On 15 January 2019 there was a motion passed by Full Council declaring a climate emergency.  This motion has identified a series of priorities for the Council that will coordinate our efforts with the wider aims of the WYCA energy strategy and delivery plan with the aim of limiting the districts carbon emissions in line with what is needed to achieve Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations.

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “H”) seeks to highlight the current stage of development of each of the priorities and make recommendations about the next steps required.

Recommended –

That the Regeneration and Environment considers the information contained in the report.

(Neil Morrison – 01274 434003)

On 15 January 2019 there was a motion passed by Full Council declaring a climate emergency.  This motion had identified a series of priorities for the Council that would coordinate our efforts with the wider aims of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority energy strategy and delivery plan with the aim of limiting the district’s carbon emissions in line with what is needed to achieve Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations.

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “H”) highlighted the current stage of development of each of the priorities and made recommendations about the next steps required.

At the request of the Chair, the Energy and Low Carbon Project Manager with the Strategic Director, Place introduced the report to the Committee.

Following introduction, a question and answer session ensued –

·         How much carbon dioxide could be saved per year in the Bradford District?

o   58,000 tonnes annually;

·         What was the reason behind the lack of information contained in the report for not suggesting climate emergency as a crisis?

o   The importance of climate emergency had previously been acknowledged by Council, as a result, a motion passed to declare an emergency. In order to achieve the significant results that required the Council to fulfil its ambition, it was committed to delivering the priorities identified, as well as tackling climate change to create jobs and to help people reduce their fuel bills. At present, obstacles were in path of the Council to meet all priorities that required funding due to the lack of resources. However there were other ongoing replacement factors to assist in tackling climate change and an update progress could be reported back to this Committee at a later date;

·         In terms of greater ambitions towards climate control, was the Council confident in generating its own heating?

o   Yes due to third parties providing substantial resources;

·         In terms of embracing the opportunities provided by the H21: Hydrogen for the north project, what were the anticipated timescales?

o   Officers were engaging with different groups across the Council and the district to raise awareness of the H21 project and explore potential areas of opportunity. The Department of Corporate Resources and the office of the Chief Executive were leading on this current priority. As the scheme progressed towards delivery, internal preparation would need to be across a number of additional work areas and directorates however this was a long term project which required substantial population investment and the Council could inject up to 20% hydrogen into existing gas works however the scheme would not be delivered until 2028; and,

·         What were wider Council expectations for the future procurement of Council vehicles and for the installation of further electrical vehicle (EV) charging points across the district?

o   The Council was increasing the proportion of electric and hybrid vehicles in use for the Council fleet and supporting the roll out of EV charging points across the district to help promote uptake of EV use.

During the discussion, the Committee and officers covered the following points –

·         This was not only about climate emergency but equally, connected services such as transport and due to the lack of studies undertaken on connected services, this was a vital opportunity missed;

·         Bradford was one of the most deprived local authorities in the country and as many residents were facing financial hardship, it was doubtful whether Bradford residents could be influenced towards climate change;

·         Due to current overcrowding on public transport, the whole connected transport infrastructure required new regulation but due to implications of less resources this would not be achievable in the short run;

·         Bradford’s lateness in tabling street lighting had environmentally benefited Bradford as new installed LED lights were more friendly climate reducing the Council's street lighting power consumption by a significant amount of carbon emissions per year; and,

·         The key priorities would ultimately reduce the Council’s carbon footprint.

Baildon Friends of the Earth (BFotE), a movement in campaigning for change in its community to make a difference to the environment locally, nationally, and globally was at the meeting and with the invitation of the Chair made the following representations to the Committee –

·         CAMPAIGNER 1 – BFotE was Bradford’s only Friends of the Earth group. Several members had been involved with Clean Air Bradford to which governance support had been provided. Concerns had been expressed with writing to all Members of Council about the proposed expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport due to odds with climate emergency.  A letter with similar wording was sent to all Councillors (WYCA and District), in West Yorkshire. He further explained his concerns of the lengthy time scales, as set out in this report and that immediate action was required as opposed to a few years later. It was paramount for the Council to identify a Climate Commission similar to one in Leeds as this would set an essential platform to engage with people in the district. 

• CAMPAIGNER 2 – BFotE had met with pupils of Titus Salts School who had spoken their fears about their future as they were mindful of being let down by elders especially politicians for not acting earlier on climate change.  It was important for Bradford to grasp the opportunity by accepting responsibility to take lead on climate change as it was the youngest city in the country. Proof laid in the fact that each year the summers were becoming hotter and this was not normal usual weather conditions for the city. The report had explained measures but no clear targets had been set as opposed to Manchester had announced zero carbon by 2038.
• CAMPAIGNER 3 – A climate campaigner of Bradford and a Extinction Rebellion Bradford member laid out the following requests through the means of science so that the Council could better inform itself, (a) each year measurements on which predictions were made became more clearer and highlighted previous underestimated predictions of seriousness towards climate change; (b) this was a global impact. To think disruption of normal climate patterns, drought, floods, wholesale failure of crops, increased conflict and unprecedented migration; and, (c) imperative reasons for the Council to act now to decarbonise the local economy and ensure this was the basis of all Council decisions. A legitimate assembly comprising the district’s residents should be appointed to protect its residents against the worst effects of climate breakdown.
• CAMPAIGNER 4 – Baildon was a solar hotspot and not for reason of current weather temperatures. BFotE had enumerated solar panels on properties in Baildon and at last count, a total of 1215 panels.  BFotE raised £16,250 to put 6kW peak solar panels and LED lighting in Glenaire Primary School, Bradford. Baildon Methodist Church had proclaimed 2019 as 'The Year of Green Bricks' and was constructing the first community building on Church premises in Britain, to a standard similar to that of a Passivhaus effect (Passivhaus - building in which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling the fresh air flow required for a good indoor air quality, without the need for additional recirculation of air). Therefore zero consumption of energy, zero production of carbon dioxide. A total of £800,000 had been raised out of a set target of £900,000. What the Council had achieved on its estate to tackle climate change should be praised but nothing had been actioned for the remaining of the district.

Resolved –

(1)       That officers be thanked for Document “H” and that the   Committee acknowledges that work on Climate Emergency is being             undertaken beyond the five priorities adopted by Council in     January 2019.

(2)       That the Executive, be requested to task officers to work with    partners/providers to accelerate progress against the delivery of    the five priorities.

(3)       That officers consider the comments made on Climate Emergency       at this meeting of the Regeneration and Environment Overview      and Scrutiny Committee.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Corporate Services /Place