Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members are requested to note the proposed BCC response to the DAERA Environment Strategy for Northern Ireland, as discussed and approved by the People and Communities Committee at its meeting on 14 January 2020.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

·        Note the contents of the attached People and Communities Committee report of 14 January 2020, the draft BCC consultation response to the DAERA Environment Strategy for Northern Ireland, and to consider the inclusion of the amendments put forward by the Green Party, as well as factor in some developments as a result of restoration of the Executive referenced in 3.2-3.3 below.  The Green Party’s amendments are attached at Appendix 3.

·        Note the request for an extension to the Response to DAERA  was agreed and is the 5^th February 2020 

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

3.1       Amendments to the consultation response were tabled by Councillor Smyth on behalf of the Green Party at the aforementioned meeting. Following discussion, it was agreed that the Committee would review the proposed changes put forward by Councillor Smyth, and submit any feedback to the City and Neighbourhood Services Department for compilation and onward submission to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to approve the final consultation response to DAERA. No responses have been received.

3.2       However officers had advised at the People and  Communities committee they could also review the comments in light of the ‘The New Decade, New Approach Deal’ as a result of the restoration of the Assembly. In light of this, the executive have now agreed to include a Climate Change Strategy and Act, to address immediate and longer term impacts of climate change. They have also committed to introduce legislation and targets for reducing carbon emissions in line with the Paris Climate Change Accord and this will be addressed through the programme for Government. A new Energy Strategy is to be developed that will set ambitious targets and actions for a fair and just transition to a zero carbon society. It is also acknowledged that these actions and interventions will be required across a wide range of areas in order to address the impacts of climate change in a fair and just way. The executive has also committed to the establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency to oversee this work and ensure targets are met.  Given that these are now Assembly positions, officers would propose adding into the formal response that these developments are strongly welcomed  and supported by this Council.

3.3       The key response for consideration is outlined in the attached People and Communities report, and this committee is asked to note the associated appendices. On the attached Appendix 3 officers have indicated where comments may be substantially covered off via the New Deal as referenced above. Members are also reminded that at the October meeting of this committee,  agreement was reached and wording  updated following a notice of motion on carbon emissions and therefore this could be the revised wording         (as set put below) to be included in the response to the DAERA consultation. It is proposed to add to the response that’s DAERA needs to consider more informed and ambitious targets.

            ‘This Council has supported a motion to declare a Climate Emergency and in light of these, this Council commits to a more ambitious and more urgent target of net-zero emissions than 2050. This target will be informed by the work undertaken below [to produce a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan] and will reflect the ambition of similar cities in the UK, who have carbon neutrality goals more ambitious than the 2050 target. Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds have committed to 2030 and Manchester to 2038.

3.4       Finance & Resource Implications

            None.

3.5       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            None.”

Moved by Councillor Garret,

Seconded by Councillor Carson,

      That the Committee agrees that the Corporate Response as submitted to the People and Communities Committee on 14th January, be approved as the Council’s response to the the consultation.

            On a vote by show of hands, fourteen Members voted for the proposal and four against and it was declared carried.