BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH AGENDA ITEM 10 Council 15 October 2019 Report of the managing director CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING GROUP 1 Purpose of report To advise members of the outcome of the inaugural climate change working group to refresh the council’s climate change strategy. 2 Executive summary A climate change working group convened on 5 September 2019 to enable councillors and officers to discuss climate change and ensure that the council commits to playing its proper part in delivering on the national commitments, as far as it can, within the constraints of the limited time, powers and resources under which it operates. The group will be responsible for presenting the council’s refreshed climate change strategy to full council. 3 Appendices Appendix A - Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy (2017-2020) Appendix B - Progress within the borough and potential future actions 4 Proposed action: The council is invited to RESOLVE to: 4.1 note the progress at Appendix B and agree the potential future actions, and; 4.2 receive a refreshed Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy. 5 Background 5.1 Following a motion at Council on 9 July 2019 it was resolved Parliament had declared a climate emergency and this council would commit to playing its proper part in delivering on national commitments, as far as it can, within the constraints of limited time, power and resources, under which it operates. It was resolved that consideration will be given to the climate impact of council activities through the process of transition to a unitary council in supporting appropriate council projects that effectively reduce carbon emissions or improve air quality. It was resolved that approval be given to the establishment of a cross-party climate change working group to refresh the council’s climate change strategy. 5.2 There is a Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy 2017-2020 which is 1 included as Appendix A. This document is overseen by the Northamptonshire Climate Change Officers Group (NCCOG) and sets a framework for activities of partner organisations across the county. 6 Discussion 6.1 A climate change working group met on 5 September. The terms of reference for the group were agreed at that meeting. The group received a draft report setting out progress within the borough based on the aims of the Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy (2017-2020). Potential future actions were also discussed which could be implemented by the council within the constraints of the limited time, powers and resources under which it operates. Members expressed a wish for there to be short term, medium term and longer term goals which show the council’s commitment to mitigating and adapting to climate change. The suggestions put forward in the working group have been reflected in the proposed actions in Appendix B. 6.2 It was agreed a further working group meeting will be held in November 2019 to continue as a task and finish group to consider the impact of council activities through the process of transition to unitary council, and identify council projects that effectively reduce carbon emissions or improve air quality and present the council’s refreshed strategy to full council. 6.3 The Northamptonshire Climate Change Officers Group (NCCOG) met on 19 September. At that meeting it was agreed to continue to work together collectively on a partnership strategy for the county. It was also agreed to undertake a refresh of the Northamptonshire strategy to take account of changes in the local and national context and ensure that it remains consistent with government agreed national targets. In particular the strategy will work towards the target of net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050. An annual action plan will then also be prepared which will include activity from all the partner organisations. The information provided in Appendix B will feed into this. A partnership approach is still considered to be the most effective use of resources. In particular it enables co-ordination of activities across the county. An individual council can make an important contribution to climate change mitigation, but a collective approach across all partner organisations would have more impact. 6.4 The NCCOG is currently planning to meet again at the end of November to assess progress on the refreshed strategy. It will then be for individual organisations to decide whether they wish to adopt the strategy. Organisations could decide to have more challenging targets if they wish or to have their own action plans. The refreshed Northamptonshire strategy will be considered by the working group and once complete will be brought before council for consideration. 2 7 Legal powers The Climate Change Act 2008 sets out the main legislative framework for government. Adaptation is required through a variety of legislation including: Civil Contingencies Act (2004); Flood and Water Management Act (2010); Town and Country Planning (Local Planning, England) Regulations 2012; Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017; section 19(1A) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; and the 2011 Localism Act includes a general power of competence, which gives local authorities the legal capacity to do anything that an individual can that is not specifically prohibited. 8 Financial and value for money implications Proposed actions are intended to be within the council’s current committed resources. Any project which requires additional finance will be reported to Resources Committee. 9 Risk analysis Nature of Consequences if Likelihood Control risk realised of measures occurrence Not taking It is globally Low Continue to work any action on recognised that there with partners to climate are serious refresh the change environmental, social Northamptonshire reduction or and economic Climate Change mitigation consequences of Strategy and climate change: BCW ensure the council would not be playing plays its part in its part in seeking to delivering national reduce this. This would commitments, as lead to reputational far as we can. damage in addition to these other impacts 10 Implications for resources, equalities and stronger and safer communities Proposed actions are intended to be within the council’s current committed resources. Actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change have clear benefits to ensuring healthy and resilient communities. No negative impact is anticipated on any groups with protected characteristics. 3 11 Author and contact officer Vicki Jessop, Assistant Director Sue Bateman, Senior Planning Officer 12 Consultees Amanda Wilcox, Principal Environmental Health Manager Catherine Somerville, Team Leader Environmental Protection Senior Management Team 13 Background papers None, other than those referred to and included within the report. 4 Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy 2017 – 2020 5 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 5 1.1. The 2014-2017 Strategy and 2017-2020 update .............................................................. 5 1.2. Changes in the local and national context since 2014 ..................................................... 5 1.3. Developments in the understanding of the impacts of climate change since 2014 ........... 6 2. The national context ................................................................................ 8 2.1. Central government policy ............................................................................................ 8 2.2. Greenhouse gas emission targets ................................................................................... 8 2.3. The National Adaptation Programme ............................................................................. 8 2.4. National initiatives ........................................................................................................ 9 3. The local context .................................................................................... 10 3.1. Changes to local strategies and commitments .............................................................. 10 3.2. Report on what has been achieved since 2014 ............................................................. 11 3.3. East Midlands Regional Climate Change Partnership .................................................... 12 3.4. Local climate change impact ........................................................................................ 13 4. The impacts of climate change ............................................................... 14 4.1. Flooding and costal change risks to communities, businesses and infrastructure ........... 14 4.2. Risks to health, well-being and productivity from high temperatures............................ 15 4.3. Risk of shortages in the public water supply, and for agriculture, energy supply and industry ................................................................................................................................. 16 4.4. Risks to natural capital, including terrestrial, coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems, soils and biodiversity .............................................................................................................. 16 4.5. Risks to domestic and international food production and trade .................................... 17 4.6. New and emerging pests and diseases, and invasive and non-invasive species,