Archived decisions

Contact: Bryan Boult, ext 6772 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) that Hampshire County Council supports the provisions of the Sustainable Energy Bill;

(ii) that the Association for the Conservation of Energy be informed of this support.

(iii) that the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be asked to consider the provision of Combined Heat and Power as part of the sustainability assessment in feasibility studies for County Council major building projects.

2. Reason

2.1 The overall aim of the Bill is to "make provision about the development and promotion of a sustainable energy policy" for the UK and this accords with the County Council's own policy and support for sustainable energy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to support the Bill.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. At the County Council meeting on 24 July 2003, Councillor Dash raised the following motion concerning the Sustainable Energy Bill. The Leader suggested and the County Council agreed that the motion be referred to the Executive Member for Environment for decision.

"This Council supports sustainable energy and accordingly supports the Sustainable Energy Bill, which gives statutory backing to the following targets, namely:

(i) an increase in domestic energy efficiency of 20% by 2010 as recommended by the Performance and Innovation Unit's `Energy Review', the Energy Savings Trust and the Sustainable Development Commission;

(ii) the generation of 25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020; and

(iii) the generation of 10GW of electricity by combined heat and power by 2010.

And so resolves to:

(a) support the Sustainable Energy Bill;

(b) inform the Association for the Conservation of Energy of this support;

(c) includes an assessment of the use of CHP in feasibility studies for all County Council major building projects".

8. The County Council supports sustainable energy through a number of areas of work, particularly in the Environment Department and Property, Business and Regulatory Services. The strong direction from the Government to invest in renewable energy is driven by the commitment to address climate change issues and cut emissions of all greenhouse gases as part of the Kyoto protocol. It is now generally accepted that power cannot continue to be generated and consumed as at present and a sustainable future must be sought where power is generated from renewable sources and consumption is reduced through the use of more efficient technologies. The Local Government Association supports this view, stating that "energy is a key issue in sustainable development and that there are economic, social and environmental benefits from pursuing a sustainable energy strategy at the local, national and global level".

9. The County Council's response to the South East England Regional Assembly's consultation `Harnessing the Elements: A Strategy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy' in February 2003 said that the County Council:

(i) supports the use of renewable energy targets to guide policy objectives;

(ii) believes the draft Strategy should give greater weight to energy efficiency measures in reducing carbon emissions, and give greater guidance to local authorities in establishing energy efficiency targets in planning policy; and

(iii) believes that the draft Strategy should address the scope for generating heat and developing biofuels for transport, as well as electricity generation.

10. Amongst the key issues for the planning authorities in Hampshire are the location of development and infrastructure and how best to reduce and manage the demand for energy. District authorities currently have a statutory obligation as local housing authority to promote domestic energy conservation through the `Home Energy Conservation Act' (1995) (HECA). Although HECA will be repeated if the Sustainable Energy Bill becomes law, similar provisions are contained in the Bill.

11. Although the County Council does not have such obligations, guidance to all local authorities on the delivery of energy efficiency targets through planning policy would be very helpful, especially by developing links between national, regional and local policy.

12. The County Council is committed to reducing emissions and addressing its obligations as a local authority in respect of climate change and sustainable development through the Corporate Sustainable Development Strategy and obligations under the Nottingham Declaration.

13. An audit of the County Council's activities relevant to climate change has been started and the County Council has accepted an invitation from the Carbon Trust, as a forward looking authority and in recognition of the work already done to reduce corporate emissions, mainly by Property, Business and Regulatory Services, to take part in the first pilot phase of the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. This has the aim of realising emissions savings of at least 5% per year from County Council estates and fleets.

14. Conclusion

14.1 The County Council is working to reduce energy consumption, increase the use of renewable energy and mitigate the effect of the County Council's activities on climate change.

14.2 Although the Sustainable Energy Bill has been amended during its passage through the House of Commons and currently does not include any targets, the broad thrust of the Bill clearly promotes sustainable energy policy and practices and is therefore worthy of the County Council's support.

8183/BB