Issue - meetings

Received a report from the Chief Executive on the draft Barking and Dagenham Climate Change Strategy which draws on national, regional and local best practice to set out specific actions for the Council and the Local Strategic Partnership.

The draft Strategy seeks to address both the causes and impacts of climate change and focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of the borough through a range of mitigation and adaptation measures contained within an Action Plan.  Furthermore it will enable the Council to meet its legal requirements in terms of the Climate Change Act 2008 and the emerging Carbon Reduction Commitment as well as many of the objectives of the National Indicators (NIs) around Climate Change, including NI 185, 186, 187, 189, 194 and 198.  Most importantly, the Council, its key partners and those that live and work in the borough will be prepared for the challenges of climate change.

A further aspect of the draft Strategy, which will replace the Council’s Sustainable Energy Strategy adopted in 2005, is to reduce costs through greater energy efficiency and specific reference was made to the energy costs in relation to Council buildings, which are currently £8-9m per annum, improved heating and insulation in the Borough’s schools and those on a low income who currently spend a large proportion of their income on heating and lighting.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in meeting its Community Priority of “Clean”, to:

  (i)  The draft Strategy being the subject of formal public consultation, in the form of the executive summary (Appendix 1 to the report) and action plan (Appendix 2);

  (ii)  The adoption, in principle, of a target to reduce the borough’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, in line with the national target, and that the Council collectively works towards this through all departments taking ownership of the strategy and their respective responsibilities in the action plan;

  (iii)  Those responsible in the Local Strategic Partnership (including those responsible for: highways and drainage maintenance, health and community services, parks and leisure, schools and public building assets, housing services and emergency planning) being encouraged to work with the Council’s officers in developing and implementing a comprehensive climate change risk assessment for the Borough;

  (iv)  The Council investigating the signing up to the national “10:10” campaign, which would require a 10% reduction in carbon emissions through the Council’s business practices in 2010;

  (v)  Note that the final Strategy will be presented to the Assembly for adoption in summer 2010; and

  (vi)  Note that progress on the key aspects of the Strategy will be incorporated into the regular Corporate Performance reports that are presented to the Executive.

The Executive commended the work undertaken by officers in the development of this Strategy.