Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and developed a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) 2020-25, which was approved by Executive in March 2020. This report provides an update on the work programme for the third year of the Action Plan (CCAP Work Programme 2023-24).

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer that provided Members with an update on the work programme for the third year of the Action Plan (CCAP Work Programme 2023-24).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Describing the actions to be progressed in Year 4 of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) 2020-25;

·         The achievements and highlights of Year 3 would be detailed in the Annual Report 2022-23 which would be presented to the Committee and the Executive in September 2023 and would then be made available on the Council’s website;

·         Noting that the actions described were structured across the following five workstreams:

1.  Buildings and Energy.

2.  Transport and Travel.

3.  Reducing Consumption Based Emissions and Influencing Suppliers.

4.  Climate Adaptation, Carbon Storage and Carbon Sequestration.

5.  Influencing Behaviour and Being a Catalyst for Change; and

·         Distinguishing between those actions that were Council Actions and those that were City Actions.

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

·         What were the identified challenges on delivery of the actions in year 4;

·         How was the breadth of good work and progress made communicated to residents of the city, adding that this was important to influence wider behaviour change in relation to climate action;

·         Were there enough recycling facilities across the Council buildings estate sufficient to enable all staff to recycle appropriately;

·         More information was requested in relation to green skills and housing, with particular reference to Registered Housing Providers across the city;

·         Did we use all available levers to influence partners and other sectors across the city to take immediate action to address climate change;

·         Noting the reference to the Manchester Food Board and commenting that methene associated with food waste was a significant contributor to climate change;

·         Further information was requested in relation to the sustainable materials list that identified carbon and whole life costs for Highways that had been identified as an action in workstream 2; and

·         Consideration needed to be given to advertising that was displayed across the city so as not to promote high carbon emission activities or products.

In response to the Members’ comments and questions the Zero Carbon Manager described that the key areas and challenges related to buildings and transport. She stated that significant progress had been achieved and reported to the Committee in regard to reducing emissions across the Council owned estate; however, domestic retrofit, across all sectors was a challenge. She described that they worked closely with the Climate Change Partnership and used the experience and outcomes achieved across the Council estate to provide examples of good practice to influence the commercial sector. She described that they were also working with Registered Housing Providers as part of the wider approach to housing retrofit and the Committee noted that they would receive a substantive report on this work at their September meeting, adding that this would also include consideration of skills.

She further added that information and updates in relations to transport would be included in the Quarter 1 Update Report that was scheduled for the next meeting.

The Zero Carbon Manager described the approach to promoting the good work to influence behaviour change. She said that they had a dedicated communications strategy that utilised social media. She further made reference to the important work delivered by the Neighbourhood Teams who were supported by dedicated Climate Change Officers. She made reference to the number of green related community events and activities delivered and the work undertaken with schools.

The Zero Carbon Manager commented that all available levers and opportunities, at a local, regional, national and international level, were used to support, promote and influence on the issue of climate change.

The Strategic Lead, Resources & Programmes informed the Committee that the Executive would be considering a report titled ‘Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation – Power Purchase Agreement’ at their meeting of 28 June. He commented that this was an important development for the Council to further contribute to the reduction in the Council’s own direct emissions and increase the provision of additional green energy to the Council. He stated that a report on this area of work would be considered by this Committee at the November meeting.

The Principal Resources and Programmes Officer, Zero Carbon Team added that progress against some aspects of work had slipped for good reason as it was important that local ambitions aligned to wider plans and strategies that were being developed at a Greater Manchester level, making reference to the GM Clean Air Plan and Places for Everyone. She further informed the Members that work was ongoing with the Facilities Management Team to improve staff recycling facilities across the estate, commenting that this could be a challenge in smaller locations where staff were located.

The Executive Member for Environment and Transport stated that the Council continued to lobby Government for additional support to enable the Council to drive forward and deliver at pace this important area of work. In regard to the comments regarding methane and food waste she stated that she would pick this up with the Food Board. In regard to the question asked in relation to Highways, she advised that a briefing note on this would be provided for Members. In response to the comments made regarding advertising across the city she said that she would discuss this with the Communications Team.

The Deputy Executive Member for Environment and Transport commented that the work the Council had undertaken in relation to its approach to procurement and climate change was particularly important. She further paid tribute to the Green Summit that had been delivered with schools, adding that this was an example that clearly demonstrated civic leadership.

Decision

To note the report.