Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, Durham County Council.

The Board received an update report from the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change on the Climate Emergency Response Plan 2 (CERP 2), presented by Stephen McDonald, Net Zero Manager (for copy see file of minutes).

The Net Zero Manager noted key issues to highlight from the report included:

·        In 2023, there was a 116-day streak of rising global daily temperature, with the trend continuing in 2024 with over 70 percent of days having a higher temperature;

·        There was an associated knock-on effect from this climate change on agriculture, disease and health, with the UK and County Durham not being immune from such impacts;

·        The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that climate change was the biggest health threat to humanity;

·        Durham County Council (DCC) had called a Climate Emergency in 2019, with the Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) being currently within CERP 2, with preparation being made for CERP 3, which would be a three-year plan, rather than two-year as previous and have eight themes, rather than the ten previous themes.

The Board were asked to note the achievements and latest figures in relation to CERP 2, and noted that CERP 2 has around 150 actions, with many being DCC and County Durham focussed.  The Net Zero Manager explained that there had been a 54 percent reduction in DCC carbon emissions since the 1990s baseline figure, in line with the region, however, not on track for net zero by 2040, in line with net zero by 2065, with Government noting the issue and the need to makes changes at scale and pace to get back on track.

Members of the Board learned that heating was the biggest challenge, to be implemented without impacting up fuel poverty, with the work of registered social landlords being noted.  It was explained that there was a challenge in terms of private landlords, with the Council’s Housing Solutions Team working with landlords as well as tracking absentee landlords.  The Net Zero Manager noted areas to be explored in relation to heating included district heating, delivery of a Heat Strategy, Heat Network Zones and referred the Board to the Seaham Garden Village with heating via mine water, in conjunction with the Coal Authority.

The Net Zero Manager noted other elements included food/agriculture and transport.  He explained that the transport element also could impact upon air quality, an issue within Durham.  The Board noted that DCC had also declared an ecological emergency, with a Nature Recovery Plan to be included within CERP 3.  The Net Zero Manager noted as regards devolution, and that adaptation to climate change was a significant topic, with a funding bid having been made in relation to an adaptation plan.

Councillor T Henderson noted as regards the use of heat pumps in replacing gas boilers, however, he noted in more rural areas and with older properties such technology and other measures, such as cavity insulation, were not suitable.  He noted many in his community used oil or solid fuel for heating and asked if there were any plans to look to help those types of communities in terms of more modern solutions.  The Net Zero Manager noted every property was different and while cavity wall insulation was not possible for every dwelling, there were examples of external insulation used on properties at Craghead and Chilton.  He noted that some older, more rural properties could also have issues in terms of Listed Building status, which could limit the types of works carried out.  He added that air-source heat pumps could work with older buildings, with an important aspect being the airtightness of the building.  He agreed that the cost needed to be approximately equivalent to those using gas or oil, and an example was to use solar panels to power an air-source heat pump to reduce ongoing costs.  Councillor T Henderson noted that many grants for solar panels had disappeared.  The Net Zero Manager noted that the cost of solar panels had reduced, however, still had a ‘pay back’ of around five to six years.

Councillor R Bell asked as regards what other links there were to public health objectives, for example our resilience plans and issues such as excessive heat stroke as an example.  The Net Zero Manager noted primary impacts from climate change included increased flooding risks, storms and wildfires with their immediate impact upon welfare.  He added that the secondary impacts from those included migration, increased disease, invasive species that then would impact upon health and wellbeing.

K Burrows noted she welcomed the focus on the wider determinants of health and noted that the Director of Public Health was a member of the Climate Change Board.  She added that a focus on heating and fuel poverty would also be welcomed, noting the work of social landlords as a result of several high-profile cases nationally linked to poor conditions an associated mould growth.  She added that it would be important within CERP 3 to link back the actions to people and their lives.  She added if there was information as regards where to seek technical advice in terms of energy efficiency and newer technology that may be useful so that members of the Board could share across their partnerships.

The Net Zero Manager noted the work regionally, with the North East Combined Authority being successful in securing around £1 million for energy efficiency advisors, one each for the seven constituent Local Authorities.  He reiterated as regards the work of Housing Solutions colleagues, as well as work carried out by volunteers.

The Director of Public Health noted she had attended an Environment and Climate Change Partnership meeting, where there had been a refresh of their priorities, with partners including the Council, Environment Agency, Durham University, NHS Foundation Trusts amongst others.  She added that many of the priorities mirrored those of the Board in terms of air quality, mental health, food production.  A Petty added she would check if the Police were represented within the Environment Partnership and asked if hydrogen was being looked at as an option to help tackle carbon emissions from transport, in the context of the Tees Green Hydrogen project.  The Net Zero Manager noted the Council had been consulted on the project and responded.

Resolved:

(a)     That the significant progress made against delivering actions

          during the Climate Change Emergency Response Plan 2 be noted.

(b)     That the stronger working relationships between teams and the

          progress made to embed health principles into CERP3 be noted.