Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 147/08 of the Deputy Director (Housing and Community Safety). 

(Time: 2.40pm to 2.53pm)

The Executive received and considered report 147/08 of the Deputy Director (Housing and Community Safety) which sought approval of the draft Carbon Management Plan.  The plan set out how the Council could meet a proposed commitment to reduce carbon emissions from its own operations by 20% by 2012.  In doing so the Council would meet its Local Area Agreement (LAA) 2 commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 8% by 2010 based on a 2008 baseline.  The draft plan also set out how the Council would implement various projects to achieve its carbon reduction targets.  The Council had a legal obligation to have regard to the latest published energy measures report; it was noted that this had been taken into account in the preparation of the plan.  The plan highlighted areas critical to the Council reducing emissions:

·        Contractor emissions - it was important to work with contractors to reduce carbon emissions

·        Governance - all relevant service plans and any future plans should take full account of the plan

·        Funding - although the Council had already proposed £150,000 capital until 2011, further £130,000 capital would be required to fully fund all the capital projects over the life of the plan.  Reduced energy costs for the Council could be £200,000 by 2012 or higher if appropriate saving-sharing agreements could be reached with leisure centre operators

·        Corporate property review - the review would have an impact on the viability of certain projects, for example investment in energy saving measures

·        Monitoring - a robust and accurate carbon and cost savings monitoring regime was central to the success of the plan

The Executive welcomed the plan which would guide the Council in securing significant emissions reductions in line with its climate change strategy target, the new Corporate Plan, and the Oxfordshire Local Area Agreement (LAA) 2 target.  The plan would also have clear financial benefits in the medium term.  The Executive was also keen to see performance improve so that the Council could move to the top of the performance matrix set out in appendix A to the plan.  To do this carbon reduction strategies would need to be embedded throughout the whole Council and continually be a part of every service plan. 

Members asked that an amendment was made to the plan to clarify the future of the civic halls.  There was a possibility, not a probability, that the management of the civic halls could be transferred in the future. 

The Executive thanked the Principal Energy Officer and his team and Councillor Angela Lawrence, the previous portfolio holder, for their work on this plan. 

RESOLVED

(a)               that the draft Carbon Management Plan be approved, subject to an amendment to clarify that it is a possibility, not a probability, that the management of the civic halls would be transferred;

(b)               that the new corporate target of reducing carbon emissions from the Council’s own operations by 20% by 2012 be adopted;

(c)               that it be noted that in addition to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113