Issue - meetings

Cabinet is asked to consider a series of recommendations resulting from the work of the Climate Adaptation Task and Finish Group.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Councillor Heather Timms

That Cabinet:

1)              Adopts the Met Office’s UK Climate Projections as the basis of Warwickshire County Council’s expectation of the climate in 2050 and plans to this effect.

2)       Provide clear direction through the Council Plan 2020-2025 detailing actions that will be taken to prepare Warwickshire for the change in climate to come.

3)       Includes the impact of projected climate change in the assessment criteria for prioritising options and schemes that come forward for capital investment, which will prepare Warwickshire for the 2050 projected climate.

4)       Produces an updated Climate Impact Assessment for Warwickshire assessing the economic and social impact of the expected changes in climate on key areas of the Council’s responsibility and quantifying the costs of investment against the costs of inaction.

5)       Establishes a standing group comprised of members from all political groups and officers, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Heritage & Culture to advance work on climate change adaptation.

i)         That the standing group uses the themes identified in this report to develop an action plan within six months setting out the activity to be undertaken by the County Council in the short, medium and long term.

ii)        That consideration be given to the establishment of a dedicated resource to coordinate climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

In introducing this report Councillor Heather Timms (Portfolio Holder for Environment and Heritage & Culture) thanked members and officers for their work on the task and finish exercise and for inviting her to input into it. Councillor Jenny Fradgley (Chair of the task and finish group) explained the background to the work beginning with the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in July 2019.

Looking to the future Councillor Fradgley anticipated the establishment of a cross-party working group to consider climate change and climate adaptation. Councillor Timms proposed an amendment to the published recommendations with the removal of points i and ii from number 5. This was agreed.

Resolved

That Cabinet:

1)            Adopts the Met Office’s UK Climate Projections as the basis of Warwickshire County Council’s expectation of the climate in 2050 and plans to this effect.

2)         Provide clear direction through the Council Plan 2020-2025 detailing actions that will be taken to prepare Warwickshire for the change in climate to come.

3)         Includes the impact of projected climate change in the assessment criteria for prioritising options and schemes that come forward for capital investment, which will prepare Warwickshire for the 2050 projected climate.

4)         Produces an updated Climate Impact Assessment for Warwickshire assessing the economic and social impact of the expected changes in climate on key areas of the Council’s responsibility and quantifying the costs of investment against the costs of inaction.

5)         Establishes a standing group comprised of members from all political groups and officers, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Heritage & Culture to advance work on climate change adaptation.

i)          That the standing group uses the themes identified in this report to develop an action plan within six months setting out the activity to be undertaken by the County Council in the short, medium and long term.

ii)         That consideration be given to the establishment of a dedicated resource to coordinate climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.