The Overview and Scrutiny Climate Change Sub-Committee met on Thursday 05 December 2024 and were updated on the council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and carbon emissions. They discussed plans for a potential incinerator at the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone and noted the verbal updates on the Warm Homes Local Grant and the council’s climate change communications plan.

Interim Climate Change Strategy review - Council's Carbon Footprint

The sub-committee received a report on the Wyre Borough Council carbon footprint for 2023/24. The report noted that:

• Like-for-like council emissions had decreased by 19.1% when compared to the 2018/19 baseline figure.
• The council was 5% off target in meeting its carbon budget.
• HVO estimated projections showed a 45.5% reduction in emissions from baseline and estimates predicted this would enable the council to achieve the 2024/25 carbon budget, putting them 24.8% below the required reduction.
• The largest sources of emissions came from heating (35.3%), followed by authority fleet (29.5%) and electricity use (20.7%).
• Fleetwood YMCA and the Civic Centre are two buildings with high emissions.

The sub-committee discussed energy bills, council vehicles, council buildings with the highest electricity usage, thermal batteries, smart meters, electric vehicle charging, tree planting, and open spaces.

Overview and Scrutiny Climate Change Sub-Committee Work Programme 2023/24 – update report

The sub-committee were updated on the Overview and Scrutiny Climate Change Sub-Committee Work Programme 2024/25. The Director of Finance and Governance submitted a report and it was confirmed that future task group plans would be discussed at the next meeting.

Councillor Fail made some general points regarding the plans for incinerators at the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone and called for the incinerator projects to be paused whilst an independent Environmental Impact Assessment was produced.

...allowing the impact on Wyre’s Climate Change commitments to be understood.

He added:

...moving forward, the sub-committee should be made aware of big-ticket planning applications, informed of the potential impact on Wyre’s climate change commitments, review and comment on such applications and also be a stakeholder in the Enterprise Zone Masterplan.

Update on the Communications Plan

The sub-committee received a verbal update on the communications plan. The Senior Communications Officer highlighted that the council were always trying to improve their communications, but encountered particular challenges when it came to communicating climate change messages.

...they encountered particular challenges when it came to communicating climate change messages.

The committee were told that the Communications team were developing a new communications plan. Within the plan, four corporate campaigns had been identified which all communications would feed into:

• Supporting people;
• Wyre moving more;
• Improving our environment;
• Boosting the local economy.

Draft copies of leaflets were shared with members. In relation to reaching the borough’s non-digital audience more effectively, the Senior Communications Officer mentioned events such as the Older Person’s Festive Fayre.

Members raised concerns regarding recycling and confusion among residents. In response, the Director of Environment explained that Lancashire County Council was the Waste Disposal Authority and had the power of direction in terms of the waste material to be collected, how it was delivered, and the final disposal destination.

The Chair mentioned that communications concerning recycling would be discussed at the next Helping Wyre Council prepare for the ‘Simpler Recycling’ rules Task Group meeting.

Update on Cosy Homes in Lancashire in Wyre and opportunities via the new Warm Homes Local Grant

The Assistant Director of Housing, Leisure and Communities, Mark Broadhurst, provided members with a verbal update on Cosy Homes in Lancashire in Wyre and opportunities via the new Warm Homes Local Grant.

The Assistant Director explained that Home Upgrade Funding (HUG) was available for energy inefficient properties to install insulation, renewable heating, solar PV, windows and doors.

He highlighted that the target for Lancashire was to improve 1400 properties by 31 March 2025 and were on course to reach that target.

In relation to the Warm Homes: Local Grant, he clarified that the scheme starts on 1 April 2025 and would run for three years with an option to extend for a further two years.

Eligibility was the same as HUG but would also be available for properties which had gas boilers.

He confirmed that £2m funding from the Lancashire Devolution Deal had been allocated to CHiL.