Interview with:

·  Jennifer Hunt, EMS Project Manager; and

·  David Tibbit, Property & Procurement Manager

The Committee welcomed Jennifer Hunt, EMS Project Manager and David Tibbitt, Property and Procurement Manager to the Meeting to discuss the Draft Carbon Management Plan.

Ms Hunt explained that about a year ago the Council had signed up for a more formal approach to achieve their targets which had resulted in the Draft Carbon Management Plan presented. The plan referred to achieving targets via education and physical reductions as well as those that are more embedded. The Plan was being developed in conjunction with the Carbon Trust. Members clarified that the report was dealing with specifically reducing Council Emissions.

The Committee queried whether anything had been omitted from the plan due to cost implications. Ms Hunt brought to the attention of the Committee item 4.4 in the Draft Report: Long Term Projects where projects were detailed that were currently considered as aspirational and were in an early stage of consideration. The Officer explained that projects could have an initial capital cost but the plan sought to demonstrate, where possible, the recovery period and payback.  Members queried how CO₂ emissions were measured by the Council.  Mr Tibbitt explained that it was a calculation of the amount of energy used multiplied by the emission factor. Members highlighted the existing projects (4.1) and in particular those that that formed a high percentage of the overall target. This included P11: Staff Awareness, Training and Energy Policy which was put at 7.2%. Ms Hunt explained that this would be achieved through better training and the fine tuning of the buildings through staff having a more conscious approach to the nature of their working environment.  The table listing the projects gave the Committee a detailed breakdown which included the pay back time in years for each project which for P11 was immediate, the capital and operational costs as well as the annual financial and CO₂ savings. Members questioned the Crematorium Heat Recovery project which would involve using the heat from cremations to heat the building. It was established that this had not been viable when the Crematorium had been refurbished as it was not considered good payback at the time but that the Carbon Trust would look at this again and this would need to include Officer time. Ms Hunt concluded that the report was specifically looking at the Council’s Operations; their buildings; their Fleet; and their Contractors.  This would help to reduce costs, improve efficiency and reduce the impact on climate change.

The Committee moved on the wider aspirations for the borough and suggested that the onus would be on Planning and Building Control to create sustainable buildings that would improve on the statutory requirements. Members questioned the targets that had been set with regard to Carbon Emissions and whether or not there would be any penalties. The target of an 80% reduction of Carbon Emissions by 2050 was given to Officers. It was explained whilst the Government had not put in place any penalties there would be incentives to help speed up any gaps in progress. Part of the target which was greening our energy would be achieved in part by significant changes in technology over the next 30-40 years. Ms Hunt explained that the borough could become as efficient as possible to play our part.

The Chairman thanked the Officers for attending and asked that they come back so that the Committee could be involved in the development of the document when it is revisited on a 6 monthly basis.

It was resolved: That the Committee would remain involved with the development of the Carbon Management Plan.