Minutes:
*O&S 84
In his capacity as lead officer, the Director – Governance and Assurance provided an update on the work of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group. In so doing, he made particular reference to:
- the Council having now established its own Carbon Footprint and the target to have a net zero Footprint by 2030, which was acknowledged to be an ambitious target;
- the flooding responsibilities for local authorities;
- the differences between Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 Emissions. Whilst informing the Committee of the main differences, Members noted that Scope 1 Emissions (i.e. those that were within the direct control of the Council) were more straightforward to quantify than the Scope 2 and Scope 3 equivalents;
- there being a need to now engage more with the local community. In so doing, the officer recognised that there were a number of experts living within the West Devon Borough area and the Working Group had agreed in principle to set up a Community Board. A meeting with some local experts had already been set up at Tavistock Town Council and was to be held during the week commencing 2 March 2020 and it was hoped that a similar meeting could be arranged in the northern area of the Borough; and
- the progress that had already been made by the Council. In outlining some of the progress, the lead officer emphasised that the Working Group had already identified transport and housing as being two key areas of focus for the Council.
During the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:-
(a) When questioned, the lead officer confirmed that the Council’s Leisure Centres would be a key element in evaluating the Scope 3 Emissions;
(b) It was agreed that copies of the documents that had been referred to by the lead officer in his presentation would be circulated to all Members;
(c) A number of Members welcomed the increased emphasis on community engagement, but did recognise that it would present the Council with a number of challenges;
(d) The Committee acknowledged that the Council was one of only a few to have included Biodiversity in its Climate Change Emergency Declaration. To help the Council to build up a Borough wide picture of Biodiversity related information, Members were encouraged to promote within their local communities the use of the Council’s Climate Change email address;
(e) A lengthy debate ensued on the linkages between standards of new build construction and the Climate Change agenda. In particular, the Committee made reference to the Council decision at its meeting that was held on 17 December 2019 (Minute CM 51 refers):
‘The Council actively lobbies both Central Government and its local MPs to improve the standard of infrastructure and new development and to introduce incentives to make our homes as energy efficient and clean as possible.’
When questioned, officers confirmed that the Council had not yet received any responses to the correspondence that had been sent following the meeting on 17 December 2019.
Furthermore, Members felt that the Devon Building Control Partnership Committee should give this issue formal consideration at a future meeting.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. That the update on the work of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group be welcomed; and
2. That the Devon Building Control Partnership Committee be asked to give formal consideration to potential methods and incentives to make new development as energy efficient and clean as possible.