Issue - meetings

Councillor Keith Williams, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, along with the Director of Economy, Growth and Place, submitted a joint report seeking Cabinet’s approval of the final Carbon Reduction Strategy

Councillor Williams introduced the joint report and drew Members’ attention to the global impact of the climate crisis, hence the need for all to act.  He advised Members about the challenge to make both the Council and the whole Borough carbon neutral; however, Swindon was already producing the power necessary for every domestic property in a sustainable manner within the Borough boundaries.  The investment at Waterside had also reduced landfill, which had reduced methane emissions – a more potent ‘greenhouse’ gas than carbon dioxide.

Councillors Emma Bushell, Jim Grant and Jane Milner-Barry asked a number of questions to which Councillor Williams and the Leader responded at the meeting.

        i.            Why was the Buildings, Industry, Economy and Planning sub-group disbanded? There was an issue about how to maintain cross-party working if one of the parties is being openly critical. However, the aim is for this to transcend party politics. There were further issues about the large size of the sub-group.

       ii.            How can the Council retain the specialist knowledge that was making a contribution through the sub-group? The Cabinet Member has sought to contact them and make them aware of how to engage with the new structure.  The new structure will include members of the public and there will be cross-party membership and no councillors will be excluded.

     iii.            Will the consultation replies be made public? Officers will make them available to Members.

     iv.            Will the government’s new target be included in the strategy? Achieving this target is likely to be dependent on additional funding from  government.

       v.            Will the new CMAG have representatives from both Public Health and PPS? Yes

     vi.            What training have senior officers received? There will be discussions with the Cabinet Member for Organisational Excellence and the Director of Human Resources and Learning and Development about how to implement this.

   vii.            Can there be some clarity about the terms CMAGs, cross-party, and working groups.  The Leader agreed that Committee Services would provide some information and he would be willing to discuss the matter further.

Resolved: That content of the final Carbon Reduction Strategy as summarised in the body of the report and attached at Appendix 1 be approved.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

Councillor Williams and the Leader thanked the Director of Economy, Growth, and Place, who was leaving the Council for a new appointment with another local authority.