Following Dorset Council’s declaration of a climate emergency, Cllr Ray Bryan has invited political group leaders to appoint representatives to sit on a Policy Development Panel to discuss how the council will set carbon reduction targets.
Initially, it is proposed that the panel is comprised of eight council members with support from senior and technical officers who can advise and enable delivery of policy developed by the group.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment said:
“Over the last two weeks, officers have been gathering background information on carbon reduction initiatives already delivered across the former Dorset councils, to establish our current position.
“We will include experts from outside our organisation to ensure we get the most up to date knowledge and information to form our policies and so we can plan well beyond my time as a Councillor. We will be open and transparent in our plans and will always listen to constructive criticism.
“However, we need to manage the expectations of those that would like us to bring forward changes with immediate effect.”
Dorset’s former councils worked to mitigate climate change both within their operations and in partnership with public, private and community organisations.
Work was focused in three key areas:
Direct action – reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions
Each former council developed a carbon management plan delivering some significant achievements including:
• Reductions in fuel and mileage
• Energy efficiency projects in council buildings and schools
• Almost halving energy used in street lighting
Indirect action- influence and leadership through our wider services
Dorset Council can have a wide influence across Dorset through the services it provides, including planning, housing, pensions/investments, community services, air quality, transport, economic development, children’s & adult’s services and public health.
Partnership working
In response to the Climate Change Act and EU renewable energy directive, Dorset established the Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole Renewable Energy strategy and an Energy Efficiency strategy. These were developed through a comprehensive consultation process with stakeholder groups.
The Dorset Council Climate Change Panel will look to build on this and will work in partnership with organisations across Dorset to develop its climate emergency plan for Dorset.
The panel will meet in the near future and will report back to Cabinet in July.
The Panel members on the Dorset Council Climate Emergency Panel are:
- Conservative – Cllr Ray Bryan
- Conservative – Cllr Peter Wharf
- Conservative – Cllr Daryl Turner
- Conservative – Cllr Belinda Ridout
- Conservative – Cllr Jane Somper
- Liberal Democratic – Cllr Maria Roe
- Liberal Democratic – Cllr David Tooke
- Green – Cllr Kelvin Clayton
- Independent – Cllr Rob Hughes
- Labour – Cllr Paul Kimber
Very encouraging to see the new Dorset Council is taking positive first steps and showing leadership to deliver the actions needed to tackle our climate emergency. We should bear in mind that it will be a huge challenge for all of us, but there will be many benefits including new job opportunities which are badly needed in Dorset. I think this leadership will attract forward thinking companies and develop a reputation for Dorset being environmentally aware and progressive- although Bristol is a hard act to follow! My only comment is that the wider community should be actively encouraged to support the Council’s climate emergency initiative and help deliver it at every level.
I would like to comment on this initial statement by acknowledging the work done already to set this out with potential areas for development.
Please would you also consider, if not already within the detail:
* ensuring that all new social housing is zero carbon
* developing and investing in a countywide, and cross-county public transport system to reduce car usage
* retro fitting all public buildings and social housing to make them as energy efficient as possible
* developing plans that ensure that all Dorset and not just Dorset Council becomes zero carbon
* I would suggest that the allocation of one fte does not indicate sufficient a significant investment in this work
* I would urge the Council to read Zero Carbon Britain and liaise with the Centre for Alternative Energy, perhaps asking for a presentation from them, as they have already outlined what can be done and is already achievable with already known technologies
* I would urge Dorset Council to work with already existing Transition Town groups, and set up others where none yet exist, and work with these both to gain local knowledge and be aware of plans already in place, and to use these as a source and exchange of ideas for the future urgent moves necessary towards net zero carbon emissions and halting species extinction.
There is much to do in a very short space of time and there are many people within Dorset willing to advise, to help and be part of any plans and actions that need to be taken to ensure that Dorset becomes a net Zero Carbon area within 12 years.
Yours sincerely
Anne Clements
I wholeheartedly agree with all of Anne Clements’ points, which are well made and very timely. Her observation that one fte does not seem to indicate the necessary commitment is particularly significant.
An integrated, totally re-designed public transport network is essential.
Dorset’s availability of electric vehicle charging stations is also very poor at present, particularly outside urban areas. Whilst public transport is paramount, there will still be those who need private vehicles, and currently they will be deterred from investing in electric vehicles due to the absence of sufficient charging facilities.
Is the Panel giving any priority to making a business case for the installation of a Municipal Waste to Energy plant in Dorset?
There is no shortage of ideas for things that we could do. The issue has generally been that because of austerity the deciding question on any scheme has been will it provide financial savings and a good ROI, the carbon savings have been essentially an added bonus. Whilst affordability will never cease to be an issue, the Climate emergency should at least reverse the above priorities such that, if the capital investment can be raised, the first question should be will it give good carbon savings? If this also reduces future revenue spending this is then the added bonus. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency strategies were set up with targets for 2020 taking into account the national decarbonisation pathway to that date. As we are half way through 2019 now it is imperative that the progress towards our 2020 targets is now assessed and a new set of targets aiming for 2030 or at least 2025 be set in place in a reworked set of strategies. This will mean much more ambitious targets and a serious need for action as it is likely that the final analysis of our progress towards the 2020 targets will show us already lagging behind with many low hanging fruit already picked. The final issue that I would flag up is that any building work or other capital projects that we as a council undertake should be compatible not only with minimum requirements of today but with what will be required by the time those structures reach the end of their lives. We should also be doing all we can to make private sector developers also take this approach but I appreciate the limitations of what can be done within planning regulations. For new buildings with a life expectancy going beyond 2050, this means being net carbon neutral, which is possible with today’s technology but does involve a premium to costs. However the good news is that this premium is not as much as you might think and is a lot cheaper than retrofitting buildings in 10-15 years time.
I think this is a brilliant initiative, however, it will only work if planners start to seriously consider where new housing goes given the lack of infrastructure in this rural area. Public transport is key and it needs to be cheap enough to encourage people to use it. Planning for commercial premises needs to bear in mind how haulage vehicles will get there without going through tiny hamlets and villages as it will be a long time before they go electric! Incentives for people to upgrade their boilers, possibly a reduction in council tax for those who switch to greener energy?
Hi Deborah, Thanks for your comment. Do have a look low carbon Dorset (of which the council is a partner) for more information on what we are doing to help reduce our carbon emissions and incentives for businesses.
Dear Sirs,
I have noticed some towns and villages in the UK are planting wildflower verges along the road. This is beneficial for wildlife and brings a colourful display to lighten the hearts of passers by.
There is an initial cost in buying the seed but over time that would be more than recouped by not having to mow the grass so often.
I have written to my own Town Council in Stalbridge and they will be discussing it at their next meeting.
Will Dorset Council act and help ease the strain on bees and wildlife?
Hi Carolyn thanks for your message. We have a statutory duty to keep the highway safe for all road users, which means we must cut back grass at busy junctions, along A roads and at known accident hotspots. However, we are able to allow our rural road network verges grow and flourish, which attracts pollinators like bees butterflies and moths. By following this methodology, we save around £93k per year in mowing costs and the wildflowers are beginning to take hold. There is an article here which explains more. Thanks, Kirstie
Very few modern houses protect the occupants from the excessive temperatures that we often experience such as the heat wave of 2018. It is particularly bad for those living in flats especially if their only outside space is a south facing balcony.
In 1995 we installed German double glazing with integral roller shutters. During hot weather the shutters can be closed almost to the bottom of the window and the majority of the direct heat is kept away. Also, the windows are tilt and turn and so can be open even when the shutters are closed those allowing what breeze there might be to cool the house.
In many countries shutters are fitted as standard and in some places they are required by law for all new builds.
I would recommend that as our climate warms we should set a date from which all new builds, and especially flats, should be required to have roller shutters as standard.
All new builds should also have eco features such as ground or air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and provision for off road charging of two electric vehicles.
I agree wholeheartedly with Peter’s last point. I recently made this point to the Government Inspector’s hearings on the Purbeck local Plan. However, the council appeared to be disinterested and I do not yet know whether this will become a precondition to the grant of planning permission, as it should be. I also asked that there should be no gas supplied to new buildings erected under the Local Plan.
Having made a declaration about the climate emergency I find it concerning that Dorchester is not a venues for the climate change strike this Friday 20th September!
The realization of the true severity of humans impact on world climate is becoming more wide spread. The subsequent impact on the peoples of the world and the hazards for us here in Dorset are beginning to hit home. The Council’s commitment through establishing a Climate Emergency is absolutely fundamental.
Having read the Council’s Climate Emergency Briefing Paper I note there is no mention of how the Council can make a more fertile use of our renewable energy sources here in Dorset. We urgently need new wind farms and new solar farms which have been proposed in the past and campaigned against. Now we need a can do approach that speeds up and enables these projects to get built and fast too. The Council could take the lead and make land available. The Council could establish with Central Government a fast track planning system. I would think all the earnest businesses that have tried and failed to get wind and solar projects build thus far and met with NIMBY attacks should be humbly asked to start again. As soon as possible. Time is running out and for once we seem to have understood the urgency. Dorset has a long coastline, lots of sun and lots of wind. Dorset also has a World Jurassic Heritage that is the source of our understanding of what EXTINCTION is, and records past extinctions. Please help to put this education to the securing of the future for our children for whom we have made such a terrible situation.
Talk is fine but we need action. We need wind farms and solar farms especially if the countries we buy power from terminate out supply as the world gets ever more unstable. I can see the lights going out.
Please tell me what is being planned and how I may help
I would like to question if this panel accept that the greatest change has to be to stop building on Green Belt land. Existing trees on this land must be protected and the land used for more tree planting.
Much of the Green Belt land considered for development in the East of Dorset is flood plain and with the threat of rising water levels and more flood events this land is vital run off to protect existing housing and infrastructure.
If anyone is in doubt about this I suggest they watch Margaret Thatchers speech on Climate Change and the steps needed to halt it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fys5Z63xCvA
Whilst it’s admirable that the council itself adopts climate friendly initiatives this is to say the least a drop in the ocean. They must focus on what natural environment we have left.
I agree wholeheartedly with Peter’s last point. I recently made this point to the Government Inspector’s hearings on the Purbeck local Plan. However, the council appeared to be disinterested and I do not yet know whether this will become a precondition to the grant of planning permission, as it should be. I also asked that there should be no gas supplied to new buildings erected under the Local Plan.