Agenda item

Jos Holmes, Climate Change Policy Officer and Adam Vaughan, Climate Change & Environmental Project Officer, introduced the report and presentation raising the following:

·         An outline of the background to the report and consultation on the North Yorkshire Council climate change strategy was given.

·         It was noted that the strategy needs to be evidence based and the public consultation has produced a very thorough review of the strategy so far. Member’s comments will help to shape the revised strategy that goes to the Executive in July.

·         It is essential to have energy efficient housing before the focus is switched to renewable energy production.

·         A climate change action plan is being developed to focus on the delivery of the key priorities within the climate change strategy.

·         The successes of the council so far were highlighted, and it was reported that a focus on climate change is being embedded into service plans across the new authority.

The following points were then discussed in the debate:

·         The methodology of the strategy was commended.

·         Members suggested that the strategy could be improved in the following ways:

-         By adding an action plan to make targets, and ways of reaching these targets, stronger. Officers reported that specific targets are not set in the strategy, and that the action plan comes after the strategy is adopted. Members were informed that the strategy endorses the York and North Yorkshire Routemap to Carbon Negative but hopes to make the performance targets more understandable.

-         That the definition of net zero is made clearer.

-         That the climate change programmes of the former Borough, County and District Councils are integrated into the new strategy. Officers reported that this had been done at an early stage.

-         That all Councillors and senior officers be required to take climate literacy training.

·         The number of responses to the consultation was higher than average when compared to similar consultations and these responses seem to accurately reflect the views of residents. Work needs to be done on how to increase the number of responses from the Scarborough and Selby areas.

·         Responses to the consultation often discussed climate change in general and didn’t refer to the strategy directly.

·         The importance of keeping North Yorkshire’s peat reserve was highlighted.

·         According to the presentation given, public transport is vital for the strategy. Members raised a number of areas that this could be improved, for example, lobbying to extend the £2 cap for bus fares, introducing bus lanes and lobbying for contactless tap-in for buses.

·         It is proposed that the strategy will be reviewed every 6 months and refreshed every 2 years.

Councillor Warneken proposed that the draft strategy be noted but that once revised should come back for members of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide comments on before going to the Executive in July. This was approved.

Resolved –

i)            That the report is noted.

ii)          That the revised North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Strategy is brought back to an informal meeting of the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee before the end of June 2023.