Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Development.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee welcomed Sally Green, ‘Climate Change Programme Officer’ to provide the Third Monitoring Report for ‘Developing the Council’s Green Agenda’.

The Task Group made 23 recommendations. 13 had been completed. 3 were completed and awaiting approval. 7 were long term and ongoing, some of which were part of the draft Climate Strategy Draft.

The carbon footprint of the Town Hall was successfully mapped prior to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. The baseline provided was 1,662,632 kg CO2e.

A new ‘Air Quality and Carbon Officer’ was in post.

To support sustainable developments, the Council and the Business Engagement Team developed a ‘green plaque’ scheme to identify buildings in the Borough with strong green credentials.

The Council was exploring a wide variety of renewable energy sources to decarbonise the Town Hall.

Networking groups were established within the community, ranging from local schools, the Youth Zone and local businesses.

Andy Hunter-Rossall expressed his disappointment with the Council’s lack of engagement with Green Living Chorley. Due to the pandemic, there was limited pathways for adults to engage. It was agreed that Zoe Whiteside and Sally Green would attend a meeting of Green Living Chorley to discuss the ongoing work at Chorley Council.

Members understood that there were significant costs for institutions and businesses to become more ‘eco-friendly’. It was agreed for grant information and support to be provided by the Climate Change Programme Officer. It was added that a significant amount of information around decarbonising had been provided to businesses, including how they could calculate their own carbon footprint.

Members expressed the importance of the Council not overstepping and taking over community projects, but to be available to act as an intermediary, offer advice and to be transparent about its activities.

Following the success of the Climate Change Business Event in November 2021, another was planned for November 2022 and aimed to utilise information provided in the follow up questionnaire.

Attached to the agenda was the draft letters from the Leader of the Council. The letters had required updating due to the delay in the release of strategies and legislation. The letters discussed the gaps required to be filled to meet the climate change targets. Members questioned the wording used to describe Chorley’s geographical location as a ‘rural area of the north’ due to its proximity to major metropolitan areas.

In response to Members, it was confirmed that air quality was measured with NOX tubes across the borough, but the latest data was not yet available.

Decision: The report was noted.