Agenda item

To present the 2030 Strategy and Master Plan for adoption.

Councillor James, Vice-Chair of Environment Committee, introduced the Strategy and explained that it provided a one Council approach to the climate emergency and also recognised the ecological emergency and carbon neutral ambition. He noted that all three aspects needed to be tackled together in a manner which did not overlook social justice while enhancing the District’s potential to thrive. The Strategy and Master Plan have a core function in Council’s future work across the spectrum of its policy and practice. There is a clear challenge ahead and a significant amount to achieve and this ambitious plan seeks to address this. It is for the Council to demonstrate leadership in educating and engaging others to work towards an overall sustainable district. Councillor James noted that the Strategy and Plan had been subject to wide public consultation as well as considered at the four main Council committees and the feedback had been incorporated into this revised version. Community governance structures would ensure that consultation is ongoing with community representatives.

Proposed by Councillor James and seconded by Councillor Cornell.

The Chair invited Councillor Ross as Chair of the Housing Committee to respond. Councillor Ross provided details of the Council’s investment in building new energy efficient sustainable homes and in improving existing homes. She reiterated that Council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions had been demonstrated by taking a fabric first approach in new builds and the retrofitting of existing homes. The Council would continue to make significant investment each year in planned preventative maintenance to ensure homes met existing and future standards.

The Chair invited Councillor Brine as Chair of the Community Services and Licensing Committee to respond. Councillor Brine noted that there were 18 community groups working on climate change and it is vitally important that, through the Strategy, we aimed to influence and guide people locally and beyond to help meet the necessary targets.

The Chair invited Councillor Cornell as Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee to respond. Councillor Cornell was pleased to note the proposals and action plan focusing on the economy within the Strategy. She recognised the need to strengthen local supply chains and to build local resilience whilst reducing carbon emissions. Councillor Cornell highlighted that the Strategy is also about what happens within the Council and noted the need to make further progress on procurement. Finally, she emphasised the need for urgent action on delivering ethical investment and hoped that progress could be made on this through the Strategy.

The Chair invited the Principal Member for the Environment from the Stroud District Youth Council to respond. She confirmed the Youth Council’s commitment to help the Council achieve its Carbon Neutral 2030 target and welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Strategy. She highlighted the Youth Council’s continued work to encourage young people and all educators to become actively involved in achieving carbon neutrality and to address the climate and ecological emergencies.

Councillor Davies expressed concern that despite the climate emergency being declared two years ago the report was all that had been produced and that it contained very little that was measurable. He believed that the Council should be leading the country in this area but there was no evidence that it was. Councillor Davies questioned what actions could be taken to reach those areas of society who do not see climate change as an emergency to change minds and behaviours.

Councillor Hurst noted that the emerging Local Plan Strategy would be republished in a few weeks’ time for public consultation and hoped that this would incorporate all the main elements of the report.

Councillor Studdert-Kennedy expressed his unease about some aspects of the Plan including the suggestion that those who continue to use cars will be penalised. He believed that finding a viable alternative was the way forward. He suggested that more positive thought should be given to the mechanical means of removing carbon dioxide through capture and storage.

Councillor Denney pointed out a number of ways in which he thinks that the District is leading the country in relation to: sustainable rural drainage, carbon neutrality, and recycling. He noted the alternative transport option of electric vehicles which if charged on renewable energy produce very low emissions but condemned the Government’s recent reduction in subsidies for them.

Councillor Braun welcomed the section of the Plan devoted to the Built Environment. She noted the measurable and achievable actions and targets set for the District’s housing stock and the built environment more generally. She expressed the need for the Government to provide financial incentives to encourage people to take the right actions.

Councillor Townley noted the need for the County Council to change its transport policies to assist in achieving carbon emission targets. He also highlighted the need for Government to provide the resources to allow radical retrofitting to take place. He believed the report did not address the issue of protecting private tenants or the need to enhance the Council’s enforcement protocols to ensure routine inspections and raise standards.

Councillor Pickering noted the need for the Council’s future decision making to take sufficient account of its ability to cope with climate changes occurring over the next 20-30 years, and for it to contribute to the parish climate change targets of cutting emissions. He encouraged all Councillors to take the opportunity to communicate widely on these issues and particularly with those reluctant to change attitudes or behaviours.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried unanimously.