Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Housing outlining the significant progress that the Council has made in respect of the ‘Cutting Carbon and Improving Air Quality’ Breakthrough Project and providing some insight into the progress made across the city as a whole. In addition, the report outlines future priorities and highlights the challenges faced. Furthermore, the report details the proposed energy policy, its associated benefits and the targets contained within it, whilst also providing background to the Covenant of Mayors and the associated Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP).

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report outlining the significant progress that the Council had made in respect of the ‘Cutting Carbon and Improving Air Quality’ breakthrough project, whilst also providing some insight into the progress made in this area by the city as a whole. In addition, the report also presented future priorities and highlighted the challenges faced. Finally, the report set out a proposed Council-wide energy policy, its associated benefits and the targets contained within it, whilst also providing background information to the European Covenant of Mayors movement and the associated Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP).

The Board was provided with details of the Council’s key achievements in this area, and how Leeds performed comparatively against other cities. In noting the ambitious nature of the Council’s policy in this area, Members discussed a number of initiatives which had already been progressed, and others which could be potentially be progressed in the future.  

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress the Council has made to date, together with its continued plans to reduce carbon emissions, be noted;

(b)  That the Sustainable Energy Action Plan be endorsed in support of the Council’s participation in the European Covenant of Mayors;

(c)  That the adoption of a Council wide energy policy from 4^th January 2016 be supported, together with the acknowledgement that a Council wide behaviour change to drive energy savings is required;

(d)  That the Council continue to demonstrate leadership in this area and also to continue to work closely with private, public and third-sector partners across the city.