Agenda item

The Executive Member for Community Safety and the Environment submitted a report setting out the progress achieved during the first four years of implementing the East Herts Climate Change Action Plan.

Members were reminded that the Authority had adopted a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in December 2009.  The Environmental Strategy and Development Manager advised that the waste contract had delivered considerable ongoing CO₂  savings and the total reduction in carbon emissions achieved since 2008/09 to date was 27%, which was in excess of the Council’s agreed carbon reduction target of 25% by 2020. 

Members were also advised that, since 2009, there had been a reduction of 15% in total CO₂  emissions, from major sources achieved so far (a further 2% improvement from 2012/13).  If all sources were included CO₂  emissions from East Herts Council’s service delivery had fallen by almost 17% since the baseline year.

The Environmental Strategy and Development Manager stated that, whilst overall CO₂ emissions for the Council’s leisure facilities have risen by 4% last year, there had been a corresponding increase in usage of an additional 11,668 customer visits.  Since the baseline year of 2009, average CO₂ emissions per visit to the Council’s leisure facilities have fallen by almost 50% per visit in 2013 and this represented a major efficiency in terms of energy savings per user.

Members were advised that the past refurbishment of Castle Hall into Hertford Theatre, which included the installation of a range of energy efficiency measures, had resulted in considerable ongoing carbon reductions year-on-year with an overall 29% reduction in CO₂ emissions.

The Environmental Strategy and Development Manager concluded by setting out the support offered by East Herts Council in support of the Government’s Community Energy Strategy.  The support on offer centred on grants from East Herts Council or facilitation work for the provision of community energy schemes.

In response to a query from Councillor R Beeching, the Environmental Strategy and Development Manager advised that reductions in fuel costs or reductions in CO₂ as less energy was used in the form of Kilowatt Hours, had come about due to a number of energy efficiency measures.  A voltage regulator was in use at Wallfields and pool covers at the leisure facilities resulted in a significant direct saving due to the heat that was no longer being lost from the Council’s pools.

Councillor P Ruffles encouraged Officers to develop contacts with the Environment Agency to get things moving in respect of progress regarding the Micro Hydro scheme at Hertford Theatre.  The Environmental Strategy and Development Manager advised that it generally took about 3 to 4 years to get a micro hydro scheme through the Environment Agency.

Members were advised that the Council’s negotiations with the Environment Agency were nearing conclusion and the latest piece or work being undertaken was acting on an Environment Agency requirement for an Eel Pass.  The Environmental Strategy and Development Manager undertook to update the Committee at the next meeting.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the progress achieved in implementing the East Herts Climate Change Action plan since its adoption in 2009, be noted;

(B)   an update report be submitted to the next meeting in respect of the Micro Hydro Scheme at Hertford Theatre; and

(C)   Officers bring forward some budgeted proposals to progress the Council’s policy for the assistance being offered to Community Energy Groups.