Issue - items at meetings - Carbon Reduction Commitment

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

1.      That the Cabinet Committee agrees that:

(a)       The City Council’s Carbon Management Programme Strategy & Implementation Plan is revised to take account of the CRC, as well as Display Energy Certificates.

(b)       Further work is done to establish how schools will participate fully in the CRC.

(c)       The budget planning process will need to identify the required funding to purchase the CO2 emissions allowances for 2011/12.

(d)       The officer Carbon Trading Group explores the potential to introduce internal carbon trading for directorates for 2010/11 onwards.

11.1         The Cabinet Committee considered a revised report of the Director of Strategy & Governance concerning the Council’s approach to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (for copy see minute book).

11.2         The Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy explained that a revised version of the report had been circulated due to publication of the government’s response to the consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment, which contained some key policy changes resulting in a smaller financial commitment in 2010/11 and effectively delaying the scheme by one year. He added that the Council would seek to revise its carbon reduction targets for future years.

11.3         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and commented that the proposals would help to raise awareness of the problems of climate change and would provide a good platform for the work of the City Sustainability Partnership. She requested that Member’s be invited to a seminar on the issue.

11.4         In response to questions from Councillor Steedman, the Energy & Water Manager explained that it was difficult to predict how we would rate against other local authorities because the dummy carbon trading scheme did not require participants to put a specified amount of their portfolio in; however, on the basis of historical data it was hoped that the Council would rate reasonably well.

11.5         Councillor Steedman stated that he hoped the Council would aspire to be fiscally neutral or even bring in income from the scheme.

11.6         Councillor Caulfield commented that the new Falmer Academy buildings should help to improve targets for the city’s schools.

11.7         In response to a query from Councillor Caulfield, the Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy explained that officers within the housing directorate had sufficient knowledge and expertise to feed into the Energy Efficiency Working Group.

11.8         Councillor Fallon-Khan added that once the Council had completed its Display Energy Certificates it would be possible to begin prioritising buildings that needed most work.

11.9         Councillor Janio stated that he was pleased that the proposals in the report had received cross-party support and looked forward to ongoing collaborative work.

11.10    RESOLVED  - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the revised report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the City Council’s Carbon Management Programme Strategy & Implementation Plan be revised to take account of the CRC, as well as Display Energy Certificates.

(2)         That further work be done to establish how schools will participate fully in the CRC.

(3)         That the budget planning process identifies the required funding to purchase the CO2 emissions allowances for 2011/12.

(4)         That the officer Carbon Trading Group explores the potential to introduce internal carbon trading for directorates for 2010/11 onwards.