Minutes for Sustainability Committee meeting, Sep 9 2009, 6.30PM official page

There were no questions from members of the public or Members of the Council.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainability Committee held on 27 January 2009 be confirmed.

  Reason for Decision

There is a legal requirement for the Minutes of the previous meeting to be considered before being confirmed as an accurate record.

Members are reminded that they must disclose both the existence and the nature of any personal and/or prejudicial interest that they have in any matter to be considered at this meeting in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Due to the Chair needing to leave the meeting early, the Committee appointed Councillor S Oliver as Vice-Chair for the current Municipal Year who chaired the meeting from Item 5 – Carbon Reduction Commitment onwards.

  RESOLVED:

  That Councillor S Oliver be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee for the current municipal year.

Due to the Chair needing to leave the meeting early, the Committee appointed Councillor S Oliver as Vice-Chair for the current Municipal Year who chaired the meeting from Item 5 – Carbon Reduction Commitment onwards.

  RESOLVED:

  That Councillor S Oliver be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee for the current municipal year.

The report sets out details on the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) which is a mandatory ‘cap and trade’ scheme introduced by central government to help drive down carbon emissions produced by the larger ‘low energy-intensive’ organisations. The council will be required to comply with the CRC requirements and submit a carbon footprint report annually on its CO2 emissions and purchase carbon credits to cover its emissions. The scheme commences in April 2010 and detailed, auditable records must be kept on the councils energy use. Failure to comply with the CRC scheme will lead to hefty fines and could also have a detrimental impact on the reputation of the organisation.

Description of Decisions

i)  That the report be noted.

ii)  That a Carbon Management Group be established with senior representation from across the Council’s Directorates.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) introduced his report regarding the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) which was a mandatory “cap and trade” scheme introduced by central government to help drive down carbon emissions produced by larger “low-energy-intensive” organisations.

Members noted that the CRC would be compulsory for organisations who consumed over 6000 MWh (mega watt hours) of half hour metered electricity.  Bedford Borough Council’s energy consumption exceeded this amount and would therefore be required to comply with the requirements of CRC.

The qualifying year was 2008 and a registration pack would be sent this September.  Bedford Borough Council would need to register under the scheme in early 2010.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) referred Members to the timeline for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), and noted that any qualifying organisations who failed to participate fully in the CRC would receive a fine.  He re-iterated that as part of the scheme, from 1 April 2010, the Borough Council would need to monitor and report its energy use emissions from all sources (i.e. all electricity, gas and other fuels), except for transport emissions and those which were covered by the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme and Climate Change Agreements, as this data was already collated through the requirement to report on National Indicator 185 – Percentage of CO₂ reduction from Local Authority operations.  All state-funded schools would also be included in the CRC under Local Authorities.

It was noted that the baseline year for determining the Council’s Carbon footprint would be from 1 April 2010 until 31 March 2011, therefore it was essential that the data on which the carbon footprint was calculated was accurate and fully auditable.

With regard to the costs of purchasing carbon credits, Members noted that the Council’s estimated CO₂ emissions for 2008/09 was 22,589 tonnes, which, at the initial cost of £12 per tonne would equate to £271,067 per annum.

In the CRC’s first year, a performance league table of approximately 5,000 organisations would be created determining each organisation’s position relevant to their volume of emissions covered by voluntarily installed automatic metering (AMR) and a Carbon Trust Standard or Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme Certificate.  After the first year, rankings would be based upon the organisation’s absolute emission reductions compared with other organisations.  The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that the Borough Council had previously undertaken an Early Action Metric in order to gauge energy saving achievements, prior to their last energy tender process, which it was hoped, would assist the Council’s position in the league table.

In order to comply with the scheme, each organisation would be required to purchase and surrender “credits” equivalent to the tonnes of carbon that it emitted on an annual basis.  Organisations that manage to reduce their energy consumption and emissions would need to surrender fewer credits, therefore needing to purchase less.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) advised that some energy reviews/audits had previously been undertaken prior to the introduction of the new unitary authority, however, he was unable to provide any specific data relating to schools in the Borough.  He also confirmed that a letter would be sent to all building supervisors emphasising the importance of recording accurate and auditable data.

In response to a further question, Members noted that any progress related to carbon reduction would be returned to this Committee for consideration in the future.

In terms of monitoring the private sectors’ energy efficiency, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) advised that the Environment Agency would administer the scheme and that a number of websites were also currently available for guidance: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/business/crc/pdf/crc-userguide-090312.pdf

With regard to the membership of a Carbon Management Group, Members noted that the Assistant Director (Environment and Community), senior representation from all directorates of the Council and a Member Champion (i.e. the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability) would overview the progress of the Council and report to future meetings of this Committee.

    RESOLVED:

i)  That the report be noted.

ii)  That a Carbon Management Group be established with senior representation from across the Council’s Directorates.

  Reasons for Decisions

To note the requirements of the Carbon Reduction Commitment and the need for a corporate approach to be taken in order to comply with the scheme’s requirements.

This report outlines a process for developing a Climate Change Strategy for the borough that would bring together both the councils operations and the wider community and business aspects with regards to climate change. The report identifies the drivers behind the need to develop a strategy and explores the dual strands of mitigation and adaptation.

Description of Decision

i)  That the report and presentation, be noted.

ii)  That the development of a Climate Change Strategy for Bedford Borough (as set out in the report of the Assistant Director (Environment and Community)), be approved.

The Committee received a presentation from the Sustainable Development Officer regarding the development of a Climate Change Strategy for Bedford Borough.

Members noted that four working groups reporting to an over-arching steering group would be created in order to drive through the planned work-streams and would be co-ordinated by the Climate Change Officer. In terms of “mitigation” (reducing carbon emissions) and “adaptation” (adapting to the effects of a changing climate), the working groups would consider the following:

• Reducing the carbon footprint of the Borough Council’s operations;

• Increasing resilience and capacity of Council services as a result of climate change;

• Influencing and empowering commercial organisations to reduce their carbon footprint, become more sustainable, and to increase their resilience  and capacity as a result of a changing climate; and

• Influencing and empowering the community and community groups to reduce their carbon footprint, become more sustainable and increase their resilience and capacity as a result of a changing climate.

In terms of energy use, Members concurred that planning was key for new developments and noted that central government would be reviewing building regulations in the future.

It was noted that Oakley Parish Council had borrowed energy monitoring units from the Council in order for its residents to monitor their energy levels.  It was also suggested that similar equipment could be made available to hire from the central library.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) advised that approximately 20 Energy Champions encouraged staff (within their units) to switch off lights, recycle office items, minimise paper waste and pc monitoring etc, and were co-ordinated by the Climate Change Officer.  Members concurred that good progress had been achieved by the Energy Champions in the Town Hall in respect of changing staff behaviours, which it was hoped, would be expanded to Borough Hall.

RESOLVED:

i)  That the report and presentation, be noted.

ii)  That the development of a Climate Change Strategy for Bedford Borough (as set out in the report of the Assistant Director (Environment and Community)), be approved.

  Reason for Decision

To ensure that the Council meets the requirements of the Nottingham Declaration in order to “develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change . . . “

To receive a verbal update in respect of the Hydro-power feasibility study.

Description of Decision

i)  That the verbal update regarding the Hydro-Power Feasibility study be noted.

ii)  That the feasibility study report by IT Power be scrutinised further by the Assistant Director (Environment and Community).

iii)  That further consultation with the Planning Authority and Environment Agency on the project be undertaken by Senior Officers prior to reporting back to the Committee.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) provided an update on the hydro-power feasibility project.  He confirmed that he had recently received a report from IT Power regarding the feasibility study for the micro hydro-power unit at the Boatslide Weir on the River Great Ouse.  The report noted that IT Power had held initial discussions with a key consultee for the project, the Environment Agency, from which no fundamental issues had been identified.  Initial contact had also been made with the Planning Authority who had raised a number of concerns regarding the location and historical context of the boatslide.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that in order to connect the unit to the electricity grid a connector would need to be installed underneath the river to Bushmead Avenue at a cost of £85k.

Members noted the following information related to energy costs, energy efficiency, pay back periods and income for both a single and double Archimedean screw:

Cost

£

Energy Provision

(kw hrs)

Pay Back Period

Income

(per annum)

Single Archimedean Screw

£262,600

118,000

14 years

£20,000

Double Archimedean Screw

£450,000

190,000

14 years

£32,000

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that a Capital Bid had been submitted to purchase a double Archimedean screw and that IT Power was currently reviewing external funding for the project.

RESOLVED:

i)  That the verbal update regarding the Hydro-Power Feasibility study be noted.

ii)  That the feasibility study report by IT Power be scrutinised further by the Assistant Director (Environment and Community).

iii)  That further consultation with the Planning Authority and Environment Agency on the project be undertaken by Senior Officers prior to reporting back to the Committee.

  Reason for Decision

  To receive a verbal update in respect of the Hydro-Power project.