Agenda item

The Committee received the Net Zero Carbon Plan Progress Report presented by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability.

The County Council approved a Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Plan on 12th February 2020 and Action NZC-28 of the Plan required performance reports on progress towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 to be published annually.

The following queries were raised in relation to the report:-

·       Reference was made to the table, summary of progress – Carbon Footprint on page 3 of the report.  It was felt that it would be beneficial to include a monetary figure to the table which would show in financial terms how much energy was being saved.  The Head of Place and Sustainability stated that the Auditor General of Wales, having recently completed a review on climate change plans in Wales, had identified that the inclusion of financial costs attributed to the carbon footprint would be beneficial.  Therefore, the inclusion of financial cost will be included in the next iteration of the plan.

In addition, the Committee was informed of the work that would be injected into developing the plan further making it more informative by including trajectories in consideration of the programmes and plans that the Council had committed to date.

·       In commending the content of the report, it was commented that an area of opportunity would be to consider the generation of electricity.  It was felt that the rooftop solar panel installations were too small for the energy demand of the buildings they were sited on.  It was cited that the overall annual generation of the Council was 1-megawatt hours (MWh) which was 50% less than the community sector currently produced in Carmarthenshire.  With this information mind, it was asked if there were any plans to increase the amount of electricity generation through solar panels, batteries and possibly wind turbines?  The Sustainable Development Manager explained that getting to ‘zero carbon’ was impossible and that ‘net zero carbon’ could only be achieved through compensating by way of offsetting through the increased generation of renewable energy and carbon sequestration. In specific response to rooftop solar panels, the Sustainable Development Manager reported that whilst the Council was amongst the largest local authority producers of rooftop solar energy in Wales, further investment is required in order to reach the goal to be net zero by 2030.

In response to the comments raised, the Head of Place and Sustainability added that there was a significant amount of work being carried out at a strategic level to develop renewable energy sites including the Nantycaws site which was the flagship site around the circular economy.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability acknowledged that there was an urgent need to be more agile with more emphasis on working with the third sector.

·         It was asked if there were any grants or support available for local village halls to install solar panels?  The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability that there may be support through the Leader Programme and the Bureau who are rolling out community grants for the installation of renewable energy sources.  In the face of the increasing costs of living, it was recognised that this would be an opportune time to communicate the information and the benefits of renewable energy to communities.

·         Reference was made to a paragraph on page 13 of the report which stated ‘We recently commissioned Land Use Consultants Ltd to deliver a strategy that sets out how to enhance Green and Blue Infrastructure in eight selected towns across the County’.  It was asked which eight towns were selected?  The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability reported that the eight towns were Llanelli, Carmarthen, Ammanford/ Crosshands, Cwmmaman, Kidwelly, St Clears, Llandovery and Newcastle Emlyn.  In addition, he would share a link to Committee Members on the Green and Blue Infrastructure strategy which was currently out for consultation.

·         It was asked if there would be an investigation in respect of connecting the green and blue active travel corridors between the eight towns? The Head of Place and Sustainability stated that Active Travel in and around the eight towns was part of the consultation process and part of the area development plans.

·        Following on from an earlier discussion, it was formally proposed that future progress reports of the Net Zero Carbon Plan include the cost of savings. This was duly seconded.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET that:

8.1      the draft Net Zero Carbon Plan Progress Report be endorsed;

8.2      delegated authority be granted to Officers to make typographical or    factual amendments as necessary to improve the clarity and    accuracy of the Net Zero Carbon Plan Progress Report.

8.3      future progress reports of the Net Zero Carbon Plan include the cost of savings.