To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021.

A Member noted that the information previously requested in relation to those businesses and organisations that were not formally engaged with the Climate Change Agency had been circulated with the offer of a further meeting with the Agency to discuss the content further if required. A Member requested that this meeting be convened with the date and time circulated to all Members of the Committee.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021 as a correct record, noting the above request.

Report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency and Manchester Airports Group

This report provides an overview of the relationship between aviation and the city’s carbon emissions. It sets out how, as previously agreed, aviation-related emissions need to form part of a nationally agreed carbon budget for aviation, which should be compatible with the Paris Agreement, rather than being accounted for directly in the city’s own discrete carbon budget. The report contains information on the work that Manchester Airport have been doing to reduce the ground-based carbon impact of their activities and the work that the wider Group is doing to ensure that the UK aviation sector achieves net zero emissions by 2050. 

The Committee considered the report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) that provided an overview of the relationship between aviation and the city’s carbon emissions. It set out how, as previously agreed, aviation related emissions needed to form part of a nationally agreed carbon budget for aviation, which should be compatible with the Paris Agreement, rather than being accounted for directly in the city’s own discreet carbon budget. The report contained information on the work that Manchester Airport had been doing to reduce the ground-based carbon impact of their activities and the work that Manchester Airport Group were involved with to ensure that the aviation sector played its part in working to reduce its carbon impact. 

The report was accompanied by a presentation that summarised the key points within the report.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background, including a description of the economic benefits of the airport;

·         Recognising that the airport and aviation did make a contribution to carbon emissions;

·         Recognising the importance that both ground emissions and emissions from aviation were considered in the overall strategy to limit overall carbon emissions;

·         The Manchester Climate Change Framework included a specific sub-objective for aviation which would be updated in the Framework refresh;

·         An overview of the Manchester Airports Group, including information on their Corporate Social Responsibility;

·         Information in relation to carbon reporting;

·         Information in relation to carbon neutral airports and those activities to address indirect emissions; and

·         An update on the work of the Sustainable Aviation Coalition to address aircraft emissions and the Sustainable Aviation Decarbonisation Road-Map.  

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Supporting a call for a frequent flyer tax to be levied;

·         Calling upon MAG to exercise its influence both nationally and internationally to address the emissions caused by the aviation industry;

·         Any land used for the development and delivery of Sustainable Aviation Fuel should not be at the expense of land that could be used for food production;

·         Alternative methods of travel should be promoted by MAG, especially in relation to internal flights;

·         More investment was required in sustainable transport to access the airport site rather than rely on car parks, adding that a stop to car park expansion at the site would provide a significant message of intention to address emissions;

·         Consideration should be given to adopting an alternative carbon calculation method as recommended by the Tyndall Centre;

·         Who established the carbon budget for the airport and how was this arrived at;

·         What was MAG doing to attract and adopt green skills and jobs at the airport;  

·         The need to review the Manchester City Council Staff Travel Policy and the policy that was applied to Executive Members to ensure that it was consistent and not contrary to the Climate Emergency;

·         The call to minimise or stop aircraft engines revving when on the airfields with consideration to be given to electric ground vehicles manoeuvring aircraft into their holding position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the approach to the use of pesticides when delivering Grounds Maintenance.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an update on the approach to the use of pesticides when delivering Grounds Maintenance.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         The usage of herbicides as part of a citywide grounds’ maintenance weed control programme;

·         An update on the works to reduce the City’s dependency on herbicides and in particular Glyphosate as the primary weed control method;

·         The use of Glyphosate as a standard weed treatment having ceased altogether in parks and gardens, and the use of alternative herbicides significantly reduced to spot and targeted treatments;

·         No general Glyphosate based treatments had been used by the Grounds Teams to manage weeds in either Manchester Parks and Gardens, Street Scene, or Northwards communal areas and incidental green space since 2019;

·         Describing that in other parts of the public estate the approach had been to reduce use of glyphosate;

·         Noting that alternate methods of control were being explored, including organic herbicides, vinegar solutions, mechanical clearance, hot water and hot foam;

·         An update on the approach to weed control in cemeteries;

·         An update on the approach to weed control across highways and the public estate;

·         Describing the work in consultation with landowners and those responsible for maintenance of land to understand the current approach to weed control; and

·         Conclusions and next steps.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Reiterating the call previously expressed by the Committee for an immediate end to the use of Glysophate as a means of weed control across all settings;

·         The need to use the imminent contract re- negotiation as an opportunity to insist the Biffa also stop using Glysophate;

·         The use of Glysophate was contrary to the ambitions of the Climate Emergency, commenting upon the need to support biodiversity;

·         The need to educate residents and manage their expectations in relation to weed control and emphasise the environmental benefits of these;

·         What was the approach and guidance as to the use of Glysophate in allotments;

·         Was Glysophate injected or sprayed to tackle Japanese Knotweed;

·         The probation service should deploy those offenders undertaking Community Payback sentences to manually remove weeds where required;

·         Recognising the work delivered by the Cemeteries Teams, adding that the Committee should endorse a recommendation to increase the numbers of staff in the teams as part of the budget considerations;

·         That a briefing note be prepared for information to the Committee that described the actions taken by other Local Authorities to eradicate the use of Glysophate and the alternate measures introduced;

·         Information was requested on the approach and alternatives to weed control adopted by Registered Housing Providers across the city; and

·         Noting that residents could collectively opt out of having Glysophate used on a specific residential street and more should be done to publicise this to residents.  

The Strategic Lead, Waste Recycling and Street Cleaning, acknowledged the comments from the Members and responded by saying that the UK Health and Safety Executive had extended the use of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This is a monthly report, which includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and any items for information.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

Decision

The Committee note the report and agree the work programme.