Climate and Ecological Emergency
This Council notes that:
1. Exeter City Council (ECC) declared a Climate Emergency in February 2019 and committed to becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030, recognising the scale and urgency of the global challenge from climate change following the IPPC report published in October 2018. To contribute to achieving its net zero objectives ECC has:-
· Adopted a Net Zero Carbon Roadmap in conjunction with Exeter City Futures to achieve net zero carbon targets.
· Secured £1.6 million of European Development Funding to install a solar farm and battery storage on waste ground close to the Council’s depot.
· In the past year, delivered the following carbon saving measures:-
· Financial savings of £630,000
· Energy savings of 2,300,050 kWh
· Carbon savings of 550 tonnes
· Added 21 new 3- and 4- bedroomed homes built to Passivhaus standards.
· Commissioned the building of St Sidwell’s Point – the UK’s first leisure centre to be built to Passivhaus standards.
· Started the roll-out of the retrofitting of all 4000+ council housing to our super energy efficient standards.
2. Demonstrated its commitment to protecting the environment and greening the city by:-
· Consulting residents on the creation of a city-wide Tree Strategy.
· Implementing an ambitious tree-planting programme including 2,000 trees on the Monkerton Ridgeline, and a new woodland of 300 trees off Lancelot Road.
· Encouraging biodiversity through wildflower planting and naturalising grass areas, and a phased reduction in the use of glyphosate weed-killer.
This Council believes that:
1. Exeter City Council has shown, through its net zero carbon achievements, tree-planting and green-spaces activities, its commitment to contributing to achieving its net zero carbon and ecological objectives.
2. We all have a responsibility, both individually and collectively, to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change and ecological decline.
3. Local Authorities are well-placed to initiate the changes that can contribute to the mitigation of the harm caused, by continuing to set ambitious targets to address the Climate and Ecological emergency.
4. The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill provides a timely evaluation and summary of the actions required by Government in order to achieve climate and ecology objectives.
The Council resolves:
1. To declare an Ecological Emergency to supplement and strengthen the Climate Change Emergency declaration of February 2019 by this Council.
2. To continue to work with partners, both locally and regionally, including DCC, to achieve net zero carbon objectives, and to conserve and support the recovery of the natural environment.
3. To support community consultation with respect to identifying solutions to address both climate and ecological emergencies.
4. To request that our two MPs support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.
Minutes:
Councillor Harvey, seconded by Councillor Branston, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-
Climate and Ecological Emergency
This Council notes that:
1. Exeter City Council (ECC) declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and committed to becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030, recognising the scale and urgency of the global challenge from climate change following the IPPC report published in October 2018. To contribute to achieving its net zero objectives ECC has:-
· Adopted a Net Zero Carbon Roadmap in conjunction with Exeter City Futures to achieve net zero carbon targets.
· Secured £1.6 million of European Development Funding to install a solar farm and battery storage on waste ground close to the Council’s depot.
· In the past year, delivered the following carbon saving measures:-
· Financial savings of £630,000
· Energy savings of 2,300,050 kWh
· Carbon savings of 550 tonnes
· Added 21 new 3- and 4- bedroomed homes built to Passivhaus standards.
· Commissioned the building of St Sidwell’s Point – the UK’s first leisure centre to be built to Passivhaus standards.
· Started the roll-out of the retrofitting of all 4000+ council housing to our super energy efficient standards.
2. Demonstrated its commitment to protecting the environment and greening the city by:-
· Consulting residents on the creation of a city-wide Tree Strategy.
· Implementing an ambitious tree-planting programme including 2,000 trees on the Monkerton Ridgeline, and a new woodland of 300 trees off Lancelot Road.
· Encouraging biodiversity through wildflower planting and naturalising grass areas, and a phased reduction in the use of glyphosate weed-killer.
This Council believes that:
1. Exeter City Council has shown, through its net zero carbon achievements, tree-planting and green-spaces activities, its commitment to contributing to achieving its net zero carbon and ecological objectives.
2. We all have a responsibility, both individually and collectively, to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change and ecological decline.
3. Local Authorities are well-placed to initiate the changes that can contribute to the mitigation of the harm caused, by continuing to set ambitious targets to address the Climate and Ecological emergency.
4. The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill provides a timely evaluation and summary of the actions required by Government in order to achieve climate and ecology objectives.
The Council resolves:
1. To declare an Ecological Emergency to supplement and strengthen the Climate Change Emergency declaration of July 2019 by this Council.
2. To continue to work with partners, both locally and regionally, including DCC, to achieve net zero carbon objectives, and to conserve and support the recovery of the natural environment.
3. To support community consultation with respect to identifying solutions to address both climate and ecological emergencies.
4. To request that our two MPs support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.
Councillor Diana Moore moved and Councillor Kevin Mitchell seconded the following amendments:-
Amend resolution 2 to read:
“To continue to work with partners, both locally and regionally, including Devon County Council, to:-
A achieve net zero carbon objectives, and publish a carbon budget and annual audit for both the City and the Council to demonstrate progress towards the net zero 2030 target;
B to conserve and support the recovery of the natural environment, in particular by supporting the work of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy and use this strategy to inform the development of the new local plan."
And to delete resolution 3 and replace with:-
"To set up an Exeter Citizens Assembly to deliberate on solutions, and engage communities to deliver initiatives to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies."
Cllr Kevin Mitchell in seconding the amendment made the following points:-
· the amendments were aimed at strengthening the Motion and to support existing Council initiatives in combatting the Climate and Ecological Emergency; and
· auditing and scrutiny were vital to review progress of the roadmap towards the 2030 target.
Councillor Diana Moore spoke on her amendments:-
· the Council should reflect the ambitions of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, which seeks to ensure that the UK becomes a carbon neutral economy and which had received the support of over 100 MP’s across eight political parties across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
· the Bill also seeks to restore and regenerate habitats and protect biodiversity, issues which are also of concern to many Exeter residents;
· engagement with Devon County Council and all local Districts as part of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy is vital;
· the amendments seek a range of actions to progress issues at a local level through comprehensive public engagement; and
· a Citizen’s Assembly will help bring forward the aspirations of the Bill in Exeter as engaging the people of Exeter is crucial given the enormity of this crises and the need for full support on difficult decisions. The County Council has already established a Citizen’s Assembly.
· Councillor Diana Moore urged the Council to take on board the suggested additions to the Motion to reflect a robust commitment to the measures set out in the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill and to ensure communities play a real part in the decisions effecting the climate and the natural environment.
Members made the following comments:-
· the Council is continuing to progress many initiatives in support of its green agenda ambitions but it is considered that the production of an annual audit would only divert resources at a time when the Council is under severe financial pressures in addressing a shortfall of £6 million. It is felt that an audit would be unlikely to deliver sufficiently useful detail and that the emphasis should be on progressing projects rather than detailed monitoring. Annual carbon footprint reports are being produced, however, the most recent has been delayed because of the Covid 19 Pandemic;
· the formation of a Citizen’s Assembly is only one form of engagement as consultation can take many different types to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.
The Leader made the following comments:-
· the Council seeks to play a positive role in support of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy and will engage with neighbouring District Councils in developing projects which will play a role in Net Zero plans. This will be reflected in the emerging Local Exeter Plan and when formulating the Local Plan Policy Framework as the Council is committed to a co-ordinated approach with these Districts to bring forward the Plan;
· an invitation has been made to the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Partnership, which seeks to connect people to nature, with a view to an appropriate briefing;
· re-wilding projects across the city are being progressed to improve land management and support local nature recovery and the Council’s partnership with the Devon Wildlife Trust is key in this;
· the Council has made a commitment to retain Northbrook as open space working with the Devon Wildlife Trust, with decisions relating to Bull Meadow and Clifton Hill being further evidence of the commitment to protect existing green space; and
· the work of the City Council, with its partners, should be recognised and supported, the Net Zero Carbon Plan being one of the best in the County if not the South West and many Councils have followed Exeter in announcing a Climate Emergency.
The amendment was put to the vote and LOST.
In presenting his Motion, and in relation to the four recommendations, Councillor Harvey made the following points:-
· the Motion to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency demonstrates the Council’s green credentials, complements a previous Council Motion in October 2019 to eliminate glyphosate use and strengthens the Council’s Climate Change Emergency Declaration of July 2019;
· the role of partners was vital, including the Liveable Exeter Place Board and the Devon Wildlife Trust who manage the Valley Parks on the Council’s behalf and develop wild flower projects;
· community engagement was a key element reflected in consultation on the Play, Tree and Woodlands and Parks and Green Spaces Strategies and supporting community groups such as the Friends of Exhibition Fields and rewilding and litter picking projects; and
· welcome the support of Ben Bradshaw MP for the Bill.
Councillor Harvey thanked opposition Members for supporting the principle behind the Motion given the depth of challenges being faced world-wide and not just in Exeter.
Councillor Branston, in seconding the Motion, stated that the Motion would make a positive contribution to achieving this Council’s commitment to Exeter becoming Zero Carbon neutral by 2030.
Councillor Leadbetter, as Leader of the Opposition Group, advised that his Group would be supporting the Motion and that he would contact Simon Jupp MP to seek further support for the Bill.
Members, in supporting the Motion, referred to the following initiatives which highlighted the Council’s commitment to Net Zero and to meeting the significant challenges faced by the city:-
· retrofitting of the Council housing stock which also helps address fuel poverty and building to Passivhaus standard in new accommodation;
· support for active travel;
· provision of solar panels in Council buildings and the construction of a solar array and battery storage facility close to the new Marsh Barton railway, the power generated at this city solar farm to be effectively managed through a battery storage system. This farm will eventually power refuse vehicles;
· the provision of electric car charging points around the city including multi storey car parks to provide free charging for electric vehicles;
· investigating the potential of building a power turbine at Trews Weir to increase renewable energy generation;
· waste statistics produced by Defra show that the amount of waste per person that the city’s residents produce was now the 7th lowest in the country, a figure which could improve with the introduction of the kerb side food waste and glass collection service;
· building on the success of the Millennium Wood launching a replacement tree programme across the city;
· many biodiversity measures across the city such as wild flower planting at Clyst Heath, Exwick and St Thomas and encouraging bat habitats in Ludwell Valley and Pinces Gardens; and
· reports are being produced on the progress in reducing glyphosate use which will contribute towards enhancing pollination and protect the environment. This is a joint approach with communities.
Councillor Harvey commended the Motion to Council.
The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and CARRIED unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7.58 and re-convened at 8.03.