Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Environment, Climate Change and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 25th May, 2023 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Antechamber, Level 2, Town Hall Extension. View directions

Contact: Lee Walker, Scrutiny Support Officer 

Media

Items
No. Item

29.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2023.

 

To receive the minutes of the Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group meeting held on 23 March 2023.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision

 

To approve the minutes of the Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 9 March 2023 as a correct record.

 

To note the minutes of the meeting of the Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group held 23 March 2023.

 

30.

Manchester Climate Change Framework (2022 Update) - Progress Report pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Report of the Director, Manchester Climate Change Agency and the Chair, Manchester Climate Change Partnership

 

This report provides an overview of progress being made to deliver the recommended actions in the 2022 Update to Manchester’s Climate Change Framework (2020-25) which was published in October 2022.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of Director, Manchester Climate Change Agency (MCCA) and the Chair, Manchester Climate Change Partnership (MCCP) that provided an overview of progress being made to deliver the recommended actions in the 2022 Update to Manchester’s Climate Change Framework (2020-25) which was published in October 2022.

 

Key points and themes in the report included:

 

·         Describing some of the positive actions that had been launched or delivered across the city since October 2022;

·         Describing the progress being made to map activity against the recommended actions put forward by the 2022 Update; and

·         Discussion of the challenges with capturing and collating robust and meaningful data on climate change activity and emissions reductions.

 

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

 

·         Welcoming the information that described that the MCCA and MCCP had secured an A List rating for Manchester from CDP. Noting that this positioned the city as one of only 122 global cities that met the highest standard of leadership and transparency on environmental action and data disclosure. Only 12% of cities that were scored received this rating;

·         Asking how optimistic the Partnership was since the update to the Framework six months ago;

·         What would the impact of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme be;

·         Welcoming the information regarding the Manchester Climate Pack and the ‘story pack’ adding that this should be shared with NHS partners across the city so as to avoid any crisis in the event of a period of extreme weather;

·         Further information was sought as to the anticipated impact of the Greater Manchester Trailblazer Devolution Deal, published March 2023;

·         Commenting that this Trailblazer Devolution Deal should be used to maximise all opportunities, including green skills; and

·         The Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Strategy needed to be inclusive across the city.

 

The Chair of Manchester Climate Change Partnership provided the Members with a description of the Partnership, commenting that there was a positive range of activity across the partners to address climate change. He advised that membership of the Partnership was expanding, and the work had accelerated which was a very positive development. He commented that the A List rating was very positive for the city, however he commented that currently the city was not on target to remain within its carbon budget, and the message remained that more needed to be done. He stated that more support was required from government on this agenda, in particular to the issue of domestic retrofitting.

 

In response to comments raised regarding the Airport, the Chair of Manchester Climate Change Partnership stated that Manchester Airport Group (MAG) were members of the Partnership, and a specific subgroup had been established to consider this area of activity. He described that as an operator MAG had a good operating model in terms of carbon emissions and had led nationally on the discussions regarding the issue of alternative, sustainable aviation fuel. He further acknowledged that social change and climate justice was linked to climate change and made reference to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

The Council's Procurement and Wider Actions to Support Reductions In Consumption-Based Emissions pdf icon PDF 260 KB

Report of Strategic Lead Commissioning, Integrated Commissioning and Procurement  

 

This report provides an update on the steps being taken in relation to the Council’s procurement and more widely to reduce carbon emissions – specifically emissions associated with the goods, services and works that the council ‘consumes’.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of Strategic Lead Commissioning, Integrated Commissioning and Procurement     that provided an update on the steps being taken in relation to the Council’s procurement and more widely to reduce carbon emissions, specifically emissions associated with the goods, services and works that the council ‘consumes’.

 

Key points and themes in the report included:

 

·         Providing an introduction and background, with a definition of the different emission categories;

·         Discussion of the main issues across a range of different activities;

·         Providing examples; and

·         Discussion of the current challenges, with particular reference to the measurement of Scope 3 emissions.

 

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

 

·         What monitoring of contracts was undertaken to ensure they were compliant with the 10% environmental weighting in evaluations;

·         Was 10% environmental an appropriate weighting;

·         Welcoming the information provided that small organisations, including VCSE organisations were putting forward good scoring bids and demonstrating carbon reduction plans;

·         An update was requested on the training given to commissioners and procurement staff;

·         A view was sought as to the government developing a new procurement portal system in preparation for the Procurement Bill coming into force; and

·         Noting that contractors that included vehicle use should be encouraged to adopt appropriate driving practices to reduce environmental impacts.

 

The Strategic Lead Commissioning responded to the Members comments by stating that all contracts were monitored in accordance with the usual contract management protocols. He advised that dialogue and engagement with providers was important adding that Construction and Highways had a bespoke tool to measure and monitor projects. He stated that the 10% weighting was an appropriate level, commenting that any more could risk quality. He added that no other Authority required more than 10%. He advised that Manchester had led on this approach and positive outcomes were being realised. He acknowledged the comments raised regarding VCSE organisations, stating that a number of engagement events had been delivered and good practice shared. He stated that this approach complimented the VCSE Grant Funding programme so that a consistent message regarding climate change was delivered.

 

The Strategic Lead Commissioning stated that specific training had been delivered to Commissioners, Contract Managers and Procurement Staff in relation to the 10% environmental weighting. He reported that this built upon the Carbon Literacy Training that had been undertaken by all staff. He stated that the feedback from staff had been very positive, and the intention was to establish an e-learning package for staff, in addition to the informal support that was provided to staff.

 

The Strategic Lead Commissioning responded to the concern expressed by the Chair in regard to the new government procurement portal. He stated that the exact details were currently unknown, however representation had been made regarding the need to acknowledge local prioritise.

 

In reply to the discussion regarding specific driving practices he stated that he would look into this following the meeting, however commented that in the example referred to, monitoring data would be built into the contract and specialist software  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Final Report and Recommendations of the Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report of the Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group

 

This report presents the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of Climate Change Ward Action Plans Task and Finish Group that presented the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Group.

 

The Committee were invited to note the report and endorse the recommendations.

 

Decision

 

To note the report and endorse the recommendations as listed at section 8 of the report.

 

33.

Overview Report pdf icon PDF 153 KB

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.

 

Minutes:

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.

 

The Chair invited Members to nominate areas of interest that they would like included on the Committee’s Work Programme. These suggestions were collected by the Scrutiny Support Officer and the Chair, in consultation with Executive Members, other Scrutiny Chairs and Officers would schedule items that fell within the remit of the Committee.

 

Decision

 

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme, subject to the above comments.