Minutes for Sustainability Committee meeting, Nov 4 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 9 September 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.

Item and Minute Number

Member

Disclosing an Interest

Nature of Interest

Present or Absent During Discussion of Item

Item No. 5 – Minute 11

Councillor Headley

Personal & Prejudicial interest as Governor of Hills Lower and Woodside Middle Schools

Absent

(Report of the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) enclosed)

To consider the progress to date in setting up the Carbon Management Group and identify work necessary to comply with the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Description of Decisions

i)  That the report and presentation, be noted.

ii)  That the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) Be requested to consider a mechanism for incentivising all property managers, including schools to reduce their carbon emissions, including the possible introduction of a financial recharge of the Carbon Reduction Commitment of £12 per tonne of CO₂ emitted.

iii)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting of this Committee outlining the implications of achieving a 10% reduction in carbon emissions for the Borough of Bedford in 2010.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) introduced the report which advised Members of the progress to date in the setting up of the Carbon Management Group (CMG), what was discussed at the inaugural meeting and its outcomes. 

The Committee also received a presentation by the Sustainability Officer entitled “Carbon Management Group”.  (A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix A to these Minutes).

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that the Carbon Management Group (CMG) was developing a number of proposals aimed at raising awareness within the borough schools of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, and the need to reduce carbon emissions which included the following:

a)  a paper would be submitted to the Schools’ Forum on the Carbon Reduction Commitment;

b)  a draft letter would be considered by the CMG which could be sent to schools highlighting the need to reduce their carbon emissions and emphasising the need to maintain accurate meter readings in the future; and

c)  to advise schools of the Carbon Trust’s guidance document on “Involving the School Community in Reducing its Carbon Footprint”.

Arising from a further question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) advised that the Committee could consider the mechanisms for incentivising all property managers including schools to reduce their carbon emissions, including the possible introduction of a financial recharge of the Carbon Reduction Commitment of £12 per tonne of CO₂ emitted in the future.

In response to a comment, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that the Carbon Reduction Commitment would include all public buildings.  He also confirmed that the Council would need to consider a programme of works to increase its energy efficient technologies within its extended portfolio of buildings since becoming a unitary authority. 

Members noted the following summary of Council properties which already had energy efficiency mechanisms installed:

• the Borough Council had previously installed low energy lighting in a number of its buildings;
• Riverside House had motion/daylight sensors;
• Bunyan Sports Centre had low energy light sensors;
• Kempston Swimming Pool had a pool cover;
• Robinson and Oasis Beach Pools had Combined Heat and Power Units; 
• Mowsbury Squash Courts had movement detectors; and
• Proposals were currently being considered on installing low energy lighting and motion sensors at the Bedford International Athletic Stadium.

There was unanimous support from the Committee to seek a reduction in carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010, acknowledging that a report would be prepared by the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) to the next meeting in order to consider its implications.

Description of Decisions

i)  That the report and presentation, be noted.

ii)  That the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) Be requested to consider a mechanism for incentivising all property managers, including schools to reduce their carbon emissions, including the possible introduction of a financial recharge of the Carbon Reduction Commitment of £12 per tonne of CO₂ emitted.

iii)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting of this Committee outlining the implications of achieving a 10% reduction in carbon emissions for the Borough of Bedford in 2010.

Reasons for Decisions

i)  To note progress achieved by the Carbon Management Group.

ii)  To encourage, educate and raise awareness in schools regarding their contribution to reducing carbon emissions within the Borough.

iii)  To be able to consider a report regarding the aspiration of achieving a 10% reduction in carbon emissions within the Borough of Bedford in 2010.

(Note: Councillor Headley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and left the room whilst this item was being considered.)

(Report of the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) enclosed)

To consider a proposal to seek support from the Carbon Trust to assist the Council to develop a Carbon Reduction Strategy.

Description of Decisions

i)  That the report be noted.

ii)  That the submission of an application to the Carbon Trust’s programme named “Local Authority Carbon Management Programme”, to support the Council to develop a robust Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Borough, be approved.

The Assistant Director (Environment and Community) outlined the proposal to seek support from the Carbon Trust to assist the Council in developing a robust Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Borough.  He also referred Members to the “Introducing Local Authority Carbon Management” document as attached as Appendix A to the report.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Environment and Community) confirmed that the Council hoped to hear back from the Carbon Trust in early 2010 on whether they would be able to work with the Council to develop its Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan.

The Head of Environment emphasised that the overarching aim of Bedford Borough Council’s Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan would be to focus on mitigation actions that would map a path to a lower carbon council over the next five years.

    RESOLVED:

i)  That the report be noted.

ii)  That the submission of an application to the Carbon Trust’s programme named “Local Authority Carbon Management Programme”, to support the Council to develop a robust Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Borough, be approved.

  Reasons for Decisions

i)  To implement a robust carbon management approach within Bedford Borough Council in order to effectively manage and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions arising from day-to-day operations across the Council.

ii)  National Indicator 185 requires Bedford Borough Council to reduce CO₂ emissions from local authority operations and outsourced services on an annual basis.

iii)  A “Local Authority Carbon Management Programme” will assist Bedford Borough Council in saving money on energy and putting it to good use in other areas, whilst making a positive contribution to the environment by lowering their carbon emissions.

iv)  To support the UK and global community to achieve commitments to reduce carbon emissions from everyday activities to ensure that the residents of Bedford Borough to have a sustainable quality of life, for now and future generations.

This item has been included on the agenda at the request of the chair to enable the Committee to enable the Committee to discuss its future work programme.

Members considered that the issues arising from the discussions held for the previous two items would constitute a work programme for the Committee in the future.

Members considered that the issues arising from the discussions held for the previous two items would constitute a work programme for the Committee in the future.