Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bagley, Ogle and Wheeldon.

Councillor Stone, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Environment, provided an introduction to the subject of Climate Change and how Chesterfield Borough Council is looking at meeting its targets.

The Policy and Partnerships Manager and Climate Change Officer gave a presentation on the Climate Change Delivery Plan Quarter Two Out-turn. 

The Climate Change Strategy 2023 to 2030 takes the Council up to its first target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030. There are six key themes within the Strategy for its activities during 2023-2030:

-       Buildings and Energy Use

-       Travel

-       Green Space, Land Use and Offsetting

-       Communications, Engagement and Training

-       Data, Monitoring and Corporate Activity

-       Council Influence and Partnership Activity.

This Strategy was approved by Full Council in February 2023. It has many monitoring arrangements including through Cabinet, Scrutiny, the Corporate Leadership Team, and the Climate Change Forum. To ensure that the Strategy remains on track a delivery plan has also been developed which will be reviewed annually. The delivery plan identifies the key milestones, inputs, outputs, and measures that will need to be delivered during each year of the plan to maintain progress. The delivery plan will be reviewed annually and approved by Cabinet in March 2024.

A Performance Dashboard of critical items has been created. Eleven actions have been classified as critical because they are particularly urgent, have a disproportionate effect on council emissions, or are necessary precursors to other important actions.

In terms of Buildings and Energy, there are fourteen actions. Of these, one is rated red, three amber, eight green, one has been established and one has been removed as it has been merged into another action. There have been successes within this category:

-       Three stock condition surveys (Council’s operational assets) have been undertaken and the reports are currently being reviewed.

-       Green Homes Grant (private sector) – good uptake and extra funding secured.

-       New build council housing specification of EPC A implemented.

-       Feasibility study complete on decarbonising a shared domestic heating site.

Challenges within this sector focused on the progress and pace of the stock condition surveys. Also, capacity issues regarding bidding for decarbonisation grant funding, and actioning the stock condition surveys and decarbonisation/ maintenance plans.

Discussions from Members focussed on the need for progression with the stock condition surveys. As we are now in 2024 there are 6 years left to complete the rest so needs resolving with some speed. Assurances were given that plans were in place to progress this action which is red rated.

There are nine items in the topic area of Travel. Three of these are rated green, four amber, one has been established and for one there is no data. Successes include:

-       The fleet decarbonisation plan is approved and in progress.

-       21 charge points have been installed at the depot, with additional points at Calow.

-       Quotations are currently being sought for a Solar canopies feasibility study which is additional to the planned activity.

Challenges centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

This is a standard agenda item. Both committees will look at this separately in their own meetings.

This is a standard agenda item. Both committees will look at this separately when they next meet.

It was noted that there are new items on the updated Forward Plan. Members were encouraged to take the time to read this document thoroughly.

This is a standard agenda item. This will be discussed at the separate meetings of the Scrutiny Select Committees when they meet next.