Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality provides the Inner West Community Committee with a presentation on the council’s updated climate emergency strategy and progress.

The report of the Chief Officer for Sustainable Energy and Air Quality provided an update to the Inner West Community Committee with a presentation on the Council’s updated climate emergency strategy and progress, with a focus on the Inner West area.

The Committee were informed of the following points:

·  £25m has been secured for corporate estate and schools for de-carbonisation this included putting in LED lighting and solar panels. It was noted that air source heat pumps will be installed at Valley View Primary School, air source heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting will be installed at Hollybush Primary School, air source heats pumps and LED lighting will be installed at Hawksworth Wood Children’s Centre, and air source heat pumps and solar panels will be installed at Kirkstall Leisure Centre.

·  Homeowners on low incomes are still eligible to receive free solar panels and or insulation if they live in an inefficient home and have a household income of £30,000 or less.

·  Landlords with inefficient homes can receive subsidies of two thirds of the cost of installing solar panels and or insulation up to £5,000 if the property’s tenants earn less than £30,000.

·  Three businesses or charities in the area have completed a trial of an electric van, this was 2 from Armley and 1 from Bramley/Stanningley.

·  Three rapid EVCP’s have or soon will be installed at Armley Leisure Centre, Kirkstall Leisure Centre and ASDA Kirkstall thanks to a joint LCC/WYCA scheme in partnership with ENGIE.

·  Promotion of free electric bike trials scheme. This is for Leeds residents who can borrow an electric bike for up to a month if they make 3 regular journeys under 10 miles each week. It was noted the scheme ends after March.

·  Landowners and farmers in Leeds can receive support and expert advice from the White Rose Forest partnership for tree planting schemes. This is part of a national scheme.

·  The team produce the Leeds Climate Newsletter each month and Members were asked if they would like to receive the newsletter and to promote it.

·  Leeds DEC is piloting place-based Community Climate Action Training in Seacroft. It is the aim of the pilot is to bring together representatives from the Council, third sector, residents and local climate groups to identify opportunities for positive action across the ward. It was also noted that Leeds Development Education Centre has a range of resources to help schools teach about climate change.

Members’ discussions included:

·  The impact that work is making in relation to the scale and proportion of the task. It was noted that for the 40 buildings the council is undertaking to de-carbonise it would be 3,000 tonnes of carbon saved. The Council is now looking at how to get more funding for schemes, getting the right skills and how to deliver at a greater pace.

·  Local schools had been identified for de-carbonisation schemes through Children’s Services, as and when schools requested works for boilers etc.

·  How the housing stock can be upgraded to make them more energy efficient and the use of green fencing such as hedges and shrubs.

Members said they were pleased with the work that had been undertaken so far with the local housing stock namely the Queenshill flats. They welcomed the schemes in the Inner West area and requested that the newsletter be sent in a format that could be added to social media.

The Community Committee thanked the officer for the presentation and update on the local area.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report.