Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Green Spaces, Natural and Historic Environment and Cultural Services presented the report of the Director: Communities, Customer and Commercial Services.

The report provided an update on the progress made to meet the Council’s target of becoming Carbon Zero by 2030 and Plastic Free by 2023.

The Council had declared a Climate Change Emergency in 2019 and had put in place a target to be carbon neutral by 2030.  Although there had been no recent legislative changes, the increase in fuel prices and trend of climatic extremes would have a bearing on the focus of the work within the Council moving forward.

Members discussed the improvements that had been made to various council buildings, such as Newport Leisure Centre where an air source heat pump had been installed, which would reduce the buildings carbon foot print.

In response to a comment from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat / Independent Group, Cabinet Members agreed that more was needed from Central Government in regards to legislation around house building and development.

RESOLVED that -

(a)          The progress the Council has made over the last 12 months in its journey to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and how the Council will continue to work to reduce carbon emissions from the Council’s operations and activities and influence carbon reduction Borough-wide be noted;

(b)          The progress the Council is making to becoming plastic free by 2023 and as part of the Borough wide Telford and Wrekin Plastic Free Task Force be noted; and

(c)          This report is in relation to the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency Declaration and will be referred to Full Council for information as part of the ‘Matters Determined by the Cabinet’ report be noted.