Members received the report of the Environment Strategy Officer, which summarised the work of the Climate Strategy refresh and provided the resulting draft Climate Strategy (CS) to be considered for onward approval and adoption.

In 2022/23, in partnership with stakeholders and the local community, a review of the Council’s strategy to reduce emissions and create a cleaner, greener, more equitable district was completed, alongside a review of the Environment Strategy 2020.  The resulting CS detailed how the Council would use its powers and influence to make the district carbon neutral and reduce its operational emissions to Net Zero by 2030. 

The report before Members detailed the findings of the Environment Strategy 2020 review, the additional evidence base required for the strategy refresh and stakeholder engagement information. The draft CS was attached at Appendix A to the report.  The layout / design of CS would be professionally completed by a graphic designer and copy editor. 

The review of the Environment Strategy 2020 highlighted the following areas for improvement: Emissions evidence-based – District and Organisational; Changes to national policy – Environment Act 2021; Rother-specific climate risks and opportunities; and Climate Action Plan – to direct delivery.

Both Rother district and operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were included in the evidence base for the CS, attached at Appendices B and C to the report. Other Council strategic documents, including the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the emerging Local Plan, annual Air Quality Assessments, and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, also formed part of the evidence base for the CS. Appendix D to the report contained the CS Engagement Tracker, which listed all occasions when the Environment Strategy Officer had presented, discussed or otherwise engaged with stakeholders on the refresh, but did not include discussions via email.

The aim of the CS was to enable, encourage and accelerate the reduction of GHG emissions across the district to net zero by 2030.  The CS outlined its five objectives with five action areas (Buildings and Energy Efficiency, Transport, Resource Consumption and Waste, Biodiversity and Land Use and Energy Generation), which detailed the challenges and the Council’s approach. A three-year Climate Action Plan had been produced to direct delivery of the CS and was attached to the report at Appendix E; this was a working document.

The Council had considered continuing with the existing Environment Strategy, but the evidence base included in the CS refresh demonstrated the need to focus the Council’s resources on supporting emission reductions in the five action areas. The CS was a well-researched, evidence-based document that would guide the Council’s climate action and enable to Council to meet its pledge to do what was within its powers to make Rother a carbon-neutral district.

Councillor Field, Chair of the Climate Change Steering Group (CCSG) and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Licensing, Community Safety, Climate Strategy and Joint Waste Contract thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee, and the Environment Strategy Officer for her hard work in developing the refreshed CS.  The CS proposed the Council’s first Climate Action Plan and a lot of engagement had taken place with stakeholders throughout its development.

Members had the opportunity to ask questions and the following points were noted during the discussions:

•     Members were pleased to note that the CS was clear, easy to read and understandable;

•     Members raised concerns about green issues for older properties across the district, in particular listed buildings and those properties owned by Southern Housing;

•     climate friendly initiatives were central to new housing within the Local Plan;

•     carbon literacy training was being rolled out to all Council officers and was being delivered in-house. Further opportunities would be available for Member training also. It was not possible for officers to deliver training within schools as the training toolkit required the trainer to be based in the school, but discussions were taking place with neighbouring authorities to deliver to their Members and officers;

•     reducing transport emissions was key;

•     the action plan had been written with the current financial situation in mind. Funding had already been secured for some actions, but others would require additional funding to be applied for;

•     an adaptation report, detailing how the Council was dealing with the current impacts of Climate Change would be forthcoming;

•     East Sussex County Council had commenced discussions about adaptations for the county and initiatives would be coming forward from Central Government in due course, which the Council had already expressed an interest in;

•     the objectives and action plan focused on factors that the Council could directly influence and would be monitored by the CCSG;

•     the CS would remain a living document, to be adapted and amended as new research and technology emerged;

•     a ‘green directory’ could be developed which gave details of individuals / organisations that provided ‘green’ goods or services; and

•     the CS should ensure connectivity between rural and urban communities and address the differing dynamics.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet be requested to consider that the draft Climate Strategy be recommended to Council for approval and adoption.

(When it first became apparent, Councillors Clark, Field each declared a Personal Interest in this matter as Members of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(When it first became apparent, Councillor Maynard declared a Personal Interest in this matter as an Executive Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).