Quick Navigation
- Attendees
- 1. Minutes of the previous meeting
- 2. Update on plans for the Devon Climate Emergency partnership April workshop
- 3. Project progress report
- 4. Economy and Resources Theme Progress Update
- 5. Net-zero delivery problems and successes
Attendees
- Meg Booth Devon County Council (Chair)
- Doug Eltham Devon County Council (Environment Group)
- Emily Reed Devon Climate Emergency
- William Jackson-Nichols Devon Climate Emergency
- Matthew Blythe East Devon District Council
- Claire Gibson University of Plymouth
- David Edmondson Torbay Council
- Louise Raymond Devon Air Ambulance
- Mark Burton Southwest Net Zero Hub
- Sara Gibbs Public Health Devon
- Eddie Stevens Environment Agency
- Donna Sibley North Devon District Council and Torridge District Council
1. Minutes of the previous meeting
Doug Eltham initiated the meeting and asked for any amendments to the previous minutes. David Edmondson noted he was present at the previous meeting but not listed. Emily Reed will double-check the attendance list.
ACTION: Emily Reed to double-check and update the attendance list from the previous meeting.
2. Update on plans for the Devon Climate Emergency partnership April workshop
Emily Reed provided details about the workshop scheduled for April 17th at Sandy Park. Over 40 attendees are expected, and speakers include Nigel Topping. The focus will be on accelerating action on the Carbon Plan. Printouts and reference materials will be provided. Claire Gibson asked about the plan post-workshop and suggested providing reading materials beforehand. Meg Booth emphasized the importance of remembering the origins of the workshop and the Climate Task Force’s suggestions.
ACTION: Emily Reed to update the workshop invite and ensure it includes details about the new venue and the provision of lunch.
3. Project progress report
Emily Reed highlighted increased website visits and improved communications. Doug Eltham mentioned the Combined County Authority’s positive reception of the climate partnership’s work.
ACTION: Emily Reed to extend an invite to Sean Anstee from the County Combined Authority for the workshop on April 17th.
4. Economy and Resources Theme Progress Update
Emily Reed highlighted updates and issues on a number of actions:
- For R7, which involves considering reducing black bin collections, she noted Bristol’s consultation on four-weekly collections and that the current government has shared guidance that local authorities should decide the appropriate level of service in their area. A number of attendees noted that potential complaints from residents was a deterrent to reducing frequency. But there are learnings from East Devon and Mid Devon regarding comms and engagement when rolling changes out.
- For R11, which aims to raise awareness of the opportunity and benefits from specifying reclaimed and recycled materials, more resources are needed to engage organisations on this.
- R17 encourages food supply businesses to implement the Courtauld Commitment, more resources are needed to engage organisations on this. Though Doug highlighted that the introduction of Simpler Recycling legislation will push businesses to improve their waste stream separation. Emily shared that the Devon Food Partnership recently held an event with speakers on this.
- R18 focuses on enhancing the capture of emissions from wastewater treatment; Emily needs to catch up with Southwest Water for updates. It was noted that built solutions involving concrete to reduce storm overflows are carbon intensive and so will frustrate achieving this action, as will the current need in parts of the county to move sewage around in lorries due to capacity issues at wastewater treatment plants.
- R19 involves embedding local social environmental value in tendering processes, with efforts highlighted from the Police, NHS and Devon County Council.
- R23 aims to provide net zero transition support to businesses, whilst a number of programmes are available, uptake from businesses has been mixed.
ACTION: Emily Reed to circulate the document put together by North Devon Council on three-weekly residual waste collections once Donna has sent it over.
ACTION: Emily Reed to follow up with Southwest Water regarding their business plan and its implications for emissions.
Mark Burton shared that Plymouth City Council are discussing business support with the Plymouth Manufacturers Group. Lu is considering putting on a Net Zero Expo for businesses, inviting suppliers to have stands and inviting the business community to do workshops etc.
ACTION: Emily to look into the development of business case studies highlighting how organisations are reducing their emissions and increasing climate resilience.
ACTION: Emily Reed to update the group on the progress of an engagement plan for the business sector being developed by the Climate Impacts Group.
5. Net-zero delivery problems and successes
Doug Eltham shared good news, including £5,000,000 awarded for domestic retrofit for vulnerable people’s homes and £650,000 for retrofitting corporate buildings with heat pumps. Donna Sibley mentioned North Devon Council’s funding for decarbonising commercial buildings and requested a site visit to partners commercial buildings with heat pumps. David Edmondson raised concerns about the unexpected cost of electricity substations for projects and the need for greater clarity from National Grid regarding future grid capacity increases so we can plan what we can bring forward. Matthew Blythe announced recruitment for a climate change manager at East Devon District Council and discussed challenges with the decision wheel for committee decisions. Sara Gibbs and Mark Burton suggested using the decision wheel earlier in the planning process to mitigate negative impacts.
ACTION: Doug Eltham to follow up with National Grid for clarity regarding plans for future grid capacity increases.
ACTION: Emily Reed to connect Donna Sibley with partners for information on heat pump projects in commercial buildings Donna could visit.
