The Group Manager – Economy, Natural Resources and Sustainability sought for the creation of the Bridgend County Climate Emergency Response Programme following the declaration of a Climate Emergency by the Welsh Government in April 2019.

He reported that in October 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a report on the state of global warming, identifying that a continued warming of global temperatures will significantly increase the likelihood and resulting impact of floods, droughts and extreme heat.  The report stated the importance of limiting global warming and a requirement for an unprecedented scale and speed of action.  He stated that the Welsh Government declared a Climate Emergency in April 2019 and following this, had committed to achieving a carbon neutral public sector by 2030.  In addition, there is a commitment to coordinating action to help other areas of the economy to make a decisive shift away from fossil fuels, involving academia, industry and the third sector.

The Group Manager – Economy, Natural Resources and Sustainability reported that the Council has a crucial role to play through the management of its own resources and assets and the way in which it works with and supports local residents, organisations and businesses to respond to the challenges set out in the IPCC report.  To support this, and set out some immediate action, it was proposed that a Climate Emergency Response Programme be developed to include the following:

• A cross-party member committee to oversee the Climate Emergency Response Programme;
• The creation of a dedicated officer role to lead on:
  • Co-ordination of all BCBC services.
  • Collaboration with key public, private and third sector partners.
  • Engagement with local residents.

• The development of a Bridgend County Climate Emergency Citizens’ Assembly;
• The development of a Bridgend County Climate Emergency Response Strategy and prioritised action plan, including costings and performance monitoring and reporting procedures;
• The hosting of an annual Bridgend County Sustainability Summit.

He reported that the annual resource requirement to lead the Climate Emergency Response Programme of £215,000 will be funded from the £2 million public realm and place shaping budget public realm budget newly available to the approved in the Medium Term Financial Strategy in February 2020 Communities Directorate in 2020-21. The value of £215,000 will be for a full year programme, made up of £65,000 staff costs and £150,000 revenue budget. 

The Cabinet Member Communities commended the proposals which involved the creation of a dedicated role, a cross member Committee and collaboration with key partners to deliver the strategy.  The Leader commented that the projects will have a fiscal stimulus and Bridgend is well placed to take advantage of opportunities that will arise in the future.  The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations commented that she believed the projects are achievable and innovative, such as the Caerau Minewater project.  The Cabinet Member Communities commented that the Caerau Minewater project would bring about less reliance on fossil fuels to heat people’s homes and possibly on the premises of the Council’s partners.

RESOLVED:         That Cabinet approved the creation of the Climate Emergency Response Programme as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report, its initial resource allocation as outlined in paragraphs 8.1 – 8.3 and to receive future reports on its progress.