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Cabinet received report ES/0905 by the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment, the purpose of which was to advise Cabinet on the work of the Environment Task Group, since the last report on 1 June 2021. Confirmation was sought that the Task Group was continuing to deliver on the task it was set by Cabinet to investigate ways to cut ESC's carbon and other harmful emissions.
The Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment reminded members that the Environment was a key principle of the Council's Strategic Plan; also ESC had declared a Climate Emergency to reinforce that commitment. The Task Group, Councillor Mallinder reported, focussed on more than carbon neutrality by 2030 and it looked at all things environmental. There was a breakdown, Councillor Mallinder advised, in society, where the Environment was considered in that reduction of carbon was important but so too was preserving the nature of biodiversity that removed the carbon from the Environment, ie planting more trees, and also protecting the trees in place. Referring to Waste, Councillor Mallinder stated that there needed to be more recycling, but also there needed to be better recycling and less waste produced and less consumption.
Councillor Mallinder highlighted a recent report considered by Cabinet, ie the move to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which would reduce the carbon footprint for the fleet of ESC vehicles by 94% and for the Council as a whole by over 32%. Councillor Mallinder also highlighted the Pardon the Weeds campaign, which he said had been highly successful this year, with over 100 locations across East Suffolk; next year, Councillor Mallinder reported, the campaign would be bigger and better than before.
Councillor Mallinder thanked the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing for his work related to the housing stock, making sure that ESC's houses were run as efficiently as possible.
Councillor Mallinder also referred to a recent decision taken by the Council's Strategic Planning Committee, for a new Solar Farm, and he said that it would be one of the biggest in Suffolk, and the UK, contributing to the reduction in carbon.
Councillor Mallinder thanked Cabinet for its support, referring to Cabinet, in its decision making, considering the environmental impact of all decisions that were taken. Councillor Mallinder thanked all officers of ESC, referring to how engaged they were in the Environment, ensuring that ESC delivered environmentally sustainable communities. Councillor Mallinder gave thanks to Councillor Gooch and Councillor Smith-Lyte, referring to their work and enormous contributions in respect of the Environment Task Group.
In conclusion, Councillor Mallinder referred to COP26, stating that he hoped the national leaders would make some big changes as to how society functioned; however, he stated that small changes that everybody could make would make a big difference over time.
The Leader, after giving his thanks to all involved in ESC's environmental agenda, stated the importance of "actions and not words" and he stated that ESC would continue to deliver positive actions.
Cabinet gave its thanks to the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment for his commitment, enthusiasm and hard work.
Councillor Byatt, Councillor Topping and Councillor Gooch all gave their thanks to Councillor Mallinder for his work, welcoming the cross-party Task Group, its productive work, and collaboration.
Councillor Gooch, referring to the HVO work that had taken place, and any transportation issues, asked if the current difficulties in respect of HGV drivers, could have any impact on the supply of this. The Leader stated that there were regular meetings between officers of all councils to consider the impact of the potential issues around the supply of fuel across the whole of Suffolk; there were no issues at this time and no anticipated issues going forward he stated.
In response to a question from Councillor Topping regarding when the East Suffolk Climate Change Action Plan would be shared with members, Councillor Mallinder reported that it was being developed; work had been delayed due to the Covid pandemic with officers have to rightly work in other areas, but it would be presented to members shortly he advised.
In response to questions from Councillor Byatt in respect of how the Council was plotting its route to net zero and if it would be identified within the annual report if any targets were missed, and also if ESC possessed any figures in respect of its housing stock and insulation, the Leader highlighted that ESC's housing stock was where it ought to be in respect of insultation; more generally, and in respect of private houses, there were some really good charities across the District that did provide support for more vulnerable people in respect of loft insultation etc. The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, referring to the refurbishment of ESC's housing stock, highlighted work that had been undertaken by ESC related to window insulation etc; most of the stock was, Councillor Kerry reported, in the C bracket. ESC would, Councillor Kerry advised, be driven by data and he stated that data described the fabric of a building and its components.
The Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment, referring to ESC's ambitions, stated that part of his role was to articulate to communities how they could made a difference; Councillor Mallinder encouraged all ward members to assist him with this, by highlighting campaigns and grants that were available, by encouraging people to think about their own carbon footprints and how they could make a difference.
Officers, referring to the questions posed by Councillor Byatt in respect of how ESC tracked and measured its carbon emissions, advised that they tracked continually the energy consumption figures from all of ESC's built assets, ie those that were under its direct control, but they did not measure the energy consumption for the general housing stock. All figures were analysed on an annual basis to generate ESC's own carbon emissions and they could be divided up by category of source of emissions.
The Leader, in conclusion, stated that ESC's environmental agenda would not necessary save money; potentially, it would cost money; the work that ESC was doing in respect of its environmental agenda had an impact on the finances of the Council but that did not mean that ESC should not do it; it was the right thing to do, the Leader and Cabinet believed; to save the planet and the future of East Suffolk for future generations.
On the proposition of Councillor Mallinder, and seconded by Councillor Kerry, it was by unanimous vote
RESOLVED
That an additional £12,000 per annum to fund the Disability Advice Service to provide information, advice and support on all aspects of living with a disability to disabled people in the former Suffolk Coastal area, and a small increase in grant funding of £1,000 per year for Disability Advice North East Suffolk which provides services in the former Waveney area be approved.