Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development attached.

Members considered a report on the council’s Climate Emergency Strategy for adoption.

The Strategy was developed to identify proposals by the Council to achieve its adopted goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and to complement the work of the Climate Emergency Task Group. It outlined the current position of the council and the areas to concentrate efforts in reducing carbon emissions.

Many questions were posed to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Sue Jones, around maturity age for trees and provisions for electric-car charging within the borough and Councillor Jones resolved to answer these in writing.

Councillor Colin Clark queried the omission of enforcement against burning inappropriate materials in wood-burning stoves. In response, the Chair of the Climate Emergency Task Group, Councillor Keith Martin, advised that members and residents have an individual responsibility to dissuade others from burning such materials and that change should be approach positively and not enforced.

A written representation was submitted by a member of the public, which queried the number of air quality monitoring stations within the borough; requested that street lighting is reduced to minimise light pollution especially in rural/semi-rural areas; stated it would be more beneficial to plant semi-mature trees; queried the specific height or types of trees that that it is proposed to plant over the next several years and; requested the council develop a policy in pre-planning whereby developers submit plans to work within existing conditions in Greenfield sites, to avoid wholesale ecological clearance.

Responding to many of these points, Councillor Sue Jones advised that the Climate Emergency Strategy focused on the reduction of greenhouse gases across the borough and that a separate Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) dealt with air quality issues. It was also reported that there are 43 monitoring points covering 32 locations across South Ribble.

Whilst it was accepted that the level of street light could be investigated further, some roads require a minimum amount of lighting to be provided and the provision of street lighting falls under the remit of Lancashire County Council.

In response to queries regarding the number and type of trees planted, this was acknowledged as a different project which is not managed by the Climate Emergency Strategy.

Councillor Jones provided assurances that planning policy already includes guidance on greenfield sites, biodiversity and the provision of open space.

Councillor Jones committed to providing a written response to the member of the public.

It was proposed by Councillor Keith Martin, seconded by Councillor Paul Foster and subsequently

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That members adopt the Climate Emergency Strategy.