To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

To receive for approval the Minutes of 15/02/2021

RESOLVED:                          That the minutes of a meeting of the Town and Community Council Forum dated 15 February 2021, be approved as a true and accurate record, subject to Councillors Amanda Williams and RM Granville, being added to the list of attendees.

The Corporate Director – Communities supported by the Group Manager – Economy, Natural Resources and Sustainability, presented a report, the purpose of which, was to provide a brief update on the BCBC decarbonisation work programme and raise issues of relevance to Town and Community Councils in their decarbonisation work.

She confirmed that Welsh Government (WG) declared a Climate Emergency in April 2019 and set out its priorities to address change for Wales to build resilience. In July 2020, the Welsh Government committed to achieving a net zero carbon public sector in Wales by 2030. This commitment included the public sector in its entirety, including Town and Community Councils.

Bridgend supports the net zero goal and have adopted it into its updated Corporate Plan for 2021-22. In addition, the Council is committed to co-ordinating action to help other areas of the economy making a decisive shift towards decarbonisation, by engaging in collaboration with other public sector organisations (including Town and Community Councils), academia, industry and the third sector.

The Corporate Director – Communities, explained that areas of focus for our internal decarbonisation efforts are energy, transport, buildings, procurement and open spaces. BCBC would be optimising its use of buildings, reducing energy use, designing new builds to the highest standards of energy efficiency, ensuring judicious use of its open spaces to enhance biodiversity and sequester carbon through tree planting, seeking out renewable energy opportunities, and buying better overall. Most importantly, BCBC would be having conversations internally across the Authority so that staff can coalesce around a genuine shared ambition for making a significant step change in relation to climate impact.

She went on further to advise that, 99% of emissions from within the boundaries of the county borough come from sectors other than the public sector. The Council had a clear leadership role in influencing, driving and facilitating change right across the Authority. So aligning low carbon strategies and sharing best practice with Local Partnership Boards, regional neighbours, communities, and businesses, including our Town and Community Councils, is essential to tackling the full range of emissions, including those from goods and services procured.

All public bodies need to address becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030, based on tackling the different scope emissions as detailed in the report. Public sector partners were establishing their carbon baselines and seeking to address the same issues. Businesses were also identifying their corporate and social responsibilities to address climate change to reduce their impact and improve social well-being. A collaborative approach across sectors was therefore both desirable and practical.

The shift to a low carbon system increases economic output and is part of our national recovery plans. BCBC’s strategy and action plan for carbon neutrality will therefore contribute to local economic prosperity.

BCBC has also engaged Carbon Trust to conduct a baseline emissions audit of our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. This baseline will be used to prepare a plan for full decarbonisation by 2030.

A provisional estimate was that around 60% of our emissions result from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 208.

RESOLVED:                           That Members agreed that this report be deferred to the next meeting of the Town and Community Council Forum.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 

None.