The Committee considered a final draft Climate Change Strategy which had been subject to wide internal consultation amongst Members and Officers. The comments and input received had been incorporated into the Strategy and Members were pleased with the progress that had been made in developing the Strategy which was a living document which would continually be updated.  Illustrations and graphics would be included in the desktop publishing of the document once the content had been finalised. 

Achieving net zero carbon emissions from the Council’s services and operations by 2030 would be a major challenge.  It was agreed that the Council should encourage the Government and other local authorities to promote climate change and encourage the community to reduce its carbon footprint.  It was suggested that Members should lead by example in reducing their carbon footprint.  For example, they should seek to reduce their car use and only visit the Civic Centre by car when it was necessary to do so.

It was agreed that a delivery plan should be provided for the Strategy and that the need for achievable and measurable targets for the Strategy should be a particular priority.  It was suggested that an Executive Summary should be included in the Strategy.  It was noted that many of the Actions within the Strategy were outside the remit of the Council and that an essential part of the strategy concerned how the Council would work with other organisations and could seek to influence other organisations to operate green and sustainable policies. 

            A Member suggested that the Council should be completely paperless in producing Committee documents.  It was noted that the Council Summons still had to be produced in hard copy by law and that Members could elect not to receive paper but could not be compelled not to receive paper.  It was noted that if Members considered that the production of Committee documents should be entirely paperless then they should lobby their local MP for a change in the law.

It was suggested that the Southampton to London Pipeline/Esso Pipeline that was routed through Chertsey Meads should be included in the section of the Strategy entitled Partner and Stakeholder Engagement: External Projects.  It was noted that the Council had obtained various environmental requirements from Esso in carrying out work on the Pipeline in Chertsey Meads including the need for sequential layers to be replaced in the same order and reseeding of trenched areas.

It was suggested that the section of the Strategy entitled Air Quality and Congestion might include mention of encouragement of vehicles to stop idling (i.e. running engines while stationary) and that the Parks and Green Spaces part of the Strategy might include a commitment for the Council to not use peat and that in particular subcontractors might be encouraged not to use peat.  

Policy SD8 in the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan expected development proposals of 1,000 square metres or more of additional floorspace to incorporate measures to supply a minimum of 10% of the development’s energy needs from renewable and/or low carbon technologies unless it could be demonstrated with evidence that this was not feasible or viable. It was suggested that Action PP1.0 of the Strategy might be amended to include a statement that the Council would encourage developers to exceed this 10% expectation.

It was suggested that Action PPAT 1.0 might be amended to make a distinction between bicycle hire for leisure and for places of work, that food labelling might be included within Action CC 7.0 and that the Strategy might include reference to packaging standards and cup recycling.  Where  possible, electric charging points should be rolled out to encourage the use of electric vehicles and it was noted that all Council car parks were currently being reviewed for the potential to install charging point facilities.

The Committee supported the convening of a Citizens Panel so that the community was informed and could contribute to the climate change decision making process.  It was noted that proposals for the Citizens Panel would be included in the Empowering Communities Strategy which would be submitted to the Committee’s next meeting.

Action CC 1.0 related to the baseline by which performance on Climate Change would be measured.  It was noted that there was no standard methodology for determining the baseline and the Council would have to create its own baseline which would be established during the course of 2022.  The fact that the Council did not have a baseline at present did not hold up the other Actions in the Strategy.  Many of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI)s referred to in Action CC 3.0 would be qualitative rather than quantitative so the production of a baseline would not prevent those KPIs being taken forward.

In the strategy, the Council had committed to continue to develop the 15 minute principle so that all essential services were within easy reach and accessible by public transport.  It was noted that residents in Egham and Englefield Green did not live within 15 minutes travelling time if they wished to access services in Addlestone in person and noted that the Corporate Business Plan would set out proposals for community hubs to allow residents in different areas of the borough to access services more locally.

            Recommend to the Full Council meeting which considers the Corporate Plan-

that the Draft Climate Change Strategy for Runnymede Borough Council be approved.