Issue - meetings

Report of the Director - Neighbourhoods

The Communities Manager provided a brief introduction and reminded the Group on 20 March 2020, Cabinet agreed a target to become carbon neutral by 2030 from the Council’s direct operations and adopt a Carbon Management Action Plan to monitor progress against the target emissions.

The Group noted the Carbon Management Action Plan sets out how the Council will seek to drive carbon behaviour change through its policy and regulation work and to actively influence residents and businesses across the Borough.

The Communities Manager referred to the Council’s Carbon Management Plan 2022, which was attached as an appendix to the report, and highlighted the 8 main themes:

1.     Property Assets

2.     Fleet and Transport

3.     Contracts and Procurement

4.     Policy and Regulation

5.     Waste and Recycling

6.     Operational Activities

7.     Community and Business

8.     Offsetting

It was noted the Carbon Management Plan was a living document which provides an action plan and overview of activities. A number of case studies were shared as an appendix from Green Grants, an energy efficiency scheme in partnership with Nottingham Energy Partnership (NEP), Eon Energy, Thrift Energy Group and the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Team Manager for Environment delivered a presentation to highlight some of the projects recently completed.

Rushcliffe Country Park Net 0 Visitor Centre and Conference Suite

An innovative and enhanced amenity building, including an air source heat pump system, solar panels, EV charging point and a Changing Places site. The venue can be hired externally to create income and is being enjoyed by officers as an alternative healthy meeting space.

Bingham Arena and Bingham Enterprise Centre

Recently opened, the leisure centre has a low carbon construction, with solar electric and air source heat pump creating combined heat and power across the site. The building has a 2000 litre water harvesting tank which is used to flush the toilets providing significant savings. The Group were asked to note that Bingham Arena has a 78% Carbon reduction from a traditionally constructed leisure centre.

Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium

Not yet completed the crematorium boasts a technically Net 0 gain through REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin), 30kWh solar electric system to cover off the majority of the lighting and office equipment, an electric cremator, green roof and emission filtering system and biodiversity enhancements throughout. This is an innovative approach, whilst being compassionate and respectful for all users.

The Team Manager for Environment provided the Group with details of the Local Authority Delivery 2 and the more recent Sustainable Warm Competition (LAD 3 and Heating Upgrde Grants (HUG)), advising that to date £2m had been drawn in to 77 properties identified in East Leake. The Communities Manager added that Officers looked at the worst energy rated properties across the authority with ratings of F and G and advised the Group of the shared case studies attached as an appendix to the report.

The Team Manager for Environment advised that the Council had agreed a 2 year programme to decarbonise Cotgrave leisure centre and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41