Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part: Council, residents, businesses and communities.

RESOLVED – That the Climate Emergency Plan be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and agreed that the impacts of global temperature rises above 1.5°C are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make combating climate change their top priority. To do its part, it was agreed that Council would develop a Climate Action Plan. This report provides an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part: Council, residents, businesses and communities.

The Cabinet is recommended to give approval to the Climate Emergency Plan as our approach to climate action and to recommend that the report be submitted to the Council Meeting for its consideration.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) stating that the Council had declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and agreed that the impacts of global temperature rises above 1.5°C are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make combating climate change their top priority. To do its part, it was agreed that Council would develop a Climate Action Plan. The report provided an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change would require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part: Council, residents, businesses and communities.

RESOLVED – That the Stockport Climate Emergency Strategy be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and agreed that the impacts of global temperature rises above 1.5°C are so severe that governments at all levels must work together and make combating climate change their top priority. To do its part, it was agreed that Council would develop a Climate Action Plan. This report provides an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part: Council, residents, businesses and communities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of a proposed strategy for Stockport to meet its climate obligations, covering all aspects of the Council and Borough, as well as making it clear that tackling climate change will require every stakeholder in Stockport to play their part, including the Council, residents, businesses and communities.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to a perceived lack of ambition within the report.

·         It was commented that the report did not provide an existing baseline against which progress and objectives could be measured.

·         The Council had been working to reduce its CO2 emissions for some time through initiatives such as the transition to LED street lighting, the provision of biomass boilers and the installation of photovoltaic panels across the corporate estate.

·         It was commented that some strategic aims of the Council, such as the progression of the M60 to A6 section of bypass through the Borough, conflicted with the ambition in the proposed Strategy document.

·         Work was taking place to make carbon literacy training a mandatory requirement for all members of staff.

·         There was a scheme being operated on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority that allowed people to purchase photovoltaic panels at a reduced cost though collective purchasing.

·         The ongoing impact of Manchester Airport needed to be given greater focus and further challenge needed to be provided to its model of operation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.