This Council welcomes the progress made at the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, and the aspirations outlined in the Government’s recently published Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener. Given that the outcome of the COP26 summit is a commitment to quickly and substantially reduce the use of coal, oil and gas, this Council seeks to contribute to this by improving energy efficiency through raised build standards in all new-build housing. In this regard, we agree that:
1. The Chairman of the Council will write to the Minister for Housing requesting that the Government rapidly raise building regulations to at least the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 equivalent.
2. The Cabinet consider adopting this standard for all homes that this Council builds.
3. Council officers seek to achieve enhanced energy performance in negotiation with developers.
Proposer: Cllr Andrew Stringer
Seconder: Cllr John Field
Minutes:
62.1 Councillor Stringer introduced the Motion which asked for the Chairman of the Council to write to the Minster for Housing to request rapidly raising building regulations, for Cabinet to consider adopting the improved standard for all Council homes and for Officers to see to achieve energy performance in negotiation with developers.
62.2 Councillor Burn stated that whilst supporting the approach of moving quickly he could not support the Motion as the code for sustainable homes was phased out several years ago and the requests to Cabinet and Officers were already works in progress in numerous ways.
62.3 Councillor Fleming commended the intention behind the Motion but could not support it as the standard referred to in the Motion was no longer an accepted standard.
62.4 Councillor Hadingham stated that she supported the sentiment of the Motion to promote sustainable homes across district but not the detail.
62.5 Councillor Warboys stated that the language at the Development Control Committees had changed because of the declaration of the climate emergency and the aspiration for net zero and that this had encouraged some developers to bring forward schemes which were more in tune with the Councils aspirations but not all developers.
62.6 Councillor Otton left the meeting.
62.7 Councillor Matthissen stated that sitting on the planning committee, being unable to prevent developers from installing gas central heating a matter of months before it becomes effectively obsolete was incredibly frustrating and suggested that rather than rejecting the Motion, amendments could be suggested as pressure needed to be put on the Government.
62.8 Councillor Meyer stated that it would be better to withdraw the Motion and come back with another Motion that quoted up to date standards.
62.9 Councillor Passmore agreed that the language in planning committees had changed.
62.10 Councillor Ekpenyong stated that whilst the intention of the Motion was not in dispute, the wording and detail was misdirected and there was no doubt about the commitment of the Council towards energy efficient homes and more sustainable living.
62.11 Councillor Eburne stated that in 2007 some exemplar housing was built by the Council and it was a shame that no suggested amendments had been made as the Motion was originally tabled in November.
62.12 Councillor Pratt said that it would be shame to vote against a Motion that tries to help raise standards for more energy efficient homes and that this opportunity should be used to triangulate efforts to raise the standards for energy efficiencies.
62.13 Councillor Geake drew Councils’ attention to data published by Climate Emergency UK with a check list of criteria for local authorities that showed that Mid Suffolk scored highly on mitigation and adaption and measures to tackle bio diversity crisis but worse than average for measuring and setting emissions targets and this Motion would help to improve those targets.
62.14 Councillor Carter said that he was heartened to hear that there was agreement to try and make improvements and become the greenest county but during planning meetings, officers have advised that there were not planning reasons to advise approvements due to government legislation. This Motion would show residents that the council cares enough to push Government for change.
62.15 Councillor Mellen said that the Motion provided a steer for pushing for further energy efficiency improvements and noted that since the Motion was tabled in November, the Government had announced a roll out of higher standards for building regulations which were welcome.
62.16 Councillor Stringer expressed his disappointment that no amendments to the Motion had been sought and the reason for choosing code 6 equivalent was because that was what the layperson understands within the sustainability language
62.17 The Motion was Proposed by Councillor Stringer and Seconded by Councillor Mellen.
62.18 The Motion was PUT to the meeting and LOST.