Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Community will consider the report at their meeting on 15 January 2008 and their comments will be reported.

                                                       (Report circulated)  

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted, presenting the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and seeking approval for the revised Strategy and action plan. The report also summarised the changes made to the strategy as a result of the research undertaken by the University of Exeter and the outcomes of a public consultation exercise.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 15 January 2008 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

Executive acknowledged the extensive work undertaken by the University of Exeter and were interested to note the findings of their analysis of Exeter’s carbon dioxide emissions. The Director Community and Environment assured members that funding from the City Council’s car parking climate change levy would be used to encourage innovative schemes and all proposals would be judged on their merit. A wide debate on the issue would be encouraged to bring forward ideas and members would have the opportunity to contribute their views on the use of the levy at the briefing on 6 February. In response to a question regarding the Council’s own vehicle fleet, Members were advised that the use of alternative fuels was already being explored for appropriate vehicles.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(1)        the Exeter Climate Change Strategy and action plan be approved;

(2)        general progress towards meeting the aims of the Strategy be monitored on an annual basis and reported to Scrutiny Committee - Community;

(3)        the action plan be revised in Spring 2009 and thereafter every three years; and

(4)        a commitment be made to undertaking a full review of the Strategy in five years time (2013).

                                                       (Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services - report circulated.

The Head of Environmental Health Services presented the report on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy seeking support for the revised Strategy and action plan. The report also summarised the changes made to the strategy as a result of the research undertaken by the University of Exeter and the outcomes of a public consultation exercise.

With regard to the City Council car-parking climate change levy, the Director Community and Environment stated that the funds raised were to be distributed in an open and transparent way. It was hoped that an independent panel would be created comprising the Portfolio Holder, a reader nominated by the Express and Echo and representatives of Low Carbon Exeter and the business community. There would be support from energy experts including a representative from the University. Ideas would be sought from the public including through the Citizen as part of the initiative was to engage the public. Schemes would be wide ranging and not focus on a single sector such as business or transport.

Members would be briefed on the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme and asked for their views on the distribution of the Climate Change parking levy on 6 February.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive to:-

(1)               approve the Exeter Climate Change Strategy;

(2)               ensure that general progress towards meeting the aims of the Strategy be monitored on an annual basis and reported to this Committee;

(3)               ensure that the action plan is revised in Spring 2009 and thereafter every three years; and

(4)               commit to a full review of the Strategy in five year’s time (2013).

(Report circulated)