Green Watch
Council reveals plan to tackle climate change
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.
9:34am Saturday 26th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Cllr Paul Harvey, Basingstoke on 11:23am Sat 26 Jan 08
The Tories Climate Change Strategy is all words and no action. Nine months after the Tories signed up to the Nottingham Accord their latest strategy has all the warm words but no targets and no action to deliver real change to make a difference in Basingstoke and Deane.
The Tories record is dismal and their climate change strategy is simply paying lip service to a very real and serious issue. The strategy talks about reviewing, investigating and considering but no actual doing, how long will we have to wait to see some action.
And if we look at the Tory administrations recent track record there is no evidence that anything here is being taken on board. Earlier this month the Tories decided to sell the land at Gresley Rd to a housing developer. They received a number of bids each of which was scored out of 100 points but only two points were available for the environmental credentials of each bid – compare this to the 60 points available for the highest amount of money bid and you can see what sort of development we will get.
And in December the cabinet took a decision concerning the £1m replacement of council owned vehicles – environmental considerations were not considered.
And last year the cabinet decision on concessionary fares – an opportunity to increase the use of public transport but no increase in the value of the tokens.
If the Tory administration is serious about environmental issues they need to put that into action where it counts, it is up to the council to set an example to local business and residents and they just aren’t doing that. The truth is the Tories are just all talk on the environment, there’s more hot air in their cabinet meetings than at Basingstoke’s balloon festival.
The really sad thing is we don’t need to reinvent the wheel; there are local councils, Woking for example who are years ahead of our council, why don’t we use their ideas and really make a difference.
A Best Practice Example of what could be done!
Woking is only 25 miles away - a couple of stops up the M3 from us but its council are a million miles away from us in its efforts to tackle climate change.
Woking is believed to be the first UK authority to have adopted a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy on a scale that is likely to meet The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution targets of 60% reductions of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050 and 80% by 2100
Woking’s Climate Change Strategy aims to build on the Council's current environmental success and to take a carbon neutral approach to the future of services and activities within the Borough.
The strategy sets out a range of options which aim to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions and take further measures to enable the habitats within Woking to adapt to Climate Change.
In 1990 it was estimated that Woking produced 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year -- the aim is to reduce this output to 200,000 tonnes per year by 2090.
Some of the measures that will be implemented as a result of the Climate Change Strategy:
• Use of sustainable combined heat and power sources of energy in the borough -- discouraging the production of CO2 type gases.
• Increased use of photovoltaic and renewable energy.
• Incorporating, at the next review of the Local Plan, planning policies which will ensure that new development in the Borough reduces CO2 equivalent emissions of greenhouse gases (i.e. 80% less than its impact would have been in 1990).
• Introducing a local award scheme to recognise any developments that incorporate features which contribute to the long-term aim of sustainable development, including reducing CO2 equivalent emissions and mitigating against climate change.
• Adopting a target of purchasing 100% of the Council's electrical and thermal energy requirements from sustainable sources and 20% from renewable sources by 2010/11.
• Pursuing, in the management of Council land, the use of irrigation systems that integrate the re-use of storm water.
• Adopting best practice in the management of the Council's own land and buildings and working with the Environment Agency, Thames Water and developers to create wetlands in or near existing floodplains, with a view to enhancing capacity of the floodplain.
• Exploring means of creating environmentally friendly energy from waste and encouraging the avoidance of landfill.
• Maintaining the Home Energy Conservation Act target of 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 31 March 2006.
It's time for change in Basingstoke. When Labour and the Independents and the Liberals worked together Basingstoke was seen as a leading Council, 93% of residents said they were proud to live in Basingstoke.
I believe that working together we can deliver real change on climate change, as well as on housing, on a greener and safer Basingstoke. We have hope and aspiration for our town, and for our communities.
The Tories Climate Change Strategy is all words and no action. Nine months after the Tories signed up to the Nottingham Accord their latest strategy has all the warm words but no targets and no action to deliver real change to make a difference in Basingstoke and Deane.
The Tories record is dismal and their climate change strategy is simply paying lip service to a very real and serious issue. The strategy talks about reviewing, investigating and considering but no actual doing, how long will we have to wait to see some action.
And if we look at the Tory administrations recent track record there is no evidence that anything here is being taken on board. Earlier this month the Tories decided to sell the land at Gresley Rd to a housing developer. They received a number of bids each of which was scored out of 100 points but only two points were available for the environmental credentials of each bid – compare this to the 60 points available for the highest amount of money bid and you can see what sort of development we will get.
And in December the cabinet took a decision concerning the £1m replacement of council owned vehicles – environmental considerations were not considered.
And last year the cabinet decision on concessionary fares – an opportunity to increase the use of public transport but no increase in the value of the tokens.
If the Tory administration is serious about environmental issues they need to put that into action where it counts, it is up to the council to set an example to local business and residents and they just aren’t doing that. The truth is the Tories are just all talk on the environment, there’s more hot air in their cabinet meetings than at Basingstoke’s balloon festival.
The really sad thing is we don’t need to reinvent the wheel; there are local councils, Woking for example who are years ahead of our council, why don’t we use their ideas and really make a difference.
A Best Practice Example of what could be done!
Woking is only 25 miles away - a couple of stops up the M3 from us but its council are a million miles away from us in its efforts to tackle climate change.
Woking is believed to be the first UK authority to have adopted a comprehensive Climate Change Strategy on a scale that is likely to meet The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution targets of 60% reductions of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050 and 80% by 2100
Woking’s Climate Change Strategy aims to build on the Council's current environmental success and to take a carbon neutral approach to the future of services and activities within the Borough.
The strategy sets out a range of options which aim to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions and take further measures to enable the habitats within Woking to adapt to Climate Change.
In 1990 it was estimated that Woking produced 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year -- the aim is to reduce this output to 200,000 tonnes per year by 2090.
Some of the measures that will be implemented as a result of the Climate Change Strategy:
• Use of sustainable combined heat and power sources of energy in the borough -- discouraging the production of CO2 type gases.
• Increased use of photovoltaic and renewable energy.
• Incorporating, at the next review of the Local Plan, planning policies which will ensure that new development in the Borough reduces CO2 equivalent emissions of greenhouse gases (i.e. 80% less than its impact would have been in 1990).
• Introducing a local award scheme to recognise any developments that incorporate features which contribute to the long-term aim of sustainable development, including reducing CO2 equivalent emissions and mitigating against climate change.
• Adopting a target of purchasing 100% of the Council's electrical and thermal energy requirements from sustainable sources and 20% from renewable sources by 2010/11.
• Pursuing, in the management of Council land, the use of irrigation systems that integrate the re-use of storm water.
• Adopting best practice in the management of the Council's own land and buildings and working with the Environment Agency, Thames Water and developers to create wetlands in or near existing floodplains, with a view to enhancing capacity of the floodplain.
• Exploring means of creating environmentally friendly energy from waste and encouraging the avoidance of landfill.
• Maintaining the Home Energy Conservation Act target of 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 31 March 2006.
It's time for change in Basingstoke. When Labour and the Independents and the Liberals worked together Basingstoke was seen as a leading Council, 93% of residents said they were proud to live in Basingstoke.
I believe that working together we can deliver real change on climate change, as well as on housing, on a greener and safer Basingstoke. We have hope and aspiration for our town, and for our communities.
Posted by: Dean Green, Woking on 2:54pm Sat 26 Jan 08
Funny you should mention my home town, Woking. Here our wasteful council throw away buckets of money on climate change guff and mad schemes.
The reason money is not wasted in Basingstoke on climate change is because most people don't give a flying **** about climate change! We want clean streets, emptied bins and a lower Council tax bills. Bread and food in the shops at reasonable rates would be nice too.
Climate change is evolution. Get over it. The bottom line is green costs money and most of us don't have it to waste so go bleat somewhere else!
Funny you should mention my home town, Woking. Here our wasteful council throw away buckets of money on climate change guff and mad schemes.
The reason money is not wasted in Basingstoke on climate change is because most people don't give a flying **** about climate change! We want clean streets, emptied bins and a lower Council tax bills. Bread and food in the shops at reasonable rates would be nice too.
Climate change is evolution. Get over it. The bottom line is green costs money and most of us don't have it to waste so go bleat somewhere else!
Posted by: Dr Coles, USA on 3:41pm Sat 26 Jan 08
Over 400 World Wide Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.
See http://tinyurl.com/2
dv6nz
Over 400 World Wide Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.
See http://tinyurl.com/2
dv6nz
Posted by: Bonzo, Local on 4:19pm Sat 26 Jan 08
So many scientists have agreed that our present climate changes are due to the earth coming out of an ice age. It may not seem that way but think about it?
As usual our politicians find another half-baked excuse to overtax us once again, as if the money extorted will help in any way to reverse the difficulty anyway?
So many scientists have agreed that our present climate changes are due to the earth coming out of an ice age. It may not seem that way but think about it?
As usual our politicians find another half-baked excuse to overtax us once again, as if the money extorted will help in any way to reverse the difficulty anyway?
Posted by: Dr Coles, Los Angeles on 5:05pm Sun 27 Jan 08
Over 400 World Wide Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.
See http://tinyurl.com/2
dv6nz
Over 400 World Wide Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.
See http://tinyurl.com/2
dv6nz
Posted by: Gavin James, Basingstoke on 8:20pm Mon 28 Jan 08
I appreciate that some don't believe in climate change, I will not try to convert you. All scientists seem to agree though that the worlds resources of oil and gas are running out, as yet no safe alternative has been developed to fill the vast gap in our energy supplies when the gas and oil is gone. Reducing power usage whether through efficient cars, timed lights, better installation etc all goes to help the energy supplies we have last longer giving us more time to develop the next generation of energy. Scientists all agree that it takes less energy to make glass out of used glass than it does from the original raw products, the same applies to cans and paper so recycling is also important. Whether you want to call it climate change or oil preservation, the issues are the same and need to be tackled by everyone.
I appreciate that some don't believe in climate change, I will not try to convert you. All scientists seem to agree though that the worlds resources of oil and gas are running out, as yet no safe alternative has been developed to fill the vast gap in our energy supplies when the gas and oil is gone. Reducing power usage whether through efficient cars, timed lights, better installation etc all goes to help the energy supplies we have last longer giving us more time to develop the next generation of energy. Scientists all agree that it takes less energy to make glass out of used glass than it does from the original raw products, the same applies to cans and paper so recycling is also important. Whether you want to call it climate change or oil preservation, the issues are the same and need to be tackled by everyone.
Posted by: Bonzo, Local on 5:10pm Tue 29 Jan 08
I don't believe anything we do will stop this natural event, but I do hate being told to conserve energy when so many offices and similar buildings leave all their power/heating on 24/7.
Let them lead the way? why should we suffer cold and darkness in our homes?
I don't believe anything we do will stop this natural event, but I do hate being told to conserve energy when so many offices and similar buildings leave all their power/heating on 24/7.
Let them lead the way? why should we suffer cold and darkness in our homes?
Posted by: Phil, B Stoke on 11:03am Wed 6 Feb 08
This is clearly a load of marketing propaganda! If the council were that serious about it they would withdraw employee car scheme and provide free or subsidised bus and train tickets as well as a discounted cycle scheme. The majority of council employees are office based (or based in one location) for work and are not required to travel as part of their business so why provide them with company cars? It is the councils perception that to attract the “right” people they need to offer them cars this is simply not the case. Surly the “right” people are those that will buy into the councils environmental policy!
This is clearly a load of marketing propaganda! If the council were that serious about it they would withdraw employee car scheme and provide free or subsidised bus and train tickets as well as a discounted cycle scheme. The majority of council employees are office based (or based in one location) for work and are not required to travel as part of their business so why provide them with company cars? It is the councils perception that to attract the “right” people they need to offer them cars this is simply not the case. Surly the “right” people are those that will buy into the councils environmental policy!
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