In proposing the recommendation Councillor Tim Valentine, Chair of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group, introduced the report which provided an annual update on activities undertaken towards achieving the Council’s targets during 2022, following the adoption of the Action Plan in April 2020.  He said that the Action Plan had been rated amongst the top 20 plans for Councils in the country by the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Climate Emergency UK.  It had also received an ‘A’ rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project, one of only 122 municipal areas in the World to receive that ranking and the only Council in Kent.

Councillor Valentine highlighted the main achievements of the Action Plan which included:

·         The eco re-fit of Master’s House, Sheerness;

·         the eco re-fit of Swale House, Sittingbourne;

·         the electrification of the Council’s vehicle fleet continued and delivered carbon and cost savings for the Council;

·         the Green Spaces Contract now made use of electric power tools and vehicles, and reduced use of pesticides and planting schemes that would enhance nature;

·         over 11,000 trees would have been planted in Swale by the end of this planting season;

·         the new Waste Contract would deliver further carbon savings with more efficient routes and vehicles;

·         ten twin charges had been installed in three car parks across the Borough;

·         the Faversham Car Club had exceeded expectations, and a Sittingbourne Car Club was being established; and

·         the Climate Action Plan had helped to secure government funding of over £100,000 for Electric Vehicle (EV) car chargers and over £170,000 for tree planting.

Councillor Valentine concluded by speaking about the co-benefits of climate action which included: planting trees in green spaces enhanced those spaces and was important to physical and mental health; insulating public buildings provided a new lease of life for older buildings and reduced the cost to the taxpayer of heating those buildings; and encouraging the adaption of EVs contributed to the Council’s plan to improve air quality.

On seconding the recommendation, Councillor Julian Saunders paid tribute to Councillor Valentine, the Climate and Ecological Emergency Project Officer, and the Climate Change Officer for their hard work on the project and progress made over the past four years.  He said that as Chair of the Environment Committee he had been impressed by the way officers across the Council had worked together on the project, and how effective the one-off budget from the Improvements and Resilience Fund had been.  He said the Council’s ambition and desire to get on with it had been justified with such good progress made and the Council clearly showed leadership across the Borough acting as an exemplar for other councils and organisations and supporting businesses, community organisations and the public through advice, grants and events.  He hoped the Council would continue to push hard to achieve their ambitions.

The Group Leader of the main opposition group thanked officers for their excellent work.  He suggested the next update report be considered in the Autumn of 2024, so that any budget implications could be considered.

Other Members were invited to speak and made points which included:

·         Congratulated the Council on the report and said it should be proud of all it had achieved and delivered;

·         the impact on the revenue budget in terms of delivery had been minimal, as a lot of funding had come from the Improvement and Resilience Fund;

·         congratulated the Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group who had worked consistently and quietly on the Action Plan;

·         did not think enough had been done on improvement to the environment and biodiversity;

·         asked the working group to consider the impact on biodiversity so targets could be given;

·         welcomed the progress that had been made;

·         the report did not include any detail on how the Council would meet the zero emission 2025 target;

·         did not understand how the Council could be on track but yet reliant on the review of the Local Plan;

·         was the zero emission deadline January 2025 or December 2025?;

·         the report demonstrated a great piece of collaborative working;

·         raised concern about the long-term maintenance of the trees that were planted;

·         the Council working with government and industry needed to improve recycling in Swale;

·         considered that further education was needed for residents about where EV chargers were and could be located;

·         welcomed the excellent report;

·         there was work to be done on working with partners in respect of biodiversity; and

·         was the Working Group aware of KCC’s Plan B?

In summing-up Councillor Valentine said that the opposition were represented on the working group, and he valued their contribution.  He agreed to review the timing of the update report.  Councillor Valentine said that any young trees lost would be replaced and the local authority tree fund did include a maintenance period.  He spoke about the importance of not cutting down old trees which was difficult to prevent under the planning system.  With regard to biodiversity, Councillor Valentine said that Swale were chosen as the only Kent authority to participate in Kent Wildlife Trusts project on wilder carbon and improvements to seagrass, and he hoped that with the ELMS scheme he hoped that farmers would be able to improve the biodiversity of agricultural land but were reliant on Central Government.  He spoke about the work of Green Grid which farmers and community groups that shared the Councils ambitions and any individuals and parish councils were welcome to join the group.  He also thanked officers that had worked on the project.

Resolved:

(1)   That the progress in the Annual Climate and Ecological Emergency progress report be noted.