To consider the submitted report on the Annual Review of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan and make recommendations to the Cabinet.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Thomas outlined the submitted report which provided an annual update on the Torbay Council Climate Change Action Plan 2024-2026 and the Torbay Climate Partnership’s Greener Way for Our Bay Action Plan and responded to questions, together with the Principal Climate Emergency Officer, Jacqui Warren.

Members asked questions in respect of the following:

·                Why was Torbay’s baseline carbon year 2008 rather than aligning with national 1990 baselines?

·                How far down would you have to drill to get to the heat source for geothermal energy and did we believe we would get geothermal at Brixham?

·                What was the number of homes receiving heat pump advice?

·                How many households that received advice successfully accessed grants or installed measures?

·                What was the plan for supporting residents after current funding streams close?

·                Has Make It Net Zero Torbay ended, and if so, what alternative funding sources were being explored?

·                What proportion of the Stagecoach electric fleet was operational, and what challenges remain?

·                How will the Council quantify the carbon impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud?based data storage moving forward?

·                What policy changes may be needed to include digital energy use in carbon footprint reporting?

The following responses were received:

·                Although the national Net Zero Emission baseline was 1990, central Government only started collating local authority territorial emissions (including Torbay) from 2008 onward, making it the practical baseline.

·                The geothermal feasibility study was funded by the South West Net Zero Hub.  (A written response would be provided on the depth reviewed under this study.)  More generally for geothermal projects, drilling would be 3,000–5,000 metres and entail high financial risk (potential cost £2m).  Based on the study carried out Officers were advised to pursue alternative low carbon options, which would be more cost effective.

·                Energy efficiency support was offered through Eco Advice, who offer home visits to assess suitability.  Approximately 300+ residents have received advice, over the last two years.  (A written response would be provided on the specific numbers helped with energy efficiency support and the amount of grants provided.)

·                Make It Net Zero programme had supported 200 businesses.  One business had a 68% reduction in fuel bills as a result of this support.  The programme ends in March 2026 and was now oversubscribed.  The Council was looking at alternative grants.

·                There was a total of 55 electric Stagecoach buses, this includes the original fleet of 49 electric buses and an additional 6 secured through additional funding, which will enable electric buses to be used when the operational fleet is in for service.  About half of the new busses were currently in operation, with driver training ongoing to roll out the remaining fleet.

·                Where AI is used on site already, the carbon emissions are included in the Council’s carbon footprint.  If off-site they are not.  In respect of offsite digital emissions.  Currently all projects should use a tackle climate change impact assessment tool to consider a range of environmental impacts and to build in actions to reduce any negative environmental impacts.  This would include AI projects.   Specifically on AI, the Council’s Redesign Programme Board have initially reviewed the broader environmental impacts of AI and data centres.  As a result of this review, a small group of officers across Procurement, IT and the Climate team will now explore practical actions that can be carried out to reduce the environmental impacts associated to the use of AI across the Council.

·                Officers are exploring how to incorporate decarbonisation of the Council’s supply chain, and subject to approval from Directors, will ask for large value suppliers for specific carbon reduction plans.  This would include suppliers of AI projects.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.       that the Overview and Scrutiny Board note the good progress being made to deliver the Torbay Council Climate Change Action Plan 2024-2026 and that more work will be required to work towards meeting the 2030 net zero carbon council target and the 2050 zero carbon Torbay target; and

2.       Members thanked those for their hard work in delivering the targets within the Torbay Council Climate Change Action Plan and Torbay Climate Partnership’s Greener Way for Our Bay Action Plan.