Cabinet considered the report seeking approval to the draft Climate Strategy and action plan to be taken forward to Full Council.

 

The Lead Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change, Sustainability, Parks and Countryside informed Cabinet that in June 2019 the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead declared an Environment and Climate Emergency.   It was brought about through the urging of the RBWM’s Climate Emergency Coalition, a group formed to convince the council to declare this emergency.  A motion was passed at Council, and it was agreed to establish a cross party working group, undertake a review of our own carbon footprint, and together with local stakeholders and partners, to bring about a draft strategy before full council within the year.

 

Cabinet were informed that Theresa May, who, as Prime Minister, that same month, pledged to introduce a legally binding target forcing the UK to end its contribution to climate change by 2050.  Hitting net zero, a 100% cut in emissions.  This would mean an end to heating of homes with traditional gas boilers, more green electricity, and a switch from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles, and more provision for walking and cycling.  This legislation would also create legally binding targets on biodiversity, air quality, water, resource and waste efficiency.

 

During the course of the past twelve months, our environment had continued to suffer and emissions had continued to rise.  We recognise the possibility that, within a few decades at most, our planet could warm to an extent that would make life difficult for many and impossible for some and that could drive the life of many species up to and beyond the point of extinction. 

 

Over the last 12 month we had sought out best practice, looked at ways of reducing our own emissions, and with four stakeholder workshops, developed a vision of a future borough to actionable next steps, and then to the groupings that led to the strategic framework of the four key themes. 

 

The vision was to be a borough where the community collectively worked together to achieve a sustainable future, protecting and enhancing our natural environment, and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

 

We had structured our strategy around four key themes:

 

·         Circular Economy, how to reduce waste, and increase repair, re-use and recycling in the borough. 

 

·         Renewable Energy, how to reduce energy consumption and decarbonise supply.

 

·         Natural Capital, how to improve the natural environment and establish the principle of biodiversity net gain.

 

·         Sustainable Mobility, enabling sustainable transport choices.

 

Against each of these areas were 44 actions and measures for the next five years. 

 

This action plan needed to be worked into a prioritised delivery plan, with carbon reduction targets, timelines and accountabilities. It needed to be taken from the cabinet paper and turned into a document that speaks to our residents about its intent and encouraged actions such as ‘provide opportunities for people to grow their own food’ or ‘remove barriers to walking and cycling through delivery of cycle action plan’.

 

It had been said that the document had not gone far enough.  There had been engagement with input from over 80 individuals.  The strategy included objectives and actions.  Further collaborate was required and a new Stakeholder Advisory Board would be formed to help improve the strategy prior to Council and public consultation.   The Stakeholder Advisory Board would also monitor implementation. 

 

Cabinet were asked to note the report and approve the strategy to be taken to full Council for approval and consultation.  With the additional recommendation being subject to the delegation authority to the Executive Director in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change, Sustainability, Parks and Countryside to make further refinements to the draft strategy, as required, prior to consideration by Council and public consultation.

 

The Leader informed that this was a landmark strategy for the local authority but it was not a static strategy and needed to be ever evolving.  This was a good starting place to build upon.

 

Cabinet were addressed by two members of the public:

 

Fiona Hewer, Chair of Wild Maidenhead, addressed Cabinet and informed that she was speaking for biodiversity activists in the six community wildlife groups that now covered the whole of the borough: Wildlife in Ascot, Wild Cookham, Wild About Datchet, Wild Eton & Eton Wick, Wild Windsor and Wild Maidenhead.

 

Windsor and Maidenhead urgently needed a Climate Strategy to reduce carbon emissions to net zero, and increase biodiversity. As the draft climate strategy itself says, it is not yet a detailed plan and much further work was needed to develop the specific actions.

 

The six groups had jointly submitted constructive suggestions in writing for improving the draft, but only some of the requests had been adopted.  This left them feeling that the strategy was not fit for purpose.

 

They felt that there were two fundamental problems, that the main biodiversity goal was to write a plan within 12 months and that the carbon reductions excluded the major emitters.

 

She informed Cabinet that the strategy needed practical actions to deliver its aims and questioned where were the objectives, some of which could have been taken from Wild Maidenhead’s 2018 Biodiversity Action Plan such as:

 

·         Wild About Gardens Awards scheme for the whole borough.

·         Woodland management.

·         Wildflower roadside verges.

·         Wild areas in public parks.

·         Wilder waterways and wetlands.

·         Protection and management of Local Wildlife Sites.

 

They felt that there were plenty of examples from other authorities that the council could have used such as:

 

·         Surrey Council had a Climate Commission of public, private and civic society groups.

·         Stroud District Council had written an Implementation Plan to deliver net zero by 2030.

·         Kirklees Council is using authorative, independent carbon budgets from the Tyndall Centre.

·         Leeds Council had an action plan to halve its emission by 2025.

 

They felt that if the constructive advice given and the examples mentioned it was possible to make amendments and deliver an interim strategy in time of June 2020 Council. Actions to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions should begin immediately, and the final strategy should follow in the next few months.

 

Cabinet were informed that she had spoke with Cllr Johnson and Cllr Stimson yesterday evening about these concerns and hoped they would be actioned.

 

Cabinet were also addressed by Paul Hinton, Climate Emergency Coalition, who informed that as mentioned earlier they had met with the Leader and Lead Member yesterday to discuss their concerns.

 

He informed that 12 months ago the Council declared an Environment and Climate Emergency supported by all councillors.  The then Lead Member introduced it as “possibly the most important motion ever put to Council“ and yet today Cabinet were presented with a strategy which would not have confirmed its target path to net zero until 7 months from now, 18 months after the Emergency was declared.  In the interim, the strategy proposes a straight-line trajectory, which will mean the Borough breaches its per capita carbon budget in 2028.

 

The strategy was a draft and subject to improvement but a key action that sets a 10% reduction in energy demand from council sources by 2023, would reduce the Borough’s annual carbon emissions by just 0.07% in 3 years.

 

Mr Hinton made reference to recently used phrase “Build back better” and felt that out of the current crises came opportunity. The Council now had the opportunity to be bolder, go faster and think bigger.

 

Constituents looked to the Council to provide leadership and to recognise the magnitude of the problem. He felt that the strategy did not currently contain a governance structure, a community engagement plan, or a vision that the community could work with. As a result, they believed that the risk to stakeholder engagement was high.

 

Despite their reservations they had no wish to slow the process down further. They request that Cabinet accepted the current draft of the strategy subject to a commitment in writing, to work collaboratively with current stakeholders to agree and commence key actions now and produce an interim strategy for full Council approval at the June meeting.

 

They recognised the difficulties of the Council’s financial position, but felt that a great plan was an investment. A world-class climate strategy would position RBWM as ‘funding ready’. Investment will inevitably flow towards areas who were ready to go. They therefore also requested that Cabinet committed to work with professionals and academia to produce a final strategy by the end of 2020.

The presenting Lead Member thanked the speakers for their comments and said that when we were challenged we produced greater results and thus the feedback was welcome.  The draft strategy may not be perfect but they did not want a further delay.

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Resident and Leisure Services, HR, IT, Legal, Performance Management and Windsor informed that the groups mentioned had helped bring communities together.  The Braywick Leisure Centre would use 20% less energy than the Magnet Centre and that TVAC were installing solar panels.  She wished to see more walking and cycling and mentioned that the Council had switched to an electric supplier whose energy came from renewable sources.

 

The Deputy Chairman of Cabinet, Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Health and Mental Health said that he agreed that the council had to continue to challenge ourselves.  He mentioned the importance of youth engagement and encourage further engagement be undertaken.  Both ward members had been contacted by their constituents who were keen to participate.  He thanked Sarah Bowden for her continued work in his ward.  This report was another step in the right direction but further work was always required.

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Maidenhead said that in 2011 he used to be the chairman of the Sustainability Panel and we had come a long way from trying to save money to trying to save the planet.  He would be bring to Cabinet a Maidenhead Vision and Charter that would say Maidenhead would be a green town.  There were a number of strategies moving in the same direction.

 

The Lead Member for Transport and Infrastructure thanked the Lead Member and the working group for producing such a complex plan.  There had been open dialogue and the aim was to get carbon zero as soon as possible.

 

The Lead Member for Housing, Communications and Youth Engagement informed that he had participated in one of the working groups about our built environment and principles within the strategy would be taken into the Housing Strategy.  He gave examples of groups and activities such as keeping Cox Green Clean and Maidenhead Matters and also the importance of ongoing youth engagement. This would set a bar that future strategies could be measured against.

 

The  Leader of the Council and Chairman of Cabinet, Business, Economic Development and Property reported that we see the delivery of climate change and strategy as being fundamental to the overall process of C-19 recovery as a council and economic unit.  The current awful crisis had produced a few benefits such as better air quality, reduced carbon based emissions and the opportunities that have been forced upon us such as challenging how we travel, live and work.  The crisis had accelerated fundamental shifts that had been started for example about 80% of staff were broadly working from home where possible.  He informed that more had to be done regarding recycling levels across the Royal Borough.  We needed lessons learnt from the crisis and a flexible strategy.  Cabinet were informed that who would have seen such a crisis and changes a year ago, that Heathrow expansion would be delayed by a further 18 months and people questioning the need for more air travel when modern technology could be used.  He thanked the two speakers for their time and candid feedback.

 

Cllr C Da Costa addressed Cabinet and commented on the mention of youth engagement and recommended that the Corporate Parenting Panel could be used as there was excellent engagement with children.  She asked if Cabinet would make the commitment in writing that the biodiversity plan would be made more ambitious and measurable to see if we are achieving.  She reported that Cllr Da Costa could not attend this meeting but had asked Cabinet to engage with experts he had been in contact with and that that the cross party working group also be continued.  She also said that Cllr W Da Costa had emailed in a number of comments and asked if they had been incorporated within the paper.  The Lead Member who held responsibility for children’s services said he would not only raise the issue with the Corporate Parenting Forum but he would also write to all head teacher to see if focus groups could be remotely set up so ideas and opinions could be put forward.  The presenting Lead Member informed that she had contacted Cllr W Da Costa about his comments and would look at incorporating them in the Council report.

 

Cllr Hill reported that he was very impressed by the strategy and the residents who had spoken.  He had heard a lot about the working party.  With the climate strategy it was important to keep trees and wildlife and thus he raised concern about the proposed development on the Maidenhead Gold Club that contained trees important in absorbing carbon admissions.  The proposed strategy and development plans were in conflict.  Apart from this conflict there was also the impact of C-19 with a number of shops and offices not being required and potential being converted into dwelling reducing the need for housing development on the golf course.

 

The Leader responded that the point about more on line shopping was valid with regards to shops closing but this would also result in more traffic from delivery drivers.  With regards to the golf course he looked forward to debating this later on the agenda but he did mention that Cllr Hill had been a cabinet member when the project started, Cllr Hill replied that his opposition was a reason why he was no longer a cabinet member.  With regards to housing the Leader said that there remained a need to deliver them and the council had been set hard targets by the Government that had financial implications.

 

Cllr Bhangra asked if the Lead Member would be happy to meet with Boyne Hill residents over Zoom and some residents have asked how to be more ‘green’.

 

Cllr Brar said that she felt the report needed to be reviewed and brought back taking on board the issues raised by the public speakers. There needed to be training for staff and councillors.

 

Cllr Davies reported that she had been a Liberal Democrat members representative on the working group and new how hard the Lead Member had worked and therefore was disappointed that the strategy was not yet completed and she assumed that the Lead Member would be working with stakeholders to get it to council.

 

Cllr Price felt that as it was due to go to Council in a couple of weeks it should be delayed to allow the amendments to be made.

 

The Lead Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change, Sustainability, Parks and Countryside thanked everyone for their views and said that meetings would be set up with residents as requested and that there would be further youth engagement.  There was no need to delay the report as work on issues raised had already started and this included training that was in the plan.

 

The Lead Member read out the amended recommendation prior to Cabinet voting on the resolution. 

 

Resolved that: Cabinet notes the report and approves the strategy to be taken to full council for approval, subject to the delegation authority to the Executive Director in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change, Sustainability, Parks and Countryside to make further refinements to the draft strategy, as required, prior to consideration by Council and public consultation, and to present the strategy document to full council in June 2020.

 

(Cllr Rayner abstained from the vote as she reported that she had lost connectivity during the part of the deliberations)