Councillor James Stoneman (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Governance), supported by Paul Barnard (Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure), Emmanuelle Marshall (Low Carbon City Officer) and Jonathan Bell (Head of Development Planning), introduced the item and highlighted:-

a)    The Net-Zero Action Plan (NZAP) was a new-style delivery plan that would replace the CEAP and CCRP and set out how Plymouth City Council would support Plymouth in becoming a net-zero city;

b)    The NZAP set out the commitment to action over the following three years to 2026 but not only tracking path for the Council to become a net zero organisation, but also by setting out how Plymouth City Council can influence others in the city to become net zero, for example, through planning policy, infrastructure provision and purchasing power;

c)    Plymouth City Council was responsible for approximately 1% of the city’s emissions and was able to influence approximately 30% of the city’s emissions;

d)    The CEAP and CCRP were the right approach at the time following the Council unanimously voting to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on 18 March 2019 and had enabled the Council to drive significant change and moving from these plans to the NZAP signifies a move from the emergency response phase to an acceleration phase;

e)    The NZAP took a more strategic approach by looking at a three year period with more focused outcomes to achieve the 2030 net zero aspiration and a better approach to finance planning and would provide external funders with confidence;

f)     The NZAP had a focused four themes and 29 strategic commitments, compared to the 14 themes and 149 actions across the CEAP and CCRP;

g)    It had been a privilege to work cross party on the NZAP with Councillors Poyser, Briars-Delve and Coker.

In response to questions it was further explained:-

h)    Over the period that the NZAP covered, it was expected that the power sector in the UK would decarbonise, switching to electricity produced by renewable means in most cases and relying on the energy grid decarbonisation but also increasing the renewable capacity with projects such as Chelson Meadow Solar Farm and Heat Pumps;

i)     It was unknown why there wasn’t a significant decrease in CO2 emissions, but this would be looked into and shared with members;

j)     Kerbside food waste collection was included in proposals in line with pending government legislation and guidance with more work to be done on this once the legislation has been published, which was expected by the end of 2023;

k)    A climate change decision wheel would be implemented to advise the decision making process moving forward to help balance climate to other factors such as budget in future decision making:

l)     Some decisions to benefit the environment, had also had financial benefit to the Council, but Councillor Stoneman believes they would have been made regardless as they contributed positively to the net zero target for Plymouth;

m)  The data in the NZAP had been driven by the funding that had been successfully secured by officers and so there was funding to support 1293 households by 2026 to become more fuel efficient, which could increase if funding was successful;

n)    Retrofitting would play a key role in reaching net zero rates and bids would be put in to secure funding to support more houses across the city and Councillor Stoneman was lobbying local MPs;

o)    GD3 and GD6 set out plans for local offsetting options would be developed to allow people to invest in to deliver their carbon offsetting and to continue lobbying government;

p)    External groups had assessed local council’s action plans and Plymouth had ranked in the middle of the group;

q)     Important to strike a balance for the NZAP between being strategic, ambitious and realistic;

r)    Councillor Stoneman disagreed that the approach had a reduced scope and ambition and spoke about Climate Connections, a website launched in October 2022, designed to be one common point of reference for Plymouth’s net zero mission, where everyone can share knowledge, activities and experiences around their net zero journey to change and improve community engagement;

s)     It was important that Councillors undertook Carbon Literacy Training, which Councillor Stoneman hoped would be available in the future;

t)     The NZAP would be monitored on an annual basis and so other ideas, such as extending the scope of decarbonising the Council’s estate, could be added if funding was secured;

u)    It was important to have a realistic plan that could be delivered.

The Committee agreed to:

1.    Support and endorse the Plymouth City Council Net Zero Action Plan 2023-2026;

2.    Review the Council’s progress towards delivering its Net Zero Action Plan on an annual basis.

For (6)

Councillors Riley, Lugger, Pengelly, Poyser, Noble and Hendy.

Abstain (3)

Councillors Coker, Holloway and Tippetts.

Against (1)

Councillor Goslin.