Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the progress of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)          Consider and note the progress made on the delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan over the past year, a period which coincided with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the publication of IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in July – August 2021 and COP26 in November 2021.

(2)          Note that the Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group had been established to monitor and review actions of the Council to deliver the climate change priorities set out in the Action Plan.

The Committee received a report providing an update on the progress of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            The Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group has met.  The Climate Change Action Plan is a living document, and developments since its inception will be taken into account as time progresses.

b)            Carbon Neutral Homes:  it was clarified that these would be a central part of the Local Plan.

c)            Town Hall Asset Review: this matter is central to many other items on the Climate Change Action Plan, and until this has been completed, other items will not be progressed.

d)            “School Streets”: it was noted that whilst this initiative started in London, it can not be extended to Surrey at this point.  Currently, there are two pilots running and results are awaited.

e)            Market Traders: it was noted that a number of market traders still use plastic bags.  Certain stalls, for example plants, butcher and fishmonger are entitled by law to use plastic bags.  Council cannot subsidise the additional costs related to plastic alternatives for those stall holders.  It was also noted that whilst there are biodegradable plastic bags available to these merchants, it is in the Council’s best interest to resile with the current situation as a fishmonger is difficult to persuade to take a stall at the market, and such a stall adds to the footfall in the Town.

f)             Waste Recycling: it was confirmed that most litter in the Town is recyclable.  The litter bins have two sides (waste and recycling).  Additional recycling collection points are available at privately owned supermarket chains.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)          Consider and note the progress made on the delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan over the past year, a period which coincided with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the publication of IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in July – August 2021 and COP26 in November 2021.

(2)          Note that the Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group had been established to monitor and review actions of the Council to deliver the climate change priorities set out in the Action Plan.