Scrutiny Review of Climate Change

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Scrutiny Review of Climate Change
We are not alone in needing to make changes to
be bolder, more determined and to investigate
every opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions which
affect climate change. Councillor Emma Dewinton,
Chair

• Nancy Barnard and Chelsea Coleman-Wood
• Overview and Scrutiny Team
• Nottingham City Council

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The Review

• Carried out by the Regeneration and Renewal Panel
  between January and November 2005
• Chaired by Cllr Katrina Bull then Cllr Emma
  Dewinton
• Initially regarded by some as a worthless topic
  for review

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The Review - Witnesses

• All Departments and relevant Members held to
  account
• External organisations including
• EMLGA,
• De Montfort University and
• UK Climate Impacts Programme interviewed
• Representatives of Nottingham Friends of the
  Earth co-opted for the duration of the review
• Visit to sustainable housing development

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Conclusions

• Nottingham had earned a reputation for good
  practice but progress had stalled
• Good practice patchy across departments
• Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change
  needed embedding across the Council
• Profile of climate change and understanding that
  everyone can play a part needed raising

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Recommendations

• Over sixty recommendations made
• Nine recommendations identified as Key
  including
• The adoption of an Environmental Management
  System
• Setting targets to reduce CO2 emissions
• Incorporation into departmental and service plans
• Development of a climate change strategy
• Responsibility for climate change incorporated
  into an Executive Member and a Directors role

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Outcomes Process

• Outcomes are measured through the monitoring
  process
• Use of a response template assists the monitoring
  process. (See handout).
• First response July 2006, Follow up Feb 2007
• Monitoring will continue.
• Continuous input of scrutiny welcomed by the
  Executive and officers on an issue that is far
  reaching and yet new for many local authorities.

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Outcomes Recommendations

• Key recommendations
• Introduction of the Climate Protection Strategy
  Respect for the Climate Two key targets a
  carbon neutral council by 2016, a carbon neutral
  city by 2100
• Commitment to introduce environmental management
  systems across departments and schools.
• Sustainable Development/Climate Change
  responsibility to Portfolio Holder and Corporate
  Lead Officer
• 85 Policy commitments formally adopted and
  service plan focus.
• Increased community engagement on the issue

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Further Outcomes

• The profile of climate change as an important
  issue has been raised
• The Nottingham Declaration on climate change was
  re-launched.
• Partnership working in this area is developing
  LAA, Local businesses
• Meadows Ozone Housing Project successful lottery
  bid
• New package of educational measures targeted at
  schools.

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Lessons from the review.

• The value added impact that overview and scrutiny
  can have on policy development
• Co-opting of stakeholders/experts onto the Panel
  can be very useful
• Recommendations must remain focussed and it must
  be clear who they are addressed to.
• Monitoring review outcomes is a crucial part of
  the scrutiny process otherwise the good work
  could slip