Agenda item

To receive the report of the Strategic Director of Place.

The Head of Service City Centre and Net Zero and Programme Manager City Wide - Net Zero presented the report drawing attention to: 

• the greenhouse gas inventory from the university which was appended; 

• the Programme Manager City Wide - Net Zero had undertaken stakeholder engagement across the city which focussed on nature and biodiversity as well as energy. There would be further engagement later in the month, focussing on circular economy, waste and recycling; 

• an application had been submitted for Nature Towns and Cities accreditation; 

• a survey called Wild Exeter was live and she encouraged members’ to share this widely; 

• GWR funding had supported travel by train and use of the Green Circle; 

• there was ongoing work with Exeter Community Energy; 

• she was the main contact for heat network; 

• the staff travel survey had consistent questions in order to benchmark in future; 

• work was ongoing with Devon County Council on residential EV charging; 

• Stagecoach electric buses would be rolled out soon as the infrastructure was installed; and 

• there was a focus on three main emissions sectors for carbon reduction, buildings, transport and power. 

The Head of Service City Centre and Net Zero and Programme Manager City Wide - Net Zero responded to Members’ questions in the following terms: 

• grid decarbonisation had the biggest impact nationally which was not the Council’s input; 

• the biggest impact would be in changes around transport and buildings; 

• she would speak to Devon County Council about what other activities they had planned; 

• the 6 solar sites were not included as they were corporate, which would be discussed at Executive next week; 

• some of the planned sites required enabling works such as resurfacing of a car park; 

• had met Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) and brainstormed, further information would be included in the next report; 

• the Civic University Agreement was a university-led group therefore the university would need to be approached with the request for minutes; 

• the council now had direct officer links to the national grid to discuss capacity. there were continued discussion about what improvements were required and there had been no issues connecting recently; and 

• residents should use the email on social media with regard to the Great British Spring Clean. 

The Portfolio Holder Climate, Ecological Change & Communities responded to Members’ question in the following terms: 

• the department for Transport had announced a £73.2million across the UK for electrification of buses and £7.53million would come to Devon and 100% would be buses in Exeter; 

• HATOC was the best place to feed in information from residents and he invited the Chair to put information in writing and he would take to the Devon Bus Forum which he sat on; 

• at Water Lane, for example, a district heat network was a possibility; 

• discussions had taken place about doughnut economics and he was open to hearing more but had no particular expectation at present; 

• from a tour of the Viridor plant run by Devon County Council showed keenness; and 

• the district heat network was not a city council-led scheme but there was a further planning application to come forward for redesign of the energy centre but any concerns could be sent to him to discuss with officers. 

The Portfolio Holder for City Management, Councillor Ruth Williams, was invited to the table by the Chair to respond to questions regarding waste, greenhouse gas emission and the incinerator.  

Councillor Williams responded making the following points: 

• DCC was the responsible waste disposal authority; 

• the incinerator had a community liaison group where she had asked what plans there were for carbon capture; 

• when separating recycling a proportion was lost and “leave loose” education continued to be given; 

• investment in a new plant would increase efficiency in capture and acceptance meaning less incinerating in future; 

• Denis was excellent and the envy of other districts but there was more could be done. Food waste had now been rolled out; 

• there was a contamination issue with separate on-street litter bins but these would be trialled at the Quay; 

• Viridor seemed positive at a previous Strategic Waste Committee meeting. 

The Chair moved the recommendations as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Payne, and it was agreed that the words “and officers note discussion this evening and request that further detail on impact and outcomes be considered” be added and following a unanimous vote was CARRIED.