Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Sustainability

RESOLVED that

1. the Authority signs up to the Local Government Association’s Climate Local Commitment set out in appendix 2
2. the Authority’s commitments and actions to Climate Local are to be those set out in appendix 3

The Cabinet Member Sustainability introduced the report and explained that the Climate Local initiative replaced the Nottingham declaration, which CBC had signed in 2002.  Signing up to the initiative will reinforce the Council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions from council activities by 30 % by 2015 from a 2005/6 baseline and the Council’s aspiration to reduce carbon emissions by 40 % by 2020. Actions that will be undertaken include working towards Bee Guardian Town status, developing a tree strategy and working with Severn Wye Energy Agency to support the community on climate change mitigation.

The Cabinet Member invited Gill Morris, Climate Change and Sustainability Officer, to address Cabinet.  She highlighted that signing up to the Climate Local initiative reaffirmed the council’s public commitment to carbon reduction and the actions identified comprised in-house improvements, assisting the community in adopting measures to tackle climate change and covered services which had been commissioned.

In response to a question on how CBC faired in comparison to neighbouring authorities, the Climate Change and Sustainability Officer explained that Stroud was leading the way but Cheltenham was doing well.

The Leader of the Council highlighted that it was important that the Council contributed to tackling climate change and whilst it was difficult in a recession, it could not afford not to do it.

RESOLVED that

1. the Authority signs up to the Local Government Association’s Climate Local Commitment set out in appendix 2
2. the Authority’s commitments and actions to Climate Local are to be those set out in appendix 3