Cabinet Member for Environment
Minutes:
j27.1 The Chairman invited Councillor Potter, Cabinet Member for Environment to introduce Paper BC/23/10.
27.2 Councillor Potter explained the purpose of the report and MOVED the recommendations detailed in the paper.
27.3 Councillor Regester SECONDED the proposal.
27.4 Councillor Malvisi asked what the acronym “PSD” stood for. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that it stood for “Public Sector Decarbonisation”.
27.5 Councillor Regester questioned what the definition of a “touchdown point” is. Councillor Potter responded that a touchdown point was a designated remote working location for officers.
27.6 Councillor Beer asked for an update on the evaluation of the performance of the solar car ports project. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that the solar car ports are now operational and that a further update on the performance of the project will be detailed in an additional report to Full Council in the future.
27.7 Councillor Maybury questioned if progress had been made concerning moving council estate properties from natural gas to air source heat pumps. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that this was being looked into as part of the Council’s Carbon Reduction Management Plan.
27.8 Councillor Maybury questioned what pressure the Council were putting on Suffolk County Council to reduce the emissions and energy efficiency of Endeavour House. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that the Council is a leaseholder within Endeavour House and that changes would be controlled by Suffolk County Council.
27.9 Councillor Maybury further questioned if any work was being conducted to help reduce mileage from all staff. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that conversations were currently being had with staff through the Council’s Carbon Reduction Management Plan and the Sustainable Travel Plan regarding support mechanisms that need to be put in place to reduce staff car journeys.
27.10 Councillor Riley questioned when the Council would receive an update report on the 2022/23 figures. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that an updated report was currently being put together and is due to be presented to Full Council later in the year.
27.11 Councillor Riley queried whether the Council was currently meeting it’s targets for emissions. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that current progress towards the Council’s goals is much more positive and is slowly getting back on target.
27.12 Councillor Jamieson questioned if pressure was being put on our contractors to be carbon neutral. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that pressure was being put on contractors where possible and appropriate.
27.13 Councillor Saw asked if a carpooling initiative for staff had been explored. The Director of Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that staff have been encouraged to car share through internal communications and that there are now pool cars that are available for staff to use.
27.14 Councillor Holt queried if there were plans in place to modernise the current photovoltaic panels on council properties to improve their efficiency. Councillor Potter responded that there were plans in place considering this and that it would be covered in more detail in the upcoming 2022/23 report.
By a vote of 28 For and 1 Abstention
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the contents of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2021-22 at Appendix A to the report be noted.
1.2 That a Task and Finish group is established to review and refresh actions in the Carbon Reduction Management Plan.
Supporting documents: