The Council is asked to note any statements made by Members of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holders).
Councillors may then ask questions of the Portfolio Holders on their statements.
Minutes:
Action on Climate Change Update
The Environment & Public Space Portfolio Holder (Councillor Talbot) made the following statement:-
“Dear Colleagues,
My last statement on Climate Change was made on 16th March with our AGM between then and now, so today is the next Full Council Meeting at which a Statement can be made.
On Wednesday 21st April I called a meeting of responsible officers to a ‘teams’ session to discuss any forward plans TDC have about the move towards the electrification of our vehicle fleet, and the creation of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging points on Council owned land and Car Parks, all as part of the District Council’s aim to become net zero carbon by 2030.
It was apparent both when hearing verbal reports at the meeting and receiving the information distributed beforehand, that a very great deal of work has been done to move towards the Council’s confirmed objectives.
The Meeting had a list of the 17 most workable Council Car Parks where EV Charging points should be located and a suggested order of priority, chosen from our 39 parking sites.
We had a report on two non-fossil fuels which could be used to replace current fuel in advance of electrification. They are both news to me and were a fuel called HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and another alternative fuel called “Shell GTL” which rather conveniently is available from our current fuel providers Certas. The report detailed the pros and cons of both these fuels, including the cost per litre of each.
We had a copy of our vehicle ‘Fleet List’ showing those that we own and those that we lease Including each vehicle’s leasing cost, with a full tabulation of each vehicle’s details, and the year-by-year replacement programme up to 2023/24.
When speaking about EV owners’ domestic Charging Points, they are to be encouraged, but as Ian Taylor reminded those present, we have many residents who live in terraced properties and they cannot have a charging point at home, without the cable stretching out over the pavement! We must make separate provision for those residents, perhaps by allowing them to use the charging points proposed for our Council Car Parks?
The commitment and enthusiasm of our Officers was a pleasure to witness, though charged with a note of caution, referring to all that is in the pipeline, to exercise some caution as all this needs to be balanced against – new and improving technology and not over committing ourselves too early.
My thanks to the officers who attended Damian Williams, Ian Taylor, Andy Nepean and James Hill representing the service, and Tim R. Clarke, our Climate Change Officer.
I am also pleased to report that my colleague Alex Porter dealing with ‘Seafronts’ has approved the go-ahead of a trial of 23 Solar LED streetlights in 7 roads in the Brooklands area of Jaywick Sands, and that competitive tenders will be sought to provide these lights and undertake the work. These lights have NO electricity consumption and therefore ZERO net emission in use. When you realise that TDC is responsible for 191 streetlights in the District and 104 of these are in Jaywick Sands, our Climate Change objective in the longer term will not only reduce emissions but will save us money!
Changing the subject again. On the 22nd of March as you know I wrote to all Town and Parish Councils, with the authority of the Cabinet, asking them to consider adding Climate Change to their own Agendas and to consider just how in their own area, they might contribute to the battle against Climate Change. Some authorities were already taking action of their own before I wrote, but I do intend after consulting my Cabinet Colleagues, to write again to Towns and Parishes, asking if they can let me know of any action their Council is taking arising from the above request. I have no wish to interfere with their sovereign powers, but I am just asking for information. I will of course report this to Members in my next statement to Council on 13th July. Thank you colleagues for your attention.”
Councillor Talbot then responded to questions put to him by Councillors I J Henderson, Allen, Baker and Griffiths.