Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Innes and Ludlow.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee of 14 January, 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

*RESOLVED –

That it be recommended to Full Council that:

1.   The proposed Climate Change Action Plan, as detailed in Appendix A of the officer’s report, to support the Council to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and Chesterfield Borough by 2050 be approved.

2.   A new post of Climate Change / Sustainability Officer be established.

3.   The Council allocates a sum of £100,000 per annum in each of the next three financial years to support the Council’s work on Climate Change.

4.   The proposal for the Council to collaborate with the other district / borough councils in Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council as part of a county-wide approach to tackling Climate Change and, in parallel, further work with Nottingham City Council to better understand the carbon footprint of the Council and Chesterfield Borough be supported.

5.   The Deputy Leader be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing to approve the action plan updates to ensure the plan remains current and relevant.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

1.   To ensure that the legislative requirement for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 can be met.

2.   To provide the Council with a realistic and costed approach to achieving its ambition to be carbon neutral Council by 2030.

3.   To ensure that the Council gives effect to the Notice of Motion passed at a Full Council meeting in July 2019 to enable Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough.

The Assistant Director – Health and Wellbeing submitted a report seeking approval for the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.

On 17 July, 2019 Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) declared a Climate Emergency. The Council Notice of Motion mandated CBC to form a working group to support the development of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan. Expressions of interest were sought from citizens across the Borough and a working group of 19 people was established.

The working group developed an Action Plan around eight themes. Each of the 39 actions had an associated timescale and cost, where applicable, to ensure they were realistic and would make a positive impact. The Action Plan was attached at Appendix A of the officer’s report.

Adoption of the Climate Change Action Plan would result in the requirement for an additional officer resource to co-ordinate the work of the Council. The post would support the full implementation of the Action Plan and act as a local expert to ensure the actions became integral to the way the Council operated going forward.

*RESOLVED –

That it be recommended to Full Council that:

1.   The proposed Climate Change Action Plan, as detailed in Appendix A of the officer’s report, to support the Council to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and Chesterfield Borough by 2050 be approved.

2.   A new post of Climate Change / Sustainability Officer be established.

3.   The Council allocates a sum of £100,000 per annum in each of the next three financial years to support the Council’s work on Climate Change.

4.   The proposal for the Council to collaborate with the other district / borough councils in Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council as part of a county-wide approach to tackling Climate Change and, in parallel, further work with Nottingham City Council to better understand the carbon footprint of the Council and Chesterfield Borough be supported.

5.   The Deputy Leader be granted delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing to approve the action plan updates to ensure the plan remains current and relevant.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

1.   To ensure that the legislative requirement for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 can be met.

2.   To provide the Council with a realistic and costed approach to achieving its ambition to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

3.   To ensure that the Council gives effect to the Notice of Motion passed at a Full Council meeting in July 2019 to enable Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough.