Horsham District Council : Issue - items at meetings - Producing a Climate Change Action Plan for the District

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment & Rural Affairs

RESOLVED

(i) To approve the establishment of a Climate Change Panel which will input to the development of a District wide climate change action plan.

(iii) To approve the procurement of a consultant to facilitate a workshop with Council officers, as well as the meetings of the Climate Change Panel, and assist with the production of a District wide climate change action plan

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(ii) To approve a revenue budget of £70k in 2022/23 to support the development of the plan.

REASON

(i) A new Panel of experts will give external input to the development of a District wide strategy and plan to generate new ideas and increase the legitimacy of the plan.

(ii) Budget is required to secure a consultant to facilitate the meetings of the Climate Change Panel, support the drafting of the action plan and the follow up engagement to gain support from partners and the wider community to deliver the action plan.

(iii) Ensure that the Councils procurement process are followed.

Councillor James Wright, Cabinet Member for Environment & Rural Affairs, reminded Cabinet that the Council’s Carbon Reduction Action Plan had been approved at the previous meeting. The report to Cabinet recommended the establishment of a Climate Change Panel consisting of experts on a range of subjects associated with reducing carbon emissions and preparing for a changed climate. The Panel would be backed up by a comprehensive communications plan to help residents make choices to reduce their own emissions.

The Cabinet Member was questioned on why the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly had not been chosen over the Panel of experts to ensure an effective level of community engagement. The Cabinet Member reiterated that community engagement would be an important part of the process. Using an expert Panel would lead to faster action at a lower cost. This was not the Council telling people how to live their lives, but the Council working with experts to help develop an action plan with residents.

With regards to engagement with Councillors, the Cabinet Member confirmed that the brief for the Panel would be discussed at his Policy Development Advisory Group. It was also noted that all Members were invited to a workshop on environmental policies within the emerging Local Plan.