Agenda item

To provide the Committee with an overview of the Council's activity and position on Climate and Sustainability since the Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019.

Mr Scott Butterfield, Strategy, Policy and Research Manager, presented an overview of the Council’s activity and position on Climate and Sustainability since the Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019. He reported that the Council had adopted an approach that brought together all the climate work taking place across the Council to achieve the declarations aim of Blackpool to have net zero carbon by 2030. The work focussed on cutting carbon and reducing energy use.

The Council had also started work to develop a Climate Adaption Action Plan, which recognised the change needed across the authority and ensured that mitigation was in place while embedding climate awareness across services. Mr Butterfield reported that the draft plan would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee for consideration.

Members were also informed that a Climate Citizens Assembly had been held in 2022/23 which had recognised that although Blackpool citizens had a relatively low carbon footprint compared to many other areas, there were elements that could be worked on within the town by both the Council and wider community. Mr Butterfield suggested that work undertaken here could send a powerful statement to other areas about what a relatively small local authority could achieve.

Mr Butterfield also discussed how the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) could be utilised to support climate work. He highlighted the eco-hub at the Palatine Library as an example of how the SPF could be used. Going forwarded he added that consideration would be given to how other projects could be funded through the SPF or any successor funding

In addition to work within Blackpool Mr Butterfield informed the Committee that Blackpool was leading on the climate work within the Lancashire 2050 partnership with other local authorities.

Challenges going forward were also reported on with Mr Butterfield highlighting funding as a significant area where consideration would be needed. He reported that it was estimated that it would cost approximately £1.5bn for Blackpool to achieve net zero and therefore work would be needed to explore how the Council could bring in private funding to complement grants and the Authorities’ own investment. Members noted that the net-zero target and associated costs were substantial ambitions, with Mr Butterfield advising that it was expected that the very best case scenario for Blackpool, including activity within the domain of national government, would only be able to achieve 68% towards net zero and that it was unlikely that £1.5bn could be found. He added that the most significant area towards achieving the Council’s ambitions was energy reduction, with property owned by the Council such as the Winter Gardens and the Sandcastle Water Park being the biggest challenges due to the large amount of gas heating used in the operation of the buildings.

The generation of electrical energy was discussed, noting the undesirability of fossil fuels, with Mr Butterfield informing members that the proportion of emissions incurred through the generation of power changed constantly dependent on a number of factors affecting the National Grid such as weather.

Staffing also presented a significant challenge, with Mr Butterfield reporting that recruitment to posts was ongoing. The Committee discussed the challenges posed with Mr Butterfield explaining that the Council pursued a graduate model noting its limited ability to offer wages comparable to the private sector. The graduate model allowed the recruitment of qualified individuals usually at the beginning of their career and offered them opportunity to learn and develop their knowledge while at the Council. In addition to this, work had been undertaken to establish pathways from Lancaster University into the Council and Mr Butterfield highlighted that the Council was open to the idea of accepting student placements, one of which has recently led to an offer of employment

Members discussed the development of a Climate Communications Plan which would outline the topics which the Council wanted to engage Blackpool’s community on. This plan was being developed with the Strategy team and details could be provided to a future meeting.

The Committee agreed: That;

1.         The report be noted.

2.         That details of the Climate Communications Plan be provided to a future meeting of the Committee.