Decision details

To update Cabinet on progress made following the declaration of a climate emergency and seek endorsement of an action plan to outline how the Council could reduce it’s direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Frea)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and the Environment, which outlined progress following the climate change emergency, declared by the Council in January 2019 and sought endorsement of the approach set out in Appendix 2 to the report, to reduce the Council’s direct CO2 emissions to net zero by 2030.

The options were outlined in the report.  The scale of the challenge was huge and required immediate action by all governments, organisations, communities and individuals.  Lancaster City Council was planning activities in three key areas-

·                The Council’s direct carbon emissions of 3018 tonnes. An outline plan as to how the Council could become net zero carbon by 2030 was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

·                The Council’s direct areas of wider influence. These were areas where the Council could have a significant impact on reducing wider carbon emissions and mitigating climate in the District- e.g. Council Housing, planning / building control, tree planting.

·                The Council’s leadership role. The Council did not have any direct control over significant causes of emissions e.g. transport, agriculture, industry and housing. However, the motion made it clear it would adopt a leadership role and engage with, influence and support mitigation of climate change across the whole District.

The outline action plan gave an indication of how the Council’s direct operations could become net zero carbon by 2030. Where possible estimates of the costs of the actions had been included to provide a guide for budgetary forecasting purposes.  Before actions were implemented detailed costings and business cases would be brought forward or detailed consideration given through the appropriate governance and financial processes.  There were potential external sources of funding available for projects that contributed to the climate change agenda.  Having an agreed action plan would help in bidding for these as opportunities arose.

Cabinet were asked to approve, in principle, the outline action plan (Appendix 2) to the report. This would allow Officers to develop detailed plans for those actions which would then be referred through the appropriate governance and financial processes.

Included in the financial summary were a number of projects for which pre-approval was sought in order that business cases could be commenced ahead of the annual budget process.  At a later date Cabinet would receive further update and action plans for–

·         The Council’s direct areas of wider influence.

·         The Council’s leadership role

During the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Reynolds and agreed unanimously that standing order 17 (Cabinet Procedure Rule 17) be suspended to allow for questions to be taken from all members.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)           That standing order 17 (Cabinet Procedure Rule 17) be suspended.

Councillor Frea proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“That recommendation (1) as set out in the report be approved with recommendation (2) revised as follows: ‘to approve funding for the Citizens’ Assembly.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)       That Cabinet endorses the plan outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, to reduce the Council’s direct CO2 emissions to net zero by 2030. The estimated costs will be used to inform future budget projections. Before actions are implemented detailed business cases will be brought forward through the appropriate governance and financial processes.

(2)       That Cabinet approves funding for the Citizens’ Assembly.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The development of the Action Plan has involved extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders and the output of the Citizens’ Assembly will be used to inform the Council’s approach to delivering the requirements of the Climate Change Emergency motion declared by Council on 20 January 2019.