Agenda item

Consider update on the Plan of Priority Actions by Senior Policy Advisor and Environmental Strategy Co-ordinator.  (Copy attached.)

4.1       There had been circulated copies of the Scottish Borders Climate Change Route Map - Draft Priority Actions 2022-2024.  Mr Cook explained that the Plan had been agreed in March 2021 by Scottish Borders Council, and that a number of Officers were involved with work across 5 key themes.  There were 5 milestones per theme, and the Plan provided a framework for detailed action.  It was envisaged that the Plan was the beginning of a continual cycle of action, with further actions developed from completed ones.  Mr Cook stressed that Scottish Borders Council’s work on climate action had commenced prior to the Plan.  However, the urgent need to tackle climate change had been of paramount concern when the plan was devised. 

4.2       Mr Cook introduced Ms Louise Cox, Environmental Strategy Officer, who discussed theme one: Building Resilience.  Ms Cox explained that building resilience was outcome focused, and that discussions were held with the Director – Infrastructure and Environment to assess the service area and its connections.  Regarding the goal to get 50% of staff accredited on Carbon literacy training via online training modules, the training would sit alongside other mandatory training modules for staff with the Council.  The goal with regards to Learning for Sustainability involved embedding the Learning for Sustainability teaching into all primary and secondary schools across the region by training staff and delivering the universal entitlement to all SBC pupils.  Work was ongoing to develop the business case for the South East Scotland Regional Climate Risk Assessment, with resources required to develop, and the scope of the shared prosperity fund needed to be assessed.  In the context of coastal sea defences, consultancy work was ongoing and an update was expected with the next action Plan.  With regards to bridges and other structures, properly detailed risk assessments and inspections were planned following the appropriate tender process. Mr Cook highlighted that Item Number 6 on the agenda concerned Carbon Literacy training for Members, and that a slide presentation would be circulated on the theme of Decarbonising our Waste Management following the meeting. 

4.3       The Project Management Team Leader, Mr Ewan Doyle, gave a presentation on the theme of Decarbonising our Transport Use from the Action Plan.  Mr Doyle explained that there were 10 initial actions in the first two years of the plan.  The new National Transport Strategy 2 had been introduced several years ago, which focused on reducing inequalities, health and wellbeing, promoting active travel and increasing inclusive growth.   With regard to the 10 initial actions, the first – local access and transport strategy, had not progressed but considerable background action was ongoing.  With regard to Active Travel, feasibility studies had been carried out with a view to delivering key infrastructure across the region to allow people to make the choice on how to travel.  The community engagement element of the plan had been positive, with 1300 responses.  Mr Doyle explained that there was considerable overlap between plans for the active travel network, and that partnership working would ultimately be key to develop a coordinated strategic network.  With regard to behavioural change, Mr Doyle highlighted that a key part of the behavioural changes needed to reach net zero would derive from providing more mass transit and the way people used private cars.  The 20 mph speed limit in settlements across the Scottish Borders was highlighted as providing a safe environment for active travel.  Emerging technology, such as photovoltaic street lighting, had the potential to deliver benefits in the pursuit of net zero.  A series of reviews and studies related to rural electric car usage, the bus network and the road network had the potential to significantly alter how people travel in the region and provide considerable benefits in carbon reduction.  A demand responsive travel pilot was underway in Berwickshire, and had the potential to integrate areas with no public transport connections into the network.  The scheme involved providing flexible rather than fixed services based on passenger demand and need.  The usage had been positive in the initial stages, with good usage amongst the under 22s.   Regarding plans to decarbonise the fleet, Mr Doyle explained that work had been undertaken regarding installing chargers, purchasing new fleet vehicles and that a new strategy for managing the mixture of electric and hydrogen powered vehicles was planned. 

4.4       The Greenspace Manager, Ms Carol Cooke provided an overview on the theme of Nature Based Solutions to Climate Change.  Ms Cooke provided a definition of nature based solutions as actions that protect, manage and restore ecosystems that address societal challenges and provide human well-being and biodiversity benefits.  The proposed actions under the Plan for nature based solutions included a review of greenspace management, with a goal to increase biodiversity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle and machinery use. An urban tree policy was being developed which used funding from the Scottish Government, it was expected that the policy would be brought to Committee in September.  Woodland Creation was planned, with appropriate planning guidance expected.  With regards to the Pollinators along the Tweed project, which aimed to increase biodiversity along the Tweed corridor, progress was ongoing, with community engagement a key element of that project.  Ms Cooke outlined the further elements of the theme, and highlighted that the Greener Gateway Community awards, a relaunch of the floral gateway completion, looked to promote a climate first approach, with more sustainable planting a focus. 

4.5       Mr Neil Robertson, Energy Efficiency and Strategy Officer, gave a presentation of work ongoing under the theme of Lowering Our Energy Consumption. Mr Robertson explained that particular focus had been on the Local Heating and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES), which was a national measure.  The strategy and delivery plan would be in place by the end of 2023 as there was a legal requirement for all Local Authorities to have one developed.  The core strategy team delivering the Strategy was in place, with a goal to align the core deliverable goals across the region.   Mr Robertson stressed that data analysis was a key part of delivering the LHEES, and that work was ongoing to understand the challenges that would arise in delivery. 

4.6       Ms Debbie Matthewson, Principal Teacher of Stow Primary School and Learning for Sustainability Officer, provided an insight into activity that had occurred across the region. Working in partnership with Mr Ross Sharp-Dent, Waste and Passenger Transport Manager, a pilot had been carried out across 5 schools in the area, with each school asked to weigh their waste and recycling bin over a 2 week period and record the results.  A presentation had been given to pupils outlining what could and could not be recycled, and the results were currently being assessed.  Ms Matthewson highlighted the pilot as a good example of cross service work on the climate change route map.  Ms Matthewson added that she hoped that all teachers would be trained on global citizenship for the next academic year. 

4.7       Members in attendance thanked the Officers for their presentation and highlighted that communications to the public needed to be more focused and user friendly, to enable the public to see what excellent work was being undertaken.  Councillor Tatler highlighted the need for a just and fair transition to be of paramount importance, with communications to the public which reflected that.  In response to an issue regarding ways in which the Council could be more climate friendly, Mr Cook thanked Members for their input and highlighted that in the journey to net zero, 60% of changes would have to be behavioural in nature.  Mr Cook acknowledged the need for a just transition and stressed unless the route to net zero was just, it would not succeed.  Regarding Electric Vehicle charging points, Mr Cook explained that a feasibility study was ongoing to access how to create the most effective and fit for purpose network of charging points.  In response to the issues raised by Members Mr Aikman stressed that the Council had to ensure that effective partnership working was in place across the region.  Regarding Planning, Mr Aikman stressed that a National Planning Framework 4 was expected to be put before Parliament in Autumn, and that it was expected that climate change and a just transition would be at the heart of policy in that area.  Mr Doyle stressed that the EV charging study would be completed in the autumn of 2022, and that the key focus of the study was to ensure that there was suitable provision across the region. 

DECISION

NOTED the presentation.