Issue - meetings

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the adoption of the Climate Action Plan for South Kesteven.

2.    Delegate authority to the Director for Housing and Projects in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste to approve minor amendments to the South Kesteven Climate Action Plan.

Reasons for the decision

Publishing a Climate Action Plan helped to clarify the specific projects the Council intended to implement, whilst continuing towards its ambitions both to meet its own interim net-zero carbon target, but also to contribute to national carbon reduction targets and adaptation strategies.

Other options considered and rejected

The Council could have chosen not to publish a climate action plan as there was no statutory expectation for public authorities to develop or publish carbon reduction strategies. However, this would not have been in line with the Council's stated ambition for carbon reduction ahead of the government target of 2050.

The Council could have chosen not to publish or report on the projects highlighted within the draft Climate Action Plan. However, publication and regular reporting on the Climate Action Plan would increase the visibility of various projects addressing carbon mitigation and adaptation from across the Council.

Purpose of report

To present to Cabinet the finalised Climate Action Plan for South Kesteven.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the adoption of the Climate Action Plan for South Kesteven.

2.    Delegates authority to the Director for Housing and Projects in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste to approve minor amendments to the South Kesteven Climate Action Plan.

Other options considered

The Council could have chosen not to publish a Climate Action Plan as there was no statutory expectation for public authorities to develop or publish carbon reduction strategies. However, this would not have been in line with the Council's stated ambition for carbon reduction ahead of the government target of 2050.

The Council could have chosen not to publish or report on the projects highlighted within the draft Climate Action Plan. However, publication and regular reporting on the Climate Action Plan would increase the visibility of various projects addressing carbon mitigation and adaptation from across the Council.

Reasons for the decision

Publishing a Climate Action Plan helped to clarify the specific projects the Council intended to implement, whilst continuing towards its ambitions both to meet its own interim net-zero carbon target, but also to contribute to national carbon reduction targets and adaptation strategies.

The following points were highlighted during debate:

·       Progress across all political groupings was being made on a previously declared climate emergency. The South Kesteven Climate Action Strategy was already in place; the Climate Action Plan built on this work.

·       Work already delivered included solar panels at leisure centres, the upgrade of street lighting to LED bulbs, swimming pool covers and a programme of biodiversity improvements.

·       These projects had a tangible financial payback –for LED lighting this was over a period of four years.

·       This Plan provided the framework to allow the Council to continue delivering achievements over an extended period.

·       Until quotes were received for different projects, it was very difficult to identify costs, in particular, the material costs. The projects that ended up being funded would utilise available funding (for example the Climate Action Fund) and rely on grants made available by government.

·       This was not a ‘to do’ list, but a list of useful projects. Cabinet approved a list of potential projects, rather than committing to a spending programme.

·       The Plan had been considered by Environment OSC on two occasions.

·       There was no legal requirement to have a Climate Action Plan.

·       An update on projects would be provided twice yearly.

·       Officers had created an accurate map of trees on SKDC properties and land. There was, however, no way of directing what happened to every tree in the district, landowners can make decisions related to trees that are on their land (subject to any Tree Preservation Orders).