Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero and City Management.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1) that Exeter City Council take a leading role in coordinating and facilitating City Wide Net Zero for two years (2024/25 and 2025/26); and

(2) that a temporary two year post of Grade M (indicative) be established to coordinate and facilitate City Wide Net Zero, sitting within the Net Zero team and be paid from the one-off net zero earmarked reserve.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which detailed the way forward for coordinating and facilitating City Wide Net Zero activity for the next two years, using an existing budget, staffing resources and internal and external structures. In 2021 a temporary Net Zero £1million earmarked reserve was established, of which £200,00 allocated for city wide net zero, which £155,513 was in place to fund a Programme Manager for the next two years to lead on delivering net zero.

Members were referred to the reporting structure in the report for the Liveable Exeter Place Board, Communities, Devon Climate Emergency and Exeter City Council, noting that various Council services would be working together. All minutes of the various groups would be reported to the Strategic Scrutiny Committee and all decisions would be reported to the Executive Committee.

Particular reference was made to Exeter City Council being recognised as the second-best UK district council in terms of performance and leading on Net Zero by an independent review. It was intended to replicate the work undertaken for reducing the Council’s corporate carbon emissions for City Wide Net Zero.

Councillor Jobson, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item and welcomed the report.

Councillor M. Mitchell, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item and enquired on having quarterly key performance indicators reported with the action plan.

Councillor Moore, as an opposition group leader, welcomed the report and suggested the inclusion of a work plan which focused on the project priorities to reduce emissions to benefit communities.

Executive Members debated and welcomed the report and made the following points

·         the report, highlighted the scale of ambition in achieving City Wide Net Zero by 2030 and was welcomed; and

·         the report demonstrated how the Council led by example in reducing carbon emissions and its collaborative approach in achieving funding and resources with partners.

The Leader welcomed the report and confirmed he would speak with the Portfolio Holder in relation to the points raised by Opposition Leaders. He highlighted the importance of continuing to work to the 2030 target and recognised excellent work undertaken in Exeter.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1) that Exeter City Council take a leading role in coordinating and facilitating City Wide Net Zero for two years (2024/25 and 2025/26); and

(2) that a temporary two year post of Grade M (indicative) be established to coordinate and facilitate City Wide Net Zero, sitting within the Net Zero team and be paid from the one-off net zero earmarked reserve.