Agenda Item No

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources): 19th January 2010

Report of the Director of Finance, ICT and Property

Commit the Vale of Glamorgan Council to Signing up to the 10:10 Carbon Emission Campaign

Purpose of the Report

1.             To address issues relating to the request for consideration submitted by Councillor R.F. Curtis in respect of the Council  signing up to the 10:10 Campaign.

Recommendation

1.             That Members consider whether the Council participates in the 10:10 Campaign.

Reason for the Recommendation

1.             The Council has to decide whether a campaign such as this will be of benefit in publicising the efforts that are being made in light of the fact that several other authorities such as Cardiff City Council and Rhondda Cynnon Taf  County Borough Council are listed as having signed up to the Campaign.

Background

2.             Details of the 10:10 Campaign for Councils can be found via the following website:  http://downloads.1010uk.org/docs/1010%20Councils%20Methodology.pdf

3.             Signing up to the 10:10 Campaign commits the Council to aim at reducing annual emissions by 10% over the baseline year which can end any time up to 30 June 2010.  The Campaign recognises that this is an ambitious target and that a reduction of 3% or more will be celebrated.

4.             There are a host of other strategies and campaigns on going at the moment such as:

·               The Carbon Management Plan

·               The Carbon Reduction Commitment

·               The Carbon Trust Standard

·               Green Dragon.

Relevant Issues and Options

5.             The Campaign uses the English National Indicator 185 to demonstrate the improvement.  This indicator is not used by Welsh local authorities at the moment.

6.             During the action year the Council is encouraged to use the 10:10 logo to communicate its participation.

7.             Figures on emissions are to be submitted quarterly if possible but at least once at the beginning and once at the end of the action year using the online 10:10 tool (not yet available).

8.             There will be no independent audits and no league tables, however no claims can be made without submitting the figures through the online tool and 10:10 may request to see the background documentation.

9.             At the end of the action year the Council will be able to continue using the 10:10 logo if at least a 3% saving has been demonstrated via the use of the online tool.

10.        If the Council decided to sign up to the scheme then it would publicise the Campaign to staff and the general public and encourage them also to participate.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

11.        There will be an extra administrative burden in reporting using the NI185 methodology and the online 10:10 tool although most of the information on building emissions will be available as part of the statutory Carbon Reduction Commitment.  Transport information will be collected separately.  It is estimated that between one and three person weeks will be required to administer the 10:10 commitment each year.

12.        Staff that currently have the expertise to prepare the NI185 submission are currently committed to delivering the Carbon Management Plan and without additional resources the extra burden will reduce the time available to deliver the Carbon Management Plan.

13.        Welsh Assembly Government funding is dependent on the Council meeting its improvement agreement which contains several carbon emission reduction measures which could be put in jeopardy if staff resources are diverted.

14.        There are no other resource implications.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

15.        There are no legal or human rights implications.

Crime and Disorder Implications

16.        There are no crime and disorder implications.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

17.        There are no equal opportunity implications, the 10:10 logo does not contain any words.

Corporate/Service Objectives

18.        The 10:10 Campaign is in line with other corporate objectives including the Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan adopted by the Council on 16th April  2008.

19.        The Campaign is in accord with the corporate commitment for all Council divisions to reach Green Dragon Level 1.

20.        The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a statutory carbon trading scheme in which the Council is legally bound to participate.  The base year for the CRC is 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011.  Reducing emissions during this base year may be considered to be a disadvantage as actions to reduce emissions now will not be available in future years (i.e. the measures will already be completed).  However it is important to note that carbon dioxide is being initially priced at £12 per tonne within CRC whereas the cost of fuel to produce a tonne of carbon dioxide costs hundreds of pounds.  In other words making savings now makes the most economic sense.

Policy Framework and Budget

21.        The 10:10 Campaign accords with the Council’s environmental policy (“Minimise the use of non-renewable resources including energy in its own buildings, vehicles and in all Council activities").

22.        Additional staff resources will be required to administer the 10:10 Campaign but no capital resources will be required.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

23.        No Ward Member consultation is required but Councillor Rob Curtis has been consulted.  Also, all Directors and Heads of Service have been consulted. 

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

24.        Corporate Resources.

Background Papers

10:10 Councils' Methodology.

Contact Officer

David Powell, Energy Manager - 01446 709576

Officers Consulted

Councillor R Curtis, Rob Quick, Sian Davies, Clive Teague, Huw Isaac, Jane Wade, Gareth Bissett

Responsible Officer:

Sian Davies, Director of Finance, ICT and Property