Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling, Councillor Trevor Johnson introduced the report.  During the past two years the country had been concentrating on the sustainability agenda and the threats caused by rising carbon emissions such as loss of habitat and plastic pollution.

In April, 2019, the Council passed a Climate Emergency Motion with the aim of becoming carbon neutral, in respect of the Council’s own estates and activities and relating to the Borough’s resident and businesses, as soon as possible.  In December, 2020 Councillor Trevor Johnson recommended a Sustainable Environment Strategy and Action Plan to the Cabinet for the Council and the Borough which was approved.  A copy of the Strategy was appended to the report.

The Council’s Executive Director for Operational Services, Dave Adams advised that, underpinning the changes that the Strategy sought to make, there was a commitment that Newcastle-under-Lyme was dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future leading to improvements within the communities and would continue to strive to reduce its own impact on the environment.  Reference was made to paragraph 2.3 of the Cabinet report which identified four priority outcomes.

The Strategy would set out a future direction of travel for the Council.  The Council would not be starting from a zero base.  The section of the Strategy, titled ‘Our Current Commitment’ gave a wide range of actions, activities and initiatives which would all make a positive contribution towards achieving the aims in these areas.  The areas would be: recycling and waste and resource management; Travel and Transport; the built environment; energy and renewables; the natural environment and awareness engagement and behavioural change.  The Strategy contained an action plan which covered the next five years.  The main focus would be actions which related to the Council’s own activities and estate and would include actions which would affect the wider Borough. 

Reference was made to paragraph 8 of the Cabinet report, outlining financial and resource implications.

The Council would need to work with its partners in order to deliver some of the aims and to support them in delivering their priorities for change.

Councillor Panter stated that this was one of the most detailed and informative strategies that he had seen.  Reference was made to paragraph 2.11 of the Cabinet report which referred to the 2030 target date.  Councillor Panter did not think that the date was practical and felt that 2050 was the more practical target.

Dave Adams clarified that, at a previous meeting of this Committee, the matter was discussed and it was resolved to support the date of 2030 being the latest point at which the Council should achieve zero carbon emissions for its own activities, being distinct from supporting the date of 2050 as being the more realistic date for achieving carbon neutrality for the Borough as a whole.

Councillor Jenny Cooper welcomed the Strategy stating that it was important.  As part of the education and engagement for the Strategy, could the Council further educate members of the public around the number of times that plastic could be recycled and the number of other single use plastics and alternatives that people could purchase.

Dave Adams noted the comment stating that it was a good proposal.

Councillor Olszewski asked how confident Dave Adams felt that 2030

would be achievable and if there were any doubts, which parts of the Strategy would not be achievable.

Dave Adams stated that this was difficult to answer. 2030 was now less than ten years away and it would be challenging.  The Action Plan set out a wide range of actions to work towards that target.  Achievability would also depend upon how technology advances for vehicles for example plus the affordability of such new technology.  Education and awareness would be key to this to effect behavioural change.

Councillor Olszewski referred to the glass milk and pop bottles that were used in the past which were reused many times over.  Those times needed to be looked back upon for a way forward.  

 The Chair stated that this was, quite rightly an ambitious plan as the Council needed to be leading the way.  The plan needed to be reviewed regularly and brought back to this committee twice a year.

Resolved:     That the Sustainable Environment Strategy be endorsed and that

the comments be noted.