ES 20152

The Assistant Director for Performance Management & Business Support provided a brief introduction to the report which was ‘LBB’s Carbon Management Programme Update—Planned Borough Wide Signposting for 2022/23’.

She explained that the purpose of the report was to provide an update on the progress that was being made by the Carbon Management Team and also on the progress being made by the Council’s Environmental Contractors towards their net zero targets. The report also provided an update on the suggested approach to the provision of carbon management signposting for residents and businesses.

It was noted that a comprehensive update on the progress being made towards net zero targets by individual contractors would be provided in the relevant annual performance reports. Assurance was provided that  officers scrutinised ECS contracts at regular monthly meetings.

The Assistant Director explained that signposting to residents would take place in May after the Council’s website had been revamped. There would be a microsite on the main site to facilitate this. This would provide advice to residents and businesses on how they could reduce their carbon emissions. This would be supported by workshops and educational materials. This method was chosen rather than the production of a brochure as it was more flexible and the website could be updated as required. 

A discussion took place as to the type of residents and community groups that the Council may be working with. A Member referred to paragraph 5.9 of the report which mentioned the fact that the Carbon Management Team had applied for a £920,000 grant under the Local Authority Delivery scheme. It was mentioned that the programme would enable the retrofitting of approximately 130 domestic properties. The Member was keen to understand what types of property may be retrofitted and with what.

The Assistant Director answered and said that one of the main environmental groups that Bromley worked with was ‘Greener and Cleaner Bromley and Beyond’..

https://www.greenerandcleaner.co.uk/

She explained that in terms of retro-fitting—this would include insulation related materials and boilers.

It was noted that it was still possible to switch energy providers via the ‘Big London Energy Switch’. This was scheduled to take place during early February and would be promoted on the Council website. 

A Member queried where the Council was now in respect of the original Council motion which was about the ‘direct action’ that could be undertaken by the Council and which could therefore be controlled by the Council itself. He asked that it be minuted that he was requesting that the Director for Environment and Public Protection remind officers that the Council should be focusing on ‘direct activities’. He expressed the view that as the Council was using green energy suppliers it should not be affected by rising gas prices. The Member further commented on sections 5.10 and 5.11 of the report which noted that the Council had provided funding to set up a Library of Things (LoT) in Bromley Town Centre. The idea was that people would save money and make a positive environmental impact by borrowing things rather than buying them. The Member expressed the view that there were many companies around that provided hire services; in his view this was competing with the private sector and was therefore something that he could not support. He asked that the LoT be removed from the recommendations.

Post Meeting Note:

It was subsequently clarified by the Assistant Director for Performance Management and Business Support that the LoT was not a recommendation. It was an example of something that had already been agreed and paid for that the Council were doing to support residents with reducing their own carbon emissions

The Assistant Director for Performance Management and Business Support responded and said that environmental actions that were taken directly by the Council would be highlighted in a report that would follow regarding the Council’s Net Zero Action Plan. She also highlighted, as did the Chairman, that the reason for the report and the proposed actions within it was because this was requested by the Committee at the November meeting.

With respect to the LoT she explained that the funding was Section 106 funding and so was not directly being taken from Council funds. She explained that discussions had been held with the Portfolio Holder regarding the LoT and the type of items they may hire and the type of customers that might use the service. It was considered that this would be a different type of hire with a different type of customer and would not be competing directly with any of the other larger private sector hire companies. She also likened the scheme to our libraries for the loan of books which did not compete with the local bookshops.

The Member responded and expressed the view that it would be better to partner with the private sector due to their expertise in this area.

A Member commented that he felt that the Carbon Management Team was forging ahead, doing a good job and that the LoT was unlikely to be in direct competition with any of the big hire companies.

The Portfolio Holder clarified that the matters raised by the Member who had opposed the setting up of the LoT had been considered by him before deciding to fund the project. He clarified that if the venture failed there would be no recourse to the Council. He felt that the LoT would offer products that would not be offered elsewhere. He also argued that the LoT was really a private company that was independent of the Council and that its inception would in fact support the private rental sector generally.

It was noted that the Council currently had a 100% renewable energy contract with ‘Haven’ 

RESOLVED that the Carbon Management Programme update be noted.