Agenda item

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

The Net Zero Project Manager presented the report, which advised the Audit and Governance Committee of updates to the City Council’s Net Zero Risk Register, and key measures introduced to deliver the Council’s Net Zero aspiration by 2030. The report linked to the Net Zero Scrutiny report and updated Carbon Reduction Plan, and the 2022/23 Greenhouse Gases Inventory report, which offered detail of the latest carbon footprint.  The Net Zero Project Manager reported an overall reduction of 4% compared to 2021/22.  That Social Housing accounted for 39% of overall emissions and Non domestic (corporate estate) accounts for 42%.  spread across everything we have purchased as a Council. Grants were limited by scope and funding is needed, to reduce risk, and for implement of measures needed to protect ourselves from the effects of global warming.

The Net Zero Project Manager responded to the following comments from Members:-

·         the carbon reduction plan linked to the original Greenhouse Footprint report produced for the City Council by the University of Exeter in 2022. The report provided potential measures needed to achieve net zero for each sector and a trajectory of outcomes to achieve Net Zero. The Carbon reduction Plan was built on this information and the measures to be undertaken to get to net zero;

·         the Council was working with larger suppliers to address their supply chain, which included Mears, proving housing maintenance works and accounting for one of the biggest contractor spend. As a priority they were rolling out of the Green Accord Accreditation Scheme to all such suppliers to help them work towards reducing their emissions in the services provided to us. Further work with procurement and housing had just commenced, and the Net Zero Project Manager would provide a further update in six months’ time.

·         it was estimated that, by March 2025, retrofit delivery to 929 housing properties would be completed. It was difficult to calculate the exact timescale for full delivery of the Council housing retrofit programme. This was primarily due to the fact that over the past three years, the Council has been successful in securing Government grant funding (£4.1m) for retrofit upgrades and this had assisted the completion rates. Should grant funding not be available or not be secured over the next few years this would adversely impact the number of properties completed and the ultimate timescale. Our estimated cost for full retrofit roll-out was £88m at current prices.

·         the Net Zero team were currently working with the University of Exeter in respect of an Investment Plan, which would help identify more accurate costings in relation to the cost of achieving the Council’s Net Zero ambition by 2030;

·         the Net Zero Project Manager took an action to seek further information in relation to the Member’s comment on the reference to afforestation and the Council’s relationship with the Devon Wildlife Trust, and to provide at a later date in relation to the Council’s relationship with Devon County Council and the local nature strategy; and

·         in terms of the different net zero targets of 2030 and 2050, the Net Zero Team were working with neighbouring local authorities, and were involved in joint working and projects. The Council also benefitted from its membership of a number of different groups including the Climate Emergency Task Force for Devon (and districts), and membership of the South West Energy and Environmental Group (SWEEG), drawing on the expertise of all of those groups and the Centre for Energy and Environment at Exeter University.

The Audit and Governance Committee noted the City Council’s Net Zero Risk Assessment update which included key measures introduced, and which would continue to be presented every six months.