Issue - meetings

Blaenau Gwent Climate Mitigation Steering Group

Meeting: 25/02/2021 - Public Services Board Scrutiny Committee (Item 7)

7 Blaenau Gwent Climate Mitigation Steering Group pdf icon PDF 528 KB

To consider the report of the Managing Director.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Managing Director.

 

The Service Manager Policy and Partnerships outlined the report which gave details of the Blaenau Gwent Climate Mitigation Steering Group which had been established by the Public Services Board. The Service Manager noted that climate mitigation was taking action that would reduce
man-made climate change. This included action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to absorb greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere. The role of the Steering Group was to develop a borough wide mitigation plan and the agreed aims for the first year was to set a science based carbon budget for Blaenau Gwent, agree vision/direction of travel, identify and outline key issues for public engagement in relation to decarbonising in Blaenau Gwent.

 

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic this work had been delayed and to date the steering group had met three times. It had now been agreed that the group meet every 2 months going forward.

 

The Service Manager referred to consultation and explained that although at present it was difficult for consultation to be carried out, these type of exercises would be resumed in the future. It was important that the public be involved in this consultation and the Service Manager referred to the upcoming Blaenau Gwent Climate Assembly in March 2021.

 

It was the first to be held in Wales and was fully funded via the Welsh Government. The Assembly would provide a good opportunity to start the process of gathering this type of public opinion about climate action in Blaenau Gwent.

 

The Service Manager Policy and Partnerships drew Members attention to the options for recommendations as noted in the report.

 

A Member welcomed the report and was pleased to see that the steering groups had now commenced. The Member advised that there were a lot of positive things that could be done to mitigate climate change which included tree planting and asked if such exercises had been planned.

 

The Service Manager advised that there was a great deal of work which could be undertaken, locally, regionally and nationally and these would be reported back to the Public Services Board Scrutiny Committee as the group progressed.

 

Another Member welcomed the establishment of the steering group and felt that everyone could make a contribution in climate change and Wales was at the forefront of this work.

 

The Committee AGREED Option 1; namely the PSB Scrutiny Committee accepted the overview report and supporting appendix on the establishment of the Steering Group.