Agenda item

To receive an update on the climate change strategy and action plan for 2023/24, and the priority workstreams for 2024/25.

The committee received an update on the climate change strategy and action plan for 2023/24, and the priority workstreams for 2024/25.

The committee heard from Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business, Toni Ainge, Strategic Director of Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, Tom Sharland, Climate Change Programme Director and Tom Buttrick, Climate Change Programme Manager.

Councillor John Batteson introduced the item.  He reported that there had been a lot of great work and good progress, referencing examples such as the Streets for People campaign, the launch of the Southwark Community Energy fund, the creation of new jobs, and the Southwark Green Investment. He stressed that there were a lot of challenges in delivering the climate action plan, most notably funding, and advised that in 2021 the estimated capital costs for delivering the work required to meet net zero was £3.92b, this figure was anticipated to be higher now due to inflationary costs, with a more recent estimate from another London local authority indicating that the figure was now closer to £10b. Councillor Batteson reassured the committee that the council was aware of the challenges and had a plan to address them.  The climate team were refreshing the action plan over the next year, as the council reached the halfway point to 2030.

The committee received a presentation on the Climate Action Plan 2023/24 [available to view on the meeting agenda page], which covered the highlights from the past year and issues the Climate Team would be focussing on in the year ahead.

Tom Sharland, Climate Change Programme Director explained that the Climate Action Plan was split across six key themes: greener buildings; Active and sustainable transport; Thriving natural environment; Circular economy with green jobs; Renewable energy; Resilience and adaptation.  The first five themes focused on emissions reduction and reducing carbon, and the last theme [resilience and adaptation] had a focus on how the borough can adapt and become more resilient to things such as flooding and overheating.

There were 117 actions being delivered by teams across the council.  Each action had a risk rating of deliverability – 104 (89%) were rated green, 10 (9%) were rated amber, and 3 (3%) were rated red.  It was highlighted that there were some large actions, particularly around building retrofits and how buildings were made more efficient, that fell within the red rating and required significant areas of investment, resource and expertise.  Overall, it was a positive picture with a lot of work happening, but with a recognition that some areas needed a wholescale change to enable issues to move a lot quicker.

Tom reported that along with funding, part of the challenge was the council seeing change in the borough and taking residents and key partners forward at the same time.  There was also the challenge of resource within the council to equip staff with the knowledge to understand issues such as building retrofit which was complex, and the wider resource and skills in the borough to enact the level of change needed in a short period of time.  In order for the borough to hit targets there was a need for behaviour change from residents, stakeholders, and people across the borough to start enacting positive change.  A number of engagement groups were launched last year, along with an approach to working much more widely across the council.

Tom brought to the committee’s attention ta number of delivery highlights in 2023/24 and upcoming delivery priorities for 2024/25 (highlights contained in the presentation document).

After the presentation, questions and discussion took place around the following:

·  Working with key partners

·  Keeping the overview and scrutiny committee updated on progress.

·  Previous environment scrutiny commission report in relation to energy and heat savings, and arising recommendations around ‘fabric first approach; use of SELCHP, and building properties of an environmental standard that are not reliant on connecting with SELCHP

·  Staff training around climate action strategy

·  Cost of delivering climate action programme, and seeking coalition with other partners/councils to make the case to government around funding

·  Refresh of the Climate change strategy in 2025

·  Funding gap in relation to retrofitting council homes

·  Green buildings fund

·  Actions and progress in respect of scope three emissions, and teaming up with local authorities with shared suppliers on bigger contracts

·  Difficulty in scrutinising carbon impact due to the way information is presented to the committee

·  Making greater use of the Green Investment Fund

·  Funds the council has bid for over the last year

·  Climate Supplementary Planning Document

·  Energy purchases for schools

·  Increasing resident participation and ensuring their voices are heard

RESOLVED:

That the committee receive regular updates on the delivery of the Climate Change Strategy (frequency and format to be determined).