Agenda item

That the Carbon Management Plan April 2015 – March 2020, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

The Commissioner for Environment & Open Spaces introduced a report which sought approval for the new five-year Carbon Management Plan 2015-20 which set out how the Council aimed to reduce its carbon emissions and mitigate against the effects of climate change.

The Council’s first Carbon Management Plan, adopted in 2009, had set a target of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions against the 2008/9 baseline.  The Council achieved a 49% reduction in CO2 emissions during the period of the previous plan due to a number of both planned and unplanned factors.  The new plan aimed to reduce total carbon emissions by a further 20% against the 2013/14 baseline, which would mean a total reduction of 60% since 2008/9, and reduce operating costs relating to carbon emissions by 10% by 2020.  The approved Capital Programme included a fund of £100,000 per annum between 2015/16 and 2019/20 to support invest to save projects which would deliver both CO2 reductions and revenue savings.

Commissioners asked about the governance arrangements and how the outcomes would be monitored.  It was responded that Carbon Management Board was the primary monitoring authority for the plan and it involved the Commissioner for Environment & Open Spaces and relevant Council departments such as asset management, transport and waste.  The potential of utilising solar panels on Council buildings was raised and it was noted that these options would continue to be appraised to evaluate whether they had the potential to contribute to the carbon and revenue savings targets.  A number of the key actions and suggestions were discussed including the planned investment in new LED street lighting which would deliver major energy savings and the trial use of electric vehicles.

The Cabinet approved the plan, subject to a minor textual amendment to paragraph 3.9 (2) Priority Actions.

Resolved –  That the Carbon Management Plan April 2015 – March 2020, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.