Policy & Resource Committee
Agenda Item 137
Subject: Circular Economy Routemap – 2nd Iteration
Date of meeting: 12th May 2022
Report of: Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture
Contact Officer: Name: Sophie Moss
Tel: 01273 291104
Email: Sophie.moss@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
1.1 The delivery of the Routemap is a direct result of Priority Action 6 of the Brighton & Hove Economic Strategy 2018-2023; to promote the development of a circular and sustainable economy to minimise waste and pollution by reducing, reusing and recycling; and the supporting action SCI to create a Circular Economy Framework to 2035 for priority sectors for the Brighton & Hove City Region.
1.2 The 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme cites the promotion of a sustainable economy by supporting low carbon growth and encouraging businesses to reduce waste and pollution as a key action and outlines 5 deliverables including the Routemap and Action Plan (Appendix 1 shows the key Circular Economy actions that are in the 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme).
1.3 This is the second iteration of the Routemap which continues to support the cities resilient economy through sustainable growth and innovation and support the cities pathway towards carbon neutrality by 2030. The action plan will be regularly updated and reissued as the Routemap’s priority areas expand and as new opportunities emerge and the council’s understanding of and ability to deliver circular economy solutions improves.
1.4 The purpose of this report is to provide an update and seek endorsement and commitment from members on the refreshed BHCC Routemap & Action Plan.
1.5 When the Routemap and Action Plan have been agreed, the Routemap will be launched in the summer 2022.
2.1 That Committee agrees the Routemap updates.
2.2 That Committee agrees the Routemap Action Plan.
Circular Economy Routemap – Progress to date
3.1 In December 2020 a report with the first iteration of the Routemap went to Policy & Resources Committee. The Routemap including the Mission and Vision were approved; and it was agreed to set up the Terms and Reference for a Circular Economy Members Working Group.
3.2 The first (cross-party) Circular Economy Members Working Group was held in September 2021. Its remit is focussed on the development and delivery of the circular economy programme and post recovery updates to the Routemap. This Members Working Group now meets on a quarterly basis to ensure the core programme objectives are met and the Routemap Action Plan is being delivered.
3.3 The Circular Economy programme is pioneering circular activity within the city’s economy and concentrates on the Built Environment; Food & Drink and Inclusive Economy sectors. Scoping working groups have been set up to explore and understand the challenges and opportunities facing these sectors in the transition to circular practices.
3.4 Drawing on the key deliverables in the 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme the Routemap actions delve further into the sector areas. The external focus of the Circular Economy Programme is to deliver the actions through a series of projects and, working with stakeholders, explore potential opportunities to facilitate the economy’s transition.
3.5 To further understand the circular role the Council can play, Re London have been commissioned to deliver a workshop with directors and heads of services to establish how circular principles can be strategically embedded within service areas. A second workshop with officers to design a series of service area actions will be developed and monitored against as part of the internal focus of the Circular Economy Programme.
3.6 Updates to the Routemap
3.7 Since the Circular Economy Routemap was last brought to P&R Committee in December 2020, the following major changes have been made alongside minor changes (Appendices 2 and 3):
3.8 The mission and vision statements were edited to recognise the potential of the circular economy to address the climate and biodiversity crisis (the latter was not previously communicated in the first version).
3.9 A new section titled “The Circular Economy and human prosperity” was created to explicitly state the expected social benefits of transitioning to a Circular Economy.
3.10 A new section titled “Action Plan” was created to introduce and link the reader through to the council’s Circular Economy Action Plan, which will be published alongside the Routemap.
3.11 A new section titled “Brighton & Hove City Council’s Routemap to a Circular Economy” was created to introduce a Routemap diagram with selected actions from the action plan for illustration purposes. This is currently being worked up by the council’s Design Team and will be included shortly.
3.12 The second priority area, ‘the visitor economy’, was replaced with ‘Food & Drink’ to more accurately reflect existing circular activity in the city being driven by partners and the council’s planned engagement with food businesses following the creation of the council’s ‘Food Policy Coordinator’ post.
3.13 After shifting the focus to Food & Drink, the following goal was added: “By 2030, halve food waste in the city, in line with the target of the global Sustainable Development Goal 12” under the section titled “Our vision”
3.14 The food & Drink section also refers to how a circular food approach can address food poverty through a sustainable food system and a strong foundation of networks and organisations collaborating to create a healthy, sustainable, and fair food system.
3.15 The term ‘Benchmarks’ was removed from the Routemap and replaced with the term “Goals”. This change was made after it was determined that there is insufficient, local-level data to create a baseline and monitor progress against these. It was agreed by the Circular Economy Oversight Board that the goals are communicated through the newly titled section “Our vision” to provide a direction of travel for the city, and that we monitor progress against planned actions while efforts to collect new data continues for the purpose of monitoring outcomes.
3.16 The sections “Circular opportunities” and “Case studies” were reworked into sections titled “Get involved” and “Get inspired” to emphasize the need for collective action. These sections now link through to the council’s Circular Economy campaign page and Climate Conversations engagement page (both of which are under development) and to external resources the council has helped develop, such as Circular economy solutions | Project Blueprint.
3.17 Further case studies that promote the use of circularity including housing schemes will be promoted on the Climate Conversations engagement - Bang The Table - page.
4.1 An alternative option would be for the council not to adopt the 2nd iteration of the Circular Economy Routemap and not to progress with embedding circular principles into council and city-wide activities. This option is not proposed as it will significantly compromise the delivery of actions that support the ambitions of 2030 Carbon Neutral programme.
5.1 Behavioural change will be key to the communication plan and overall messaging, and resources will be needed to engage with communities across the city, this will include forging partnerships with groups, businesses and organisations to collaborate on activities and to share information. Internal engagement is also essential to embed circular economy principles into council services.
5.2 Behaviour change campaigns to support the transition to circular economy will involve working with a range of people and businesses to overcome individual barriers and provide support and incentives for change.
5.3 A link in the Routemap will direct traffic to the Bang The Table engagement site which will have a series of case studies promoting the opportunities within the city and enabling citizens to get involved.
5.4 The Shift pilots in the Interreg BLUEPRINT project include behaviour change. These have started and include a textiles household pilot scheme in Whitehalk and a schools pilot scheme. In addition to this there is a Circular Champions scheme aimed at residents to help promote circularity through electronics, textiles, food and household recycling and a series of community events over the course of this year.
5.5 A comprehensive engagement plan, working with communities to design activities that work for them, will be required to ensure collaboration is inclusive across the city and reaches our diverse population.
6.1 To achieve the Councils target of net zero and include Scope 3 emissions by 2030 the city’s economy plays a significant role and a transition to a circular economy is part of this. To support this transition the council can make changes to its policies and practices to change the way it does business and procures services. The circular economy programme will support the council in exploring circular economy business models that can help reduce costs, deliver improved services to residents, and enhance and protect our environment. The programme will enable the growth of more circular businesses, support innovation, stimulate new jobs and industry, identify skills gaps, and reskill through training, Collaboration between the public sector, private sector and community will not only support to the city’s economy but the societal and environmental opportunities of circular economy will benefit all.
7.1 There are no direct financial implications arising from the recommendations of this report. Any financial implications arising from the action plan set out in appendix 3 will either be met from existing funding allocations or be subject to future resource allocations through the budget setting process.
Name of finance officer consulted: James Hengelveld Date consulted 29.4.22:
8.1 There are no legal implications arising directly from the recommendations contained in this report.
Name of lawyer consulted: Alice Rowland Date consulted: 26/4/22
9.1 The transition to a circular economy will have an impact on equalities. It will provide an opportunity for upskilling and reskilling as new businesses emerge within the city.
10.1 As set out in the body of the report, the Circular Economy Routemap will support embedding sustainability across the council and wider city and will help to support the ambitions of the 2030 Carbon Neutral programme.
Social Value and procurement implications
The Circular Economy Routemap and Action Plan have been reviewed by the Social Value and Sustainability Procurement Manager.
Promoting Circular Economy activity within the council is focused on the purchasing power and material footprint of all projects and how as a procurer of services the council can extend the lifetime of council assets, reduce consumption of primary materials, design out waste and increase demand for circular economy products and services.
Supporting Documentation
1. Appendix 1 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme Circular Economy Key Actions
2. Appendix 2 Circular Economy Routemap
3. Appendix 3 Circular Economy Action Plan