Download Appendix - Lancashire County Council

Appendix ‘A’
An Asssessment of Lancashire County Council’s Carbon Management Activity
1. Introduction
1.1. This assessment has been completed to give the Cabinet Committee an overview of:
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The County Council’s current carbon management performance
The County Council’s performance in context of the national agenda for climate change
The County Councils strengths and areas for improvement
Cross cutting service areas issues
1.2. The assessment has drawn on the ‘Sustainable Energy Bench Mark for Local Authorities’ toolkit which has been
produced by the Beacon Energy Authorities. The suggestions for ‘excellent performance’ were taken from this toolkit.
1.3. The assessment covers all activities that the County Council is engaged in where that information is readily available. It
has fours elements:
 Estate Manager - processes
 Estate Manager - programmes
 Service Provider - Process
 Service Provider - delivery
1.4 The assessment and its results will now be considered by the Climate Change and Environment Officer Group at its
meeting on the 7 September with the recommendation that the Cabinet Committee comments are considered and
appropriate responses to improve performance are developed.
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2. Estate: Process
Element of Approach
Current Performance
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Vision/Strategic Approach
Sustainable energy is identified as an issue to be
considered in estate management and corporate
decision making.
Promoting sustainable energy recognised as a
priority.
Council signed up to Nottingham Declaration
Council adopts a strategic approach that cut across
all aspects of estate management. (building, fleet,
waste)
Clear target date set to achieve energy reductions.
Commitment that some of the money saved through
energy saving will be reinvested for further action
Management Systems &
resources
Climate change & energy issues identified as
element of management processes in some areas.
Energy Team continues to provide specialist service
including: Negotiation of Corporate Procurement for
Energy (typically £9.6M)
 Purchase of “Green Energy” for County
Buildings
 Investigation of “abnormal” consumptions
 Energy surveys and advice to premises
 Operation of “Energy Club” to provide energy
monitoring and targeting
Energy issues integrated into all management
systems across council and linked to a lower carbon
vision
Council signed up to Carbon Trust Carbon
Management Programme.
More than 10 % of energy budget assigned to
energy conservation and ring fenced.
Council provides one staff member to work on
energy per £1 million spend on energy bills.
All savings accrued reinvested in further energy work
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Element of Approach
Management Systems &
resources cont
Political/ Corporate Support
Current Performance
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Building Design Unit provides further Professional
advice through: Planned program of upgrading of Boiler Plant
and Controls
 Maintenance of heating, lighting and
buildings (awarded top Authority in Country)
 Output Specification for major schemes (e.g:
BSF, PFI, etc)
 Sustainable Design Research Group
 Climate Change Working Group in
partnership with Environment Department
 Research into application of Renewable
Technologies
Cabinet Committee on Climate Change established
Commitment supported by a clear action plan and
targets across council estate and through
management from procurement to transport and fleet
management
More than 10 % of energy budget assigned to
energy efficiency
Staff Motivation
unknown
Detailed training provided. Staff made aware of
targets.
Energy Champion reward scheme established for
energy savings.
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3. Estate: Policy and Programmes
Element Of Approach
Carbon
programme
Current Performance
management
Buildings (including schools)
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Strategies and actions planned in a Carbon
Management Programme, delivering saving and
sustained programme of activity
Substantial savings in energy use have been
achieved since 1979. Property group are
undertaking further analysis of buildings energy use
to implement the “Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive” and the “Carbon Reduction Commitment”
emissions trading scheme.
Clear prioritisation of energy efficiency investments
and strong focus on energy performance
Use energy performance directive to highlight energy
performance among staff. Link to staff awareness
strategy.
County Hall, East Cliff offices and Winckley House in
Preston are also powered by renewable electricity.
Most of the energy used by the Council is in schools;
the Council has been supporting energy-saving
measures in schools for many years through the
schools energy club.
Several schools (Wellfield High School, Ashton
Science College and Longridge High School) have
recently installed wind turbines to generate some of
the electricity they need on site. The new secondary
schools in Burnley and Pendle, built as part of the
Building Schools for the Future programme, will
incorporate a wide range of renewable energy
technologies and efficiency measures to a high
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Element Of Approach
Current Performance
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
environmental standard.
Fleet
43% of the county council diesel is a
95%ULSD/5%biodiesel blend (since 1/7/07).
Seeking to have “red diesel” supplies on similar
blend by 31/3/08. Approx. 80% vehicle fuel is used
by LCES
Most of the remaining fleet fills up at retail filling
stations so it is not possible for these to use the bio
diesel blend.
Procurement
(energy, Green purchasing policy which needs updating in
equipment , buildings and line with Procuring the Future (UK Government
refurbishment)
sustainable procurement action plan)
Strong green fleet management policy covering fleet
and company cars.
Driver training and incentives for improvements
Alternative fuels and CO2 limits on company cars
considered.
Hard targets and standards in tenders
Training staff with procurement responsibilities
Staff travel
Street lighting
Travel plan looking a commuting and business.
Broad travel plan including visitors.
Car sharing scheme
Work with unions to revise financial incentives.
The last staff travel survey (April 2006) suggests that
less than half of staff travel to work by car on their
own.
Target 15 % reduction in overall car use.
All electricity currently from green (renewable)
sources
Hard targets set in procurement standards
Lancashire County Council was the first streetlighting authority to become energy efficiency-
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Element Of Approach
Current Performance
Street lighting cont
accredited in 1999. We are on track to reduce the
average wattage installed in street-lights by 20% by
2010 (from a 1990 baseline).
Average wattage installed reduced by 20% between
1990 and 2010 (on track). Due to additional lighting
(e.g. from road building) energy load increasing at
1% per annum
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Street lighting is likely to be included in carbon
reduction commitment emissions trading scheme
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4. Service Provider: Process
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Elements of Approach
Current Performance
Corporate Strategy
Climate Change is part of Ambition Lancashire, As current but with target dates for the integration
Lancashire Environment Strategy, Local Transport into services
Plan, Emergency Planning, Internal Environment
Management Plan.
Climate Change Strategy
Lancashire Climate Change Strategy is currently
being developed with key partners and will be
launched in January 2008
Set ambitious targets e.g. 60% cut in emissions by
2050.
LCC are signatory to Nottingham Declaration and
Councils for Climate Protection
Service Plans Strategy
A programme of work is being developed that will
enable service managers to review their own
services in the following areas;
 contribution to reducing carbon emissions
 and adaptation to climate change
 and then to identify areas for innovation and
improvement. This will be initiated by an
Environment Directorate senior managers
seminar
 Toolkit to be piloted in the Environment
Directorate with subsequent roll out for other
Directorates
Clear targets and timescale set for review of
service plans.
Political/Corporate support
LCC responded to national activity by making a
major £1.85m investment to tackle climate change.
Commitment supported by clear action plan and
targets for each service
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Elements of Approach
Current Performance
What ‘Excellent’ Looks Like
Cabinet committee on climate change established
Officer Climate Change Group established
Local Public Service
Agreement
Staff motivation/knowledge
LPSA includes a separate outcome on sustainable
energy or a related theme such as climate change.
unknown
Training provided to all staff. Staff made aware of
importance of reaching targets
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5. Service Provider: Delivery
Elements of Approach
Current Performance
What Excellent Look Like
Planning and Transport
Positive planning policy and some positive planning
for renewables
Common planning and enforcement policy
developed in partnership with neighbouring
authorities and agencies.
In early stages of developing a Spatial Climate
Change Policy
Local Transport plan contains proactive policies on
climate change. Strong policy position on transport
with linkage to transport hubs and development.
The CIVITAS Initiative helping to achieve a more
sustainable, clean and energy efficient urban
transport system by implementing and evaluating an
ambitious, integrated set of technology and policy
based measures.
Economic Development
LCDL focus on opportunities to improve business
efficiency through energy efficiency. Active
encouragement for development of clean
technologies
Core focus to secure high sustainable energy
standards in projects and activities.
Education
Several schools (Wellfield High School, Ashton
Science College and Longridge High School) have
recently installed wind turbines to generate some of
the electricity they need on site. The new secondary
schools in Burnley and Pendle, built as part of the
Building Schools for the Future programme, will
incorporate a wide range of renewable energy
Resourced programme for schools energy
education
Encouragement for head teachers. Whole school
approach to energy management. Clear energy
strategies and action plans
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Elements of Approach
Education cont.
Current Performance
What Excellent Look Like
technologies and efficiency measures to a high
environmental standard.
Energy Club provides energy information
management and advice on water related issues
Education programmes through schools increase
awareness and understanding of issue both to
children, their families and to the wider community
Waste management
Waste management – target to divert 80% of waste
from landfill by 2016. Lancashire County Council is
recognised as a centre of excellence for waste
management in the UK.
As current situation
Community Leadership
Current activity:
 LCC was a key partner in the CLAREN project,
CLAREN increased the uptake of renewable
through the promotion and facilitation of
community based renewable energy projects in
Cumbria and Lancashire. Currently exploring a
replacement model for Claren.
 A number of projects supported by the Forest of
Bowland Sustainable Development Fund in
2005/06 were community renewable energy
projects. These included: a ground source heat
pump at Over Wyresdale Parish Hall;
photovoltaics at Barley Village Hall; and a wood
pellet boiler at Bleasdale Parish Hall.
Planned activity:
 A fund is to made available to Lancashire Local
committees to implement Climate Change
Projects.
 Lancashire carbon-offsetting scheme
Active consultation with local community
Climate Change identified as a priority issue within
the Community Strategy.
Target of 12.5% cut in Community CO2 by 2012.
LAA sets demanding targets
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Elements of Approach
Current Performance
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Community Leadership cont.
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What Excellent Look Like
Branding Lancashire’s Climate Change
Campaign - A high-profile campaign across
Lancashire to drive action on climate change.
The campaign will bring together local councils,
businesses, the voluntary sector and individuals
to make Lancashire among Britain's cleanest and
greenest counties.
Climate Change Conference. A major
conference on how shire areas can mitigate and
adapt to climate change will be hosted by
Lancashire County Council.
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