Issue - meetings

A report from the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations is attached.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations, presented the draft Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan for Bury to set out what needs to be done to achieve the target to be carbon neutral by 2038.

It was noted that the draft Climate Action Strategy set out the background information, the scale of the challenge facing the Borough and the need to work together and take action now, with the Action Plan being a more fluid document that would be updated each year and will be used to monitor progress across the community, partners and the council to ensure delivery and keep things on track. It was proposed that these be subject to consultation with residents and other stakeholders.

Decision:

That Cabinet:

1.   Acknowledges the work to date on developing the draft Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan.

2.   Approves the draft Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan for public consultation for a period of ten weeks.

3.   Notes that a further report will be presented to Cabinet for adoption, with the final Climate Action Strategy and Climate Action Plan, that takes into account the results and feedback from the consultation.

Reasons for the decision:

Climate change is a long lasting and universal problem that will affect everyone and those most impacted will be our most vulnerable residents. It will be the young people who will have to deal with our legacy into the future and we owe it to them to take the drastic action required.

The Climate Action Strategy and Action Plan needs to be owned by the Council, residents and stakeholders and the consultation will seek the views of the wider community to ensure feedback is considered and the importance of different aspects of the strategy are understood across the different neighbourhoods.

Other options considered and rejected:

The Council did consider having one document that included both the Strategy and Action Plan. However, it was felt that some people may not be interested in the background and detail of the Strategy but may still be keen to get involved and take action. By having a separate and fluid Climate Action Plan the community and stakeholders can commit to helping to deliver one or a number of actions and see how these fit into the wider strategy.