Decision details

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council outlining the progress being made in delivering the actions in the Low Carbon Strategy’s Delivery Plan.  This update covers the progress made in the eighteen months since the strategy was adopted.  The Low Carbon City Strategy sets out the key priorities for the Council for the 10 year period between 2011/2012 financial year and up to and including the 2020/2021 financial year that will help to deliver job opportunities, raise skill levels, support development, strengthen and build the low carbon economy in the city, respond to the impacts of climate change and mitigate our impact on the environment by reducing the city’s carbon emissions.  

1.  To re-confirm the Council’s commitment to the Low Carbon City Strategy as set out in Appendix 1, to provide a framework from which to base future decisions and policies.

2.  To note the outcomes and achievements outlined in Low Carbon City Strategy annual progress report, as set out in Appendix 2, and re-confirm the Council’s commitment to years 2 and 3 of the Delivery Plan.

1.  The Low Carbon City Strategy was adopted by Cabinet in June 2011 and set out a programme of work for an initial three year period up to the beginning of the 2014/2015 financial year. Southampton City Council committed to report on an annual basis its performance in line with the objectives set out in the document for the purposes of transparency.

2.  The strategy was adopted with cross-party political support under the previous administration but requires the formal commitment of the current administration in order to drive forward work under this agenda.

3.  The Delivery Plan is a working document which is subject to amendment to reflect any additional commitment the Council may look to make following its formal adoption. The Delivery Plan has been revised to incorporate a number of strategic energy initiatives which were not outlined in its previous iteration.

To proceed without providing an update on the progress that is being made towards reducing the City’s and the Council’s carbon footprint and without adding to the actions listed in the delivery plan. This would break the commitment the Council made to be open about its performance and fail to capture the continued and growing work which is taking place in Southampton towards both mitigating our impact on the environment and adapting to the impacts of climate change.