Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the Climate Change Emergency.

This report provided an overview of the wider context of the Climate Change Emergency whilst responding to the Council request for a report setting out the measures required to make the Council’s activities carbon neutral and the actions that would need to be taken to make the District as a whole carbon neutral.

In addition to the Local Government Association declaring a Climate Emergency at its meeting held in July 2019, over half of local authorities in the UK have also declared a Climate Emergency at a local level.

The Council would be focusing its activities in three areas:

·         Raising awareness;

·         Reducing emissions from our own activities; and

·         Developing plans to reduce emissions across the District.

This would allow the Council to identify what was achievable and what was not and how it would achieve its goal of being a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

In response to a question as to why the Council was setting itself a net zero carbon emitter target of 2030 while setting the same target for the district as 2050, the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) advised that there were a number of factors beyond the Council’s direct control in the district (such as the Port of Dover’s air quality) that it would need to try and influence whereas the Council’s own emissions were in its direct control. The Council could also encourage other organisations through achieving its 2030 target.

Councillor C D Zosseder suggested that the Climate Change Working Group could be increased from 1 to 2 representatives from each of the political groups on the Council.

Councillor L A Keen suggested that the Working Group should give consideration to the involvement of young people via engagement activities or even membership of the working group. The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) advised that the Cabinet had been impressed with the question asked by Hamish Napier at full Council and were keen to involve young people in some way.

It was moved by Councillor J Rose, duly seconded by Councillor C D Zosseder and

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended to the Cabinet:

(a)  That the report be endorsed.

(b)  That the start times of the Working Group be set at 6.00pm in line with other committees.

(c)  That the number of representatives from each political group on the Working Group be increased from 1 to 2 members.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Commercial Services

(a)  It was agreed to recommend to Council that a climate change emergency be declared.

(b)  It was agreed:

(i)            That the serious impact of climate change globally and the need for

urgent action be acknowledged.

(ii)           That a cross-party Climate Change Member Working Group be established.

(iii)          That the Terms of Reference for that Group, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved in principle and, in addition, arrangements made to ensure effective engagement with younger generations.

(iv)          That a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, led by the Member Working Group, be prepared, setting out plans for Dover District Council to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030 at the latest.

(v)           That a pledge to do what is within the powers and resources of Dover District Council to support the wider community so that the district becomes carbon neutral by 2050 be approved.

(vi)          That a baseline audit of the carbon emissions of all the Council’s services be completed, to inform the discussions of the Member Working Group.