Issue - meetings

To provide an overview of the “Oxfordshire Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan” which can be found in Appendix I. The report sets out the context for the production of the Route Map and Action Plan, along with detail of the structure and key areas of activity, such as decarbonising buildings and transport across the district.

During recent years, Cherwell has worked collaboratively on the climate change agenda with the county council and other authorities in Oxfordshire leading to successful outcomes, such as the Park & Charge EV infrastructure in our car parks. This approach has led to investment in the district, whilst minimising the resource impact upon staff, e.g. to deal with procurement, project management etc. The Route Map and Action Plan focus on the areas of activity which can be enabled through joint working with our local authority partners.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1        Support the proposed Route Map and Action Plan which seeks to deliver the ambitions of the Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire (PaZCO) 2021 report.

Resolved

(1)       That the proposed Route Map and Action Plan be supported.

The Assistant Director Environmental Services submitted a report to provide an overview of the “Oxfordshire Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan”. The report set out the context for the production of the Route Map and Action Plan, along with detail of the structure and key areas of activity, such as decarbonising buildings and transport across the district. The Route Map and Action Plan sought to deliver the ambitions of the Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire (PaZCO) 2021 report.

In introducing the report, the Climate Action Manager explained that the document detailed three scenarios for reaching the zero net carbon target by 2050. Key performance indicators had been proposed within the action plan to track progress which would be included in an annual update to Future Oxfordshire Partnership (FOP) FOP was the responsible body for the Action Plan, with advisory groups as sponsors providing oversight and guidance to each of the five areas highlighted for phase 1 actions.

Councillor John Broad, Chairman of the climate action working group, advised the Committee that the working group would be working through the PaZCO report and supporting officers where possible.

In response to Committee questions regarding the existing County Council electric vehicle charging points and whether Cherwell District Council had sought its own advice on projects that would affect the district, the Corporate Director Communities explained that if an authority proposed a particular project within the route map then a detailed business case, assessment and legal advice would need to be developed for consideration.

In response to questions from the committee seeking clarification on the goal for carbon net zero for Cherwell District Council, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that the goal of 2030 related to the Council’s own operations, and the target of 2050 was for the whole of Oxfordshire.

Resolved

(1)      That the proposed Route Map and Action Plan be supported.