Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval of the Council’s Carbon Management Plan (CMP) 2010-2015.

The report emphasised that the Council was committed to tackling climate change and had been one of the first local authorities in the UK to participate in the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme with the Carbon Trust. As a result of the introduction of the CMP 2004-2008, the Council managed to achieve a CO² reduction of 31% in 2006, which surpassed the target of a 10% reduction by 2010. In order to meet the Council’s continued carbon reduction obligations it had been agreed that a new CMP was required, which was aligned to the budget process.

The report appended the draft CMP for 2010-2015, which would allow the Council to continually reduce its CO² emissions in forthcoming years whilst creating tangible financial benefits. The Council now aimed to make CO² emission reductions of 23% by 2015 and 42% by 2020 and thereafter reduce emissions year on year in line with national legislation. The report advised that the revised CMP required to be signed by 31^st March 2010.

The report suggested that as a mechanism to encourage alternatives to road and air travel, the Council could consider a 10% surcharge contribution towards a Carbon Investment Fund, which could be used to finance small carbon saving initiatives across the Council.

The report went on to explain the work of the North East Scotland Climate Change Partnership, highlighting that the Council’s current elected member representative was no longer the lead member on environmental issues. Lastly, the report advised that the Carbon Trust would be celebrating the completion of the Carbon Management Programme with a special award in Edinburgh in mid-June 2010 and stated that it would be appropriate for the relevant senior officers and an elected member to attend on the Council’s behalf.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              agree to the adoption of the Carbon Management Plan 2010-2015;

(b)              agree that the carbon impact be calculated as part of all future capital bids;

(c)               agree that the carbon impact be calculated for any works under the repair and replacement budget;

(d)              agree in principle to the creation of a Carbon Investment Fund to be established to offset the effects of air and road travel locally, with a more detailed report to be submitted to committee in September 2010;

(e)              agree to the appointment of an elected member to the North East Scotland Climate Change Partnership;

(f)                 agree that an elected member, along with senior officers and the CMP Project Leader, attend the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme Award to be held in Edinburgh in mid-June 2010; and

(g)              instruct the Head of Asset Management and Operations to prepare an annual progress report to be presented to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to approve the recommendations;

(ii)               to agree that the foreword within the Carbon Management Plan be signed by the Council Leader as well as the Chief Executive; and

(iii)             to thank all officers involved in the preparation of the Carbon Management Plan.