Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to follow up on the consultation of the draft update of the Climate Emergency and Sustainability strategy, which was agreed at CCLC in March 2023, and to seek adoption of the final strategy.

Recommendation

That the Policy and Resources Committee approve the proposed UPDATED Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy and recommend to Full Council for adoption.

Note the updates arising from the Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan.

The Committee considered a report in which it was noted that a Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy had been adopted by Full Council in May 2021. The present report sought the Committee’s approval to adopting the “Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2023-2027”.

Joanna Hewitson, Climate Change & Sustainability Strategy Officer, presented the report.

In subsequent discussion, the following points arose.

a)    Watford Community Housing was addressing environmental concerns by implementing a programme providing external cladding on its properties at a cost of approximately £20,000 per property.

It was noted that the Council had previously worked with Watford Community Housing and was now working with Thrive Homes who had an ambitious programme of retrofitting properties, the cost of which was between £30,000 and £35,000 for external wall insulation (EWI) or a standard 3-bedroom semidetached property, with government grants being in the region of £10,000.

b)    It was noted that, under the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Funds: Wave 2.1 and 2.2, the Council was excluded from applying for funding from 2.2 as it was already seeking funds under 2.1. In addition, the Council was constrained in the amount of government funding for which it could apply based on the application by Thrive Homes for funding and match funding requirements.

As there were no more questions, the Chair, seconded by Councillor Tankard, proposed that the Committee approve the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED: That the Committee –

1.    Approve the revised Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2023-2027 (“the Strategy”);

2.    Recommend the Strategy to Council for adoption; and

3.    Note the updates arising from the Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan.