Agenda item - Use of Plastics on and within buildings in Brighton & Hove

Report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture

RESOLVED:

That the Committee approves:

1             That the council continue to promote the use of renewable

materials and the reuse and recycling of building materials and to promote energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation.

2.         That the council promotes the use of construction materials made from

re-cycled plastics and also looks to increasing re-cycling rates for plastics more generally.

3.         That the council focus capacity on the emerging work, following

approved Notices of Motion to phase out use of ‘single use plastics’ through the council’s own services and spend.

10.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture which was originally presented to the Tourism Development & Culture Committee on 11 January 2018 to respond to the request within the Notice of Motion on the Use of Plastics on and within buildings in Brighton & Hove, and also responded from the point of view of the Planning and Building Control Service, and the main regulatory powers the council has over the building in the city. 

10.2    On behalf of the Green Group, Councillor Druitt moved a motion to amend recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 as shown below in bold italics below:

2.1  That the council continue to promote the use of renewable materials and the re-use and recycling of building materials and to promote energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation  and commits to the exclusion of non-renewable building materials in plans drawn up after 2020, and to phasing out the use non-renewable building materials in council buildings altogether by 2023. 

2.2      That the council promotes the use of alternative, sustainable construction materials, promotes the use of construction materials made from re-cycled plastics in order to tackle the circulation of plastic products at source, encourage best practice among applicants and developers of major applications through:

- requesting site waste is reused, recycled or recovered;
-encouraging cooperation between contractors during the demolition, excavation and construction phases;
-providing information for construction workers with respect to site waste management.   

10.3    Introducing the motion, Councillor Druitt said that he felt that sustainable materials should be used wherever possible and that it was better to use sustainable products in the first place, rather than those made from recycled plastics.

10.4    Councillor Mac Cafferty formally seconded the amendment and noted there was a long tradition of encouraging best practice in sustainable building and eco buildings in our City.

10.5   The Chair confirmed that as there were financial implications within

Point 2.1 this would require a new report to be requested and asked the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture to clarify this point.

10.6    The Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture confirmed that in order to implement the amendment in section 2.1, a report to the committee would be required.

 10.7 Councillor Cattell said that there was a problem in finding suitable sustainable alternatives to a lot of building materials such as glass. She also raised the point that alternatives were often much more costly, such as wooden timber frames instead of PVC. She felt it was more important to meet the new Code 4 rather than try and source sustainable products. 

10.8    Councillor Allen felt that the wording of the amendment was unclear and not satisfactory.

10.9    Councillor Mears felt that 2.1 was clear and that a report would give an in depth view and did not oppose the amendment.

10.10  The Chair confirmed that regarding wood vs PVC, old wood would preserve itself but pointed out that a lot of products required to preserve wood come in plastic containers and greater understanding of  what the alternatives were was required.

10.11  Councillor Cattell questioned whether commissioning a new report would be a good use of officers’ time. 

10.12 Councillor Morris stated that he did not understand the point of the amendment and also stated that he felt that requesting a report was an unnecessary use of officer time. 

10.12  Councillor Nemeth said the single use plastics issue should be handled separately.  He also confirmed that the amendment was muddled but that the intention was sound, so he would support the motion.

10.13  Councillor Druitt proposed a further amendment to 2.1 as follows:

2.1       That the council continue to promote the use of renewable

materials and the re-use and recycling of building materials and to promote energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation and requests a Report that considers and commits to the exclusion of non-renewable building materials in plans drawn up after 2020, and to phasing out the use of non-renewable building materials  in council buildings altogether by 2023.

10.14              The amendment was seconded by Councillor Mac Cafferty.

10.15 The Chair put the motion to the vote that failed.

10.16 The Chair put the recommendations as per the report to the vote that passed. 

10.17  RESOLVED:

That the Committee approves:

1)           That the council continue to promote the use of renewable materials and the re-use and recycling of building materials and to promote energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste minimisation.

2)           That the council promotes the use of construction materials made from re-cycled plastics and also looks to increasing re-cycling rates for plastics more generally.

3)           That the council focus capacity on the emerging work, following approved Notices of Motion to phase out use of ‘single use plastics’ through the council’s own services and spend.