Council reveals plan to tackle climate change (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Council reveals plan to tackle climate change

9:34am Saturday 26th January 2008 in Green Watch By Eleanor Stride

THE borough's strategy to tackle the effects of climate change has been unveiled - however, some councillors fear it does not go far enough.

The document sets out how Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council plans to help with the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme 2006, the Kyoto Protocol and the target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent by 2010.

The strategy, which includes a detailed action plan of how the council will reduce C02 across its operations, was created by council officers and Councillor Elaine Still, Cabinet member for the environment.

At a meeting of the council's environment overview committee, Emma Broom, head of environmental care, said: "It is not a long document. We have done that on purpose. We want it to be action-based. We don't want it to be put in a drawer and forgotten about."

During discussion of the strategy, Cllr Paul Harvey said: "I welcome the efforts that have gone into this, but I have an opinion that we're not going far enough with what we are proposing here. We can go much further."

Cllr Harvey highlighted the work carried out by Woking Borough Council, which first published a Climate Change Strategy in March 2003, and has already made significant C02 reductions.

"The difference between theirs and ours is significant. I can't really find serious targets in this plan," he said.

Cllr Martin Biermann said the council should ensure small changes, such as reusing envelopes, were also being made part of the plan. He added the council should also be using its influence when selling land to make sure new development has good green credentials.

In response, Cllr Still said: "We are just starting at this and this is our first climate change strategy. Woking is a good example, but they have been doing this for years. We have been doing it for less than 18 months. We will get better."

Councillors agreed that officers should give committee members updates on how the strategy is developing every six months. The document will now be submitted to the Cabinet.

After the meeting, Cllr Still said that the council is waiting for the results of expert surveys into energy use and CO2 emissions in the council buildings and borough as a whole. This data will then be used to determine suitable targets.

She said: "We can set targets, but we want them to be realistic. I want to make sure that before we start setting targets, they are going to be achievable."

Climate change action points

• council staff will be working to look for ways to reduce business mileage, water, energy and paper consumption within the local authority
• free-standing heaters will be banned, timers will be added to vending machines and other electrical items, and old fridges will be replaced by new energy-efficient models in council offices
• walk-arounds in council buildings will also take place to detect where energy is being wasted at night, and borough-managed facilities will be provided with recycling facilities and energy consumption and leakage monitors
• the council will be working with energy consultants, Thames Valley Energy and the Energy Saving Trust to find out where further changes can be made.