v.     The need for the Commission to be aware of, and take account of, the timescales associated with Council budget setting.

vi.   The need for consideration of how the recommendations made by the Commission will feed into Council decision making and how they will be monitored.

vii.  The importance of developing mechanisms to provide: effective feedback to the community/stakeholders on outcomes to ensure transparency and wider buy-in; and robust engagement particularly with young people and the voluntary sector.

viii. The potential for the use of Passivhaus standards, particularly for Council owned sites/projects.

ix.   The potential for the development of a district heating system.

(2) That further progress reports on the Climate Commission be submitted to the Committee on a regular basis, to include the proposed approach to achieving the 2038 net zero target.