Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Councillors J O’Boyle and D Welsh, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, Councillors P Hetherton and G Lloyd, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for City Services and Councillors K Caan and R Ali, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a Briefing Note which provided an update on City Council activity to positively tackle climate change, including progress to date and future plans including recruitment, investment, stakeholder engagement and the development of a strategy and programme of actions.

Coventry was one of the first cities to produce a Climate Change Strategy, which was published in 2012 and which set a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 27.5% by the year 2020. Coventry achieved this in 2014 (6 years early). The current Climate Change Strategy for the City ends in 2020 and is now under review.

The City has been recognised as a global leader on climate action and transparency, achieving a place on the CDP’s Cities “A” List, which proves the City’s commitment to tacking climate change. To score an “A”, a city must have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target, published a climate adaption plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards now and in the future among other actions.

The Briefing Note covered the following previous, existing and future activity:-

·  Business, Industry and Jobs

Green Business Programme – supporting 213 companies, saving over 12,349 tonnes of CO2 emissions and providing over £2m grant funding

Green Business Network – 905 members consisting of businesses, residents, local community groups, charities, universities, schools and training providers

The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) – innovative partnership between the City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire LEP and Warwick Manufacturing Group

·  Energy

The Heatline network supplies residual heat from the City’s Energy from Waste Plant to public buildings

Coventry was the first UK City with centrally controlled dimming street lighting, with all lighting columns targeted downwards to reduce light polluting

Coventry was one of 10 cities to be awarded funding for local smart energy projects, which, with partners including WMCA and University of Warwick, will design a Regional Energy System

A feasibility study is currently being undertaken into renewable heat recovery systems from the sewer network and historic mine infrastructure

Participation in a power assessment study to identify power constraint “hotspots”

Affordable Warmth Programme to support disabled and low-income householders

·  Transport

Coventry has 156 charge points for electric vehicles and by April 2020 this will increase by another 120. (The second most of all UK cities outside of London)

Battery technology is being used to create a new very light rail system in Coventry

The Go Electric Taxi scheme was launched by the Council last year to encourage drivers to move to electric vehicles

£2.2m Government funding was received by the Council to invest in greener, cleaner buses for the City, with 10 fully electric buses to be operational by June 2020

The Council is seeking funding to enable businesses and organisations in the City to transport goods and provide services using electric vehicles

Funding is being sought to deliver a “on the move charging” Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer project

·  Waste and Recycling

Trials are taking place using recyclable materials, old tyres and plastic pellets, in tarmac of local roads

·  Community Engagement

The Council has facilitated the creation of a Coventry and Warwickshire Climate Action Partnership aimed at harnessing the community’s ideas and resources

·  Next Steps and Priorities for 2020/21

A new Head of Service to oversee and develop the new Climate Change Strategy 2020 will be in post shortly and will bring in new extra high-level capacity. The new Strategy will require significant engagement with stakeholders and ensure a high degree of community involvement

It is intended to extend the Green Business Programme and to make use of other recent funding opportunities

The Council is currently considering plans for the development of a Materials Recycling Facility to serve Coventry, neighbouring authorities and regional businesses

Additional resource has been committed through the 2020/21 budget process

The Committee questioned officers on a number of issues and responses were provided, matters raised included:-

·  A sense of scale regarding the figures used in relation to CO2 emissions saved as a result of the Green Business Programme and details of those 213 companies supported via this Programme (The Committee noted that this information would be circulated after the meeting)

·  The potential for Heatline to be expanded

·  The role of the new Head of Climate Change, including engagement with local communities, partners and other key stakeholders

·   Proposals in relation to changing the Council’s fleet to more environmentally friendly vehicles

·  Sharing new technology and information with third world countries

·  Proposals to publicise work being undertaken by the Council in this regard and the need to change behaviours

·  Job opportunities/creation in this area

The Committee welcomed all of the work being undertaken in this regard and indicated that Climate Change would continue to be a key priority for the Committee in the new Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that the Briefing Note be noted and that the Committee supports the approach detailed in the Briefing Note on how the Council intends to shape the next steps, communicate the challenges and opportunities; and broaden the Council’s engagement.