Issue - meetings

To consider the head of policy and programmes’ report. 

Cabinet received the Review of the 2030 Operational Net Zero Target report, from the head of policy and programmes. The report sought recognition of the significant progress made to date and to agree review of the need for an interim target as part of the development of the Corporate Plan.

The Cabinet member for climate action, nature recovery and strategic partnerships introduced the report which set out the council’s progress to date on the council’s operational carbon emissions. She highlighted that for the first time projections of the possible position in 2025 and beyond was presented. She went on to set out the four scenarios detailed in the report but pointed out that not all projects had committed funding and three of the scenarios would require full business cases to be worked up and would require consideration as part of the budget process.

The Cabinet discussed the report and reflected on the need to be ambitious with the target but also to balance this against the budget constraints. Cabinet commented that this was an internal target and therefore it was for the council to determine how they measured progress and the communications around this. Cabinet noted that the more detailed reporting would allow for the course to be steered more closely moving forward in conjunction with annual, SMART targets. Cabinet thanked all officers who had been involved in achieving the progress made to date.

Cabinet were satisfied with the report but wished to ensure, in line with comments made by Councillor James and Patel and the approved Council motion from July, that any future interim targets set were SMART.

RESOLVED:

(a) That Cabinet recognises the significant progress made in reducing the council’s operational carbon emissions. These have reduced by 18 per cent since the council’s Climate Action Plan baseline year of 2019/20 and by 49 per cent since Greenhouse Gas reporting commenced in 2009/10.

(b) That need for a SMART interim target is reviewed as part of the development of the forthcoming Corporate Plan.