Following Dorset Council’s declaration of a climate emergency, Cllr Ray Bryan has invited political group leaders to appoint representatives to sit on a Policy Development Panel to discuss how the council will set carbon reduction targets.
Initially, it is proposed that the panel is comprised of eight council members with support from senior and technical officers who can advise and enable delivery of policy developed by the group.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment said:
“Over the last two weeks, officers have been gathering background information on carbon reduction initiatives already delivered across the former Dorset councils, to establish our current position.
“We will include experts from outside our organisation to ensure we get the most up to date knowledge and information to form our policies and so we can plan well beyond my time as a Councillor. We will be open and transparent in our plans and will always listen to constructive criticism.
“However, we need to manage the expectations of those that would like us to bring forward changes with immediate effect.”
Dorset’s former councils worked to mitigate climate change both within their operations and in partnership with public, private and community organisations.
Work was focused in three key areas:
Direct action – reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions
Each former council developed a carbon management plan delivering some significant achievements including:
Reductions in fuel and mileage
Energy efficiency projects in council buildings and schools
Almost halving energy used in street lighting
Indirect action- influence and leadership through our wider services
Dorset Council can have a wide influence across Dorset through the services it provides, including planning, housing, pensions/investments, community services, air quality, transport, economic development, children’s & adult’s services and public health.
Partnership working
In response to the Climate Change Act and EU renewable energy directive, Dorset established the Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole Renewable Energy strategy and an Energy Efficiency strategy. These were developed through a comprehensive consultation process with stakeholder groups.
The Dorset Council Climate Change Panel will look to build on this and will work in partnership with organisations across Dorset to develop its climate emergency plan for Dorset.
The panel will meet in the near future and will report back to Cabinet in July.
