Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

The report provides information on how the Neighbourhood Teams are supporting local communities to engage in local climate change activity and reduce carbon emissions.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided information on how the Neighbourhood Teams were supporting local communities to engage in local climate change activity and reduce carbon emissions.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·                An update on the In Our Nature programme pilot schemes;

·                Describing the approach and outcomes of partnership working;

·                Use of the Neighbourhood Investment Fund;

·                Work of Climate Change Neighbourhood Officers including supporting development of wider partnership structures;

·                Information on the delivery of active travel; and

·                Describing the key elements that were required for the local approach to be successful.

In presenting the report the Head of Neighbourhood Management requested an amendment to the wording of paragraph 10.3 to read as follows;

‘The 'Towards Inclusive Environmental Sustainability (TIES)' project based in the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) at the University of Manchester is researching how the knowledge and practices of immigrants from the Global South contribute to building just and sustainable cities in the UK.

The TIES team has interviewed key representatives and organisations who engage in the green agenda and climate work in Greater Manchester and nationally. These interviews will help build a picture of the local context as well as identifying challenges to and opportunities for greater inclusivity.

In the next few months the team will be conducting a survey about the environmental behaviours, practices, and attitudes of residents in Greater Manchester (GM). They will be asking 400 non-UK born participants who have arrived from Pakistan or Somalia to the UK in the last 10 years and 100 UK-born participants to take part in the survey. Researchers will be available to help interpret and translate the survey for participants for whom English is not their first language.

The roll out of the survey will begin in Central Manchester. Areas including Moss Side, Rusholme, Hulme and Longsight. The TIES team welcome invitations from organisations and individuals to host 'Survey Groups' in these areas. They particularly encourage organisations who would like to support/run a sustainable group activity (e.g., a clothing swap, litter pick or host a guest speaker) alongside or during the survey group to get in touch. The TIES team will help facilitate these groups and activities. For further information, email Dr. Nafhesa Ali at nafhesa.ali@manchester.ac.uk .’

The Committee also heard from the three Climate Change Officers who provided a verbal update on the work that had been delivered in their respective areas.

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

·                Recognising the contribution that the Climate Change Officers had made and called for the continued funding of these posts;

·                Noting the useful Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS) Place-Based Carbon Calculator tool;

·                An update was sought as to Carbon Literacy training and if there was any intention to roll this out further; and

·                How were the outcomes of the work described calculated in carbon savings.

The Head of Neighbourhood Management stated that the work of the Neighbourhood Teams, supported by the Climate Change Officers, all contributed to the Manchester Climate Change Action Plan. She stated that work was underway with the Tyndall Centre to formulate a methodology for reporting the carbon savings achieved as a result of these actions.  She also commented that engagement work with local businesses in district centres would be undertaken.

The Strategic Lead (South) commented that the CREDS tool was a useful tool that had helped inform the local Neighbourhood Climate Change Plans as this mapped the local area to identify the ‘hotspots’ in each ward. The Resident and Communities Programme Lead, Manchester Climate Change Agency advised that the Tyndall Centre were building upon the CREDS tool to develop a bespoke tool for Manchester and that Members would be updated on this at the appropriate time.

The Executive Member for the Environment stated that consideration was being given as to the next steps for carbon literacy training, including working with schools on the eco schools programme and various faith groups across the city.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods paid tribute to the work of the Climate Change Officers and the progress they had made in a relatively short period of time and in the context of the pandemic. He further called upon the government to adequately fund climate change activity.

Decision

The Committee recommend;

1. That a briefing note is provided to Members regarding the future funding of the Climate Change Officers posts when this is available.

2. Recognising the positive climate change initiatives delivered in wards, that good practice and learning should be shared across all Neighbourhood Teams to help strengthen and embed climate change across the city.

3. Active Streets should be promoted and supported across all wards.