Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Climate Change Action Plan

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a *report from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist providing an update on the Climate Change Action Plan.

The officer explained that the decarbonisation of the leisure centres was underway with plans being developed to install ground heat source pumps.

A new art mural had been painted on a wall owned by the Council in the Tiverton Pannier Market. Sustainable Tiverton had worked with artist Kate Crawfurd and local people to turn a “Net Zero Vision” into a public artwork to inspire community ideas and actions for a low carbon future. It had been funded by a number of external bodies.

He gave an overview of the Council’s offering at the upcoming Mid Devon Show and explained that the theme would concentrate on environmental sustainability and officers on site would be accompanied by a range of sustainability specialists.

In response to a question asked about how the Council was doing against its target of Net Zero by 2030 the officer explained that the latest carbon footprint data was being investigated by Exeter University so the 2021-2022 figures was not yet known. He stated that there was more to be done to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including investment in additional electric vehicle charging points and that the investment to decarbonise the leisure centres would make a big difference to the Councils carbon footprint.

Consideration was given to:

·         Members requested that the update reports provided more concise focus on what had actually been achieved rather than restating past achievements

·         That engagement with the community was ongoing with contact being made with local sustainability groups to align the Council’s communications with what people wanted to see

·         Members were invited to the Mid Devon Show stand in order that they could introduce the Climate and Sustainability Specialist to members of the farming community

·         There were financial constraints with moving the action plan at a faster pace as there were lots of different organisations bidding for grants from the Government

·         The Hydro scheme for the river Exe was moving forward and a report on costs and data would be brought to the project board when completed

·         The bid for funding for the decarbonisation of the Councils social housing stock had not been successful but officers would keep applying for funding opportunities

·         Members could refer topics about sustainability to the Net Zero Advisory Group for conversation and research

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes