The Overview and Scrutiny Officer, Biodiversity and Climate Change, introduced her report providing an update on the progress made on the preparation of an Action Plan to address climate change and biodiversity following the adoption by the Council of a motion recognising global climate and biodiversity emergencies in April 2019.

It was noted that:

·  A Working Group had been established to research matters and prepare an Action Plan for consideration at this meeting of the Committee.  The Working Group had prepared an initial draft but due to the reprioritisation of work to respond to COVID-19, it was now proposed to submit the Action Plan for consideration at the June meeting of the Committee.  The additional time was being used productively with Officers working with the Carbon Trust to understand carbon emissions from the Council’s estate, fleet and activities; using information from the residents’ survey to inform the Action Plan; and seeking input from Heads of Service on ways to address the issues.

·  The Action Plan was a living document and would be informed by further good practice as it emerged over time.

During the discussion, it was suggested and agreed that to provide more flexibility in times of uncertainty and to enable feedback to be taken into consideration, the Officers be requested to report the Action Plan back to the Committee as soon as it is practicable.

RESOLVED:  That the delay in reporting the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan to the Committee be noted and that the Action Plan be reported to the Committee as soon as it is practicable.