Hertfordshire County Council s4

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Agenda Item No. TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2007 AT 10.30 A.M. 8 NOTTINGHAM DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Report from Cabinet 22 January 2007

(Author of original report to Cabinet: John Rumble, Sustainability Team Leader, Environment Department, Tel: 01992 556296

Executive Member: Derrick Ashley

Cabinet have been informed of the outcome of the Planning and Partnerships Panel’s deliberations on the issues which could arise for the County Council in signing up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and have approved to the signing of the declaration by the Leader and Chief Executive of the County Council. They have asked the County Council to endorse this action. They have also resolved that Planning and Partnerships Panel be asked to oversee the development of a climate change strategy and action plan for Hertfordshire incorporating the commitments contained within the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and encompassing the following activities:

(a) the direct impacts that arise through the activities of the County Council in the operation of its own services; (b) the impact and influence the County Council has with its partners through policies and strategies for Hertfordshire; and (c) the development of greenhouse gas reduction targets for the County Council and Hertfordshire

1. Summary

The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change is a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate change and represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community. The declaration is supported by the following national and international organisations:

 The Government (DEFRA)  Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)  Local Government Association (LGA)  Nottingham City Council  Environment Agency  UK Climate Impacts programme (UK CIP)  Carbon Trust  International Council for local Environmental Initiatives

D:\Docs\2017-12-29\0448b3e198db82966e39071769d94dba.doc 1 The declaration sets out seven commitments that authorities are asked to sign up to and report on. Hertfordshire County Council is already undertaking significant levels of activity against each of the commitments but will be required to undertake additional actions to fully meet all that is asked for. It is envisaged that the County Council’s consideration and development of a climate change strategy for Hertfordshire which is due to take place in 2007 will enable it to explore these additional actions and plan for them accordingly.

The declaration will be signed by both the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to indicate the support of the Administration and the management of the County Council to taking action to meet the commitments contained within the declaration.

The issues associated with the County Council signing up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change were considered by Planning and Partnerships Panel on 4 December 2006. The Panel supported the proposal and made recommendations which are set out below.

2. Background

The Nottingham declaration on climate change is a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate change. It represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community. The declaration was originally launched in October 2000 at a conference in Nottingham with 200 leaders, chief executives and senior managers of UK local government. To mark the fifth anniversary of the declaration it was re-launched on 5 December 2005 at the Second National Councils Climate Conference. The new version of the declaration is broadly similar to the original, but better reflects current thinking. The text of the revised declaration is as follows:

The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change

We acknowledge that

 Evidence shows that climate change is occurring.  Climate change will continue to have far reaching effects on the UK’s people and places, economy, society and environment.

We welcome the

 Social, economic and environmental benefits which come from combating climate change.  Emissions targets agreed by central government and the programme for delivering change, as set out in the UK Climate Change Programme.  Opportunity for local government to lead the response at a local level, encouraging and helping local residents, local businesses and other organisations - to reduce their energy costs, to reduce congestion, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to improve the local environment and to deal with fuel poverty in our communities.

D:\Docs\2017-12-29\0448b3e198db82966e39071769d94dba.doc 2  Endorsement of this declaration by central government.

We commit our Council from this date to

 Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.  Participate in local and regional networks for support.  Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our local priorities, securing maximum benefit for our communities.  Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own authority’s operations, especially energy sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods and services.  Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our services and our communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly.  Encourage all sectors in our local community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action.  Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the results.

To date 162 authorities have signed the declaration, including four Hertfordshire District Councils: St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford and Welwyn Hatfield.

The issues associated with the County Council signing up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change were considered by Planning and Partnerships Panel on 4 December 2006 and the Panel agreed the following recommendation to the Executive Member:

1. That the County Council become a signatory to the Nottingham, Declaration on Climate Change.

2. That the County Council incorporate the commitments contained within the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change into a Climate Change Strategy and action plan for Hertfordshire to encompass the following activities:

 the direct impacts that arise through the activities of the County Council in the operation of its own services;  the impact and influence the County Council has with its partners through policies and strategies for Hertfordshire; and  the development of greenhouse gas reduction targets for the County Council and Hertfordshire

D:\Docs\2017-12-29\0448b3e198db82966e39071769d94dba.doc 3 In addition the Panel came to the conclusion that should the authority agree to sign the declaration that it should do so with a view that the financial implications associated with the actions necessary to comply with the commitments set out in the declaration should be considered as and when actions associated with the declaration are being decided upon by the County Council and that this should be incorporated into the development of the climate change strategy and action plan for the authority.

3. Implications for Hertfordshire County Council of Signing the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change

Each of the commitments set out in the Nottingham declaration on climate change are a call to action for local authorities and as such the County Council would be required to demonstrate what it is doing in relation to each of these. The table below set out what HCC is already doing as well as what might be required to fulfil each commitment.

1. Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010. Existing HCC The County council is principally tackling climate activity change through it service delivery and has put in place mechanisms through risk assessment to ensure that consideration of climate change and its potential impact on services is properly considered at the planning stage. These measures are aimed at climate change adaptation. In addition the County Council is beginning the process of developing a climate change strategy for the authority and a first steps paper is due to be presented at the Planning and Partnerships Panel meeting in January 2007. Potential additional The County Council would need to consider how it actions required would address the introduction of carbon dioxide reduction targets and how this would be integrated within a broader climate change mitigation agenda, this can be addressed through the planned strategy 2. Participate in local and regional networks for support. Existing HCC HCC is already working locally with partners on activity climate change through the Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF). Regionally the County Council is participating at an officer level in the regional climate change partnership and currently holds the chair of this partnership through John Rumble, Sustainability Team Leader in the Environment Dept. Potential additional No additional activity required actions required

D:\Docs\2017-12-29\0448b3e198db82966e39071769d94dba.doc 4 3. Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our local priorities, securing maximum benefit for our communities. Existing HCC HCC’s work at the regional level in managing the activity study “Living with Climate Change in the East of England” has provided an adaptation framework for the key service areas of the authority and this is now being implemented internally through the risk management approach outlined under commitment 1. Potential additional The County Council would need to consider how it actions required wishes to approach the development of a climate change action plan with its partners and the local community. One medium for undertaking this could be through HCC’s membership of HEF and the planned strategy will be able to act as the vehicle for the action plan. 4. Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own authority’s operations, especially energy sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods and services. Existing HCC HCC’s main activity in this area is in relation to its activity management of its building assets and in its new build programme. All new build projects now look at a range of sustainability considerations during the planning stages, including energy and water management as well as waste and transport options. However at present implementation of measures is dependant upon the project budget and the relative importance of some of these measures may need to be considered. In addition the County Council is also purchasing a significant proportion of its energy from green sources. Potential additional Additional development of a range of measures to actions required reduce greenhouse gasses would be needed and these would need to be promoted and publicised. This may have an impact upon budgets for new build and refurbishment works undertaken by the County Council. 5. Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our services and our communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly. Existing HCC See answers under commitments 1 and 3 activity Potential additional No additional actions required. actions required

D:\Docs\2017-12-29\0448b3e198db82966e39071769d94dba.doc 5 6. Encourage all sectors in our local community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action. Existing HCC HCC’s activity in relation to this commitment is activity delivered through its membership of HEF. In taking the lead on climate change within HEF and promoting the work done on the living with climate change study HCC has been prompting consideration of climate change adaptation and its implications for Hertfordshire amongst all HEF partners. Potential additional This work would need to be extended to additional actions required community partners and this would have resource implications. 7. Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the results. Existing HCC HCC is already monitoring against a wide range of activity climate change related indicators through the HEF quality of life report and in 2006 a specific chapter on climate change is being added. Potential additional No additional action required actions required

In conclusion HCC is already doing a lot in relation to the commitments contained in the Nottingham declaration, but would need to consider extending its activities from mostly adaptation to include more of the mitigation agenda. This would have an impact on decisions and potentially on resources. The proposal to develop a climate change strategy for Hertfordshire would enable the majority of the remaining actions to be undertaken as part of this strategy.

4. Financial Implications

The development of a climate change strategy for Hertfordshire could be undertaken within existing resources. Any financial implications arising from the implementation of this strategy would need to be considered as part of its development and adoption.

Consideration of the financial implications of actions arising out of the strategy and action plan would need to be carried out within the context of agreeing the strategy and action plan once developed. All actions relating to climate change will be subject to rigorous cost benefit analysis to ensure that they are fit for purpose and financially feasible. In addition carbon reduction measures will be subject to additional cost benefit analysis to ensure that any such measures deliver efficient and effective carbon reduction measures with a responsible financial framework.

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