Purpose

The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 came into force on 31st July 2023 which gives the council the ability to increase fixed penalties for a number of environmental crime offences. This report considers the recommendation to increase a number of fixed penalties for environmental offences and to offer an payment discount.

Content

The Officer’s report
provided an update on progress on the 2022/23 actions of the Council’s Climate
Change Strategy 2021-26.

 

Decision
of Leader of the Council

      i.         
Noted the progress achieved in implementing
the actions in the Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Management Plan.

    
ii.         
Approved the updated Climate
Change Strategy action plan.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny
Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategy and Partnerships
Manager.

 

In response to Members’ questions:

     
i.         
The Strategy and Partnerships Manager said the
Officer’s report set out a range of activities taken by the City Council to
reduce emissions. The retrofit guide had been promoted fairly extensively.
Partnership opportunities had been used to promote guides and retrofitting
work.

    
ii.         
The Executive Councillor said she would like to
reach out to more people to better promote how to reduce emissions. Referred to
actions taken in a Cambridge Matters article. Having someone as a physical
presence in a location (to provide information) was not viable at present but
could be considered in future by the City Council and partners.

  
iii.         
The Assistant Chief Executive said some emissions
had fallen due to actions taken by the City Council and some because the
National Grid was using cleaner energy.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Leader approved the recommendations on behalf of the Executive
Councillor.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any
Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were
declared by the Executive Councillor.