Download Craven District Council Climate Change Strategy And Climate Local

Craven District
Council
Climate Change
Strategy
And Climate Local
Commitments
2013 – 2016
www.cravendc.gov.uk
Foreword
Our climate is changing and Craven District Council is committed to prepare for these
changes. Like many global problems action at a local level, no matter how small, is vitally
important. Tackling climate change is recognised as a major issue as it will continually
effect; people, places, economies, society and the environment.
For this reason, the Government sees local authorities playing a lead exemplar role in
tackling climate change. The government passed a Climate Change Bill making its 80%
CO2 emissions reduction target by 2050 legally binding. Craven District Council agrees
with the Independent Committee on Climate Change May 2012 report which stated ‘A
failure to secure reductions across the areas where local authorities have significant
influence would leave emissions above levels required to meet the climate change Bill’.
This strategy focuses on how Craven District Council is committed to reducing its own and
the Districts Carbon Emissions and assisting communities to adapt to weather extremes
that impact on their lives.
The strategy builds on the 2009 version which to introduced how Craven District Council
was going to start reducing its impact on Climate Change. This document demonstrates
the council’s commitment to continually reduce its impacts on climate change by taking
lessons learnt over the past three years and developing viable and realistic actions that
further reduce and prepare the district for the future.
Craven District Council signed the Nottingham Declaration in November 2007 and since
then has continually followed its obligation. The Nottingham Declaration has now been
transformed into the Local Government Association Climate Local initiative which is
designed to drive, inspire and support council action on carbon reduction and climate
resilience. By creating this document and its climate local commitments Craven District
Council will sign up (see Appendix B) to be a Climate Local Council and continue to work
on Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience.
Overall action on climate change will benefit every individual who lives, works and visits
the District.
Paul Shevlin
Chief Executive
Craven District Council
Councillor Carl Lis
Lead Member for the Environment
Craven District Council
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Contents Page
Page
Section
Page 3
Introduction
Craven District Council is committed to tackling climate change and the risks associated
with minimising the impact that it will have on Craven and the Council.
This strategy builds on the previous strategy and action plan, by focusing our
commitments to comply with the new Local Government Associations Climate Local
Initiative and to concentrate resources on viable and succinct actions that achieve the
paramount outcome.
The strategy sets out how the climate is impacting on Craven in the past, currently and in
the future and also how Craven District Council Services are doing their parts to tackle the
impacts of Climate Change. Finally the strategy covers Craven communities and actions to
be carried out over the future to adapt climate change, because if everyone changed one
thing then Craven would be closer to reducing its impact on climate change.
Climate Local Council
Climate Local is a Local Government Association (LGA) initiative to drive, inspire and
support council action on a changing climate. The initiative supports councils’ efforts both
to reduce carbon emissions and also to improve their resilience to the affects of our
changing climate and extreme weather.
By Craven District Council signing up to the commitment we will participate and receive
the following;
· Signing a Climate Local Commitment which demonstrates we are addressing climate
change and challenging ourselves to build on our existing climate change related
achievements
· Provide an annual update to demonstrate performance against our climate local
commitments.
· The LGA provides additional resources and support via a new web-based resource,
online communities and opportunities for peer learning.
Climate Change in Craven
Weathering the storm was produced in 2009 to illustrate how the climate could impact on
the Yorkshire and Humber region. The table below illustrates the headline figures quoted
for Craven.
.
Future Climatic condition
Increased summer
temperature
Decreased summer rainfall
Increased winter temperature
Increased winter rainfall
Increased storminess
Increased rainfall intensity
Rising sea level
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2020
+ 1.3°C
2050
+ 2.3°C
2080
+ 3.3°C
- 8%
- 19%
- 23%
+ 1.3°C + 1.9°C
+ 2.9°C
+ 4%
+ 11%
+ 15%
Increase over time
Increase over time
22cm by 2050, 36cm by
2080*
Source: Weathering the storm: Yorkshire and Humber regional adaptation study,
2009
*UK Climate Change Projections 2009
Since the first Craven District Council climate change strategy was produced in 2009,
external regional funding was sourced to fund an exercise called a Local Climate Impact
Profile (LCLIP) which looks at extreme weather episodes over approximately a 10 year
period and this profile found the following;

The most common current extreme weather events in Craven are snow/blizzards
(60% of the total climate profile) and heavy rainfall resulting in surface water and
pluvial flooding (29% of the total climate profile).

Smaller communities and rural areas suffered the majority of impacts due to roads
having been closed by floods and snow with over 90% of the impacts from snow
events were in rural areas

A single period of increased temperature was recorded in July 2006. Temperatures
exceeded 32⁰C which increased the number of call outs by the Ambulance service
and increased the Fire Severity Index, with Fire and Rescue services called to
moorland fires.
Although much guidance focuses on the negative impact of climate change, the district
could benefit from a longer growing season, increased crop yields, agricultural
diversification and increased tourism.
Craven District Council Current Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact Craven District Councils activities have on
the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse
gases produced in our day-to-day activities. For example the burning of fossil fuels for
generating electricity or producing heat.
Craven District Councils Carbon footprint for 2011/12 was XXXX tonnes of CO2 e and the
council has set a target of a 2% reduction per year until March 2016. This sits in line with
the Independent Committee on Climate Change May 2012 report that recommended that
there is a statutory duty for all local authorities develop and implement low carbon plans
(achieving an annual reduction of 2%) to enable the Department for Energy and Climate
Change to meet its Carbon Budgets and its legally binding Climate Change Bill target of
80% reduction by 2050.
Craven District Council is currently under the minimum criteria for the Department for
Energy and Climate Change Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme
which is a mandatory scheme aimed at improving energy efficiency and cutting emissions
in large public and private sector organisations. Although we do not meet the current
criteria we are ensuring that we continually improve our energy efficiency and Carbon
Reduction to ensure a smoother transition on to the scheme if anything changes in the
future.
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Craven Districts Current Carbon Footprint
Recently the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published Craven
Districts Carbon footprint for 2010. This is 445.2 kt of CO2 emitted in 2010, compared with
493.6 kt of CO2 emitted in 2005 and per capita emissions has reduced from 9.0 t to 8.0t
which is over an 11% reduction. Craven District Council is committed to reducing this
further and the climate local commitments reflect this vision.
Climate Change Strategy Vision
Craven District Council is committed to reducing Carbon both operationally and in the
community it serves through viable means as well as preparing for the projected changes
to the climate.
This strategy illustrates the type of work Craven District Council is committed to carry out
to maintain the vision.
Climate Change Strategy Objectives
III.
I.
Sustainable Development; Assist in meeting Craven District Councils vision as a
prosperous place by working in key areas, which include: Planning
 Flooding
 Biodiversity
II.
Managing Direct Emissions; Assists Craven District Council in meeting the
reducing Carbon corporate priorities by effective managing and improving (where
viable) the following key areas: Energy Management
 Renewable Energy
 Water Management
 Waste Management
 Transport
Empowering Communities; Assisting Craven District Council empower communities
and enterprise businesses to tackle the positive and negative impacts of climate
change: Housing/ domestic
 Businesses
 Adaptation
Sustainable Development - Planning
The planning system is the most powerful tool local authorities have for ensuring
development will be sustainable in a changing climate. Craven’s district is quite complex
as there are two planning authorities (Craven District Council and Yorkshire Dales National
Park Authority) that operate within the district boundaries (See Figure 3).
The way in which developments are regulated, planned and built and the way in which
resources are used to do this, can determine whether or not they are sustainable. Simply
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by re-evaluating how and where we construct we can reduce emissions and adapt to some
of the impacts of climate change.
Over the duration of this strategy the Building Regulations and building control who
enforce how structures can be constructed is evolving rapidly in terms of reducing carbon
and increasing energy efficiency as domestic dwellings will be built to code for sustainable
homes level 6 (zero Carbon emission properties) by 2016, followed by zero carbon non
domestic properties in 2019.
Therefore due to the tiered introduction of these strict regulations throughout the duration
of the strategy this will ensure that properties constructed in the future will have a lower
impact on climate change in Craven.
Figure 3 Map of the District
Dark Green – Yorkshire Dales National Park Planning Authority
Light Green – Craven District Council Planning Authority
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Sustainable Development – Flooding
Sir Michael Pitt (2007) stated local authorities (North Yorkshire County Council Emergency
Planning team and Craven District Council) should lead on the management of local flood
risk, with the support of relevant organisations. Which include the environment Agency,
Utility Companies, Airedale Drainage Commissioners, Landowners and Riparian owners
have duties and roles to play in preventing flooding. Below is a summary of these duties
and roles.
Craven District Council – Environmental Protection team investigates drainage problems
relating to commercial and private properties and can require the unblocking of drains and
sewers under Public Health legislation and also provides advice for members of the public.
With the assistance of North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) Emergency Planning Unit,
Environmental Health continues to respond to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and
relevant guidance, including the Pitt Review in planning for all emergencies including
flooding. In conjunction with NYCC Emergency Planning Unit and the Police, we would
open rest centres in the event of a flooding incident necessitating the evacuation of
residents.
Forty flooding hotspots throughout Craven are inspected by Environmental Protection staff
every month. Debris is removed and any problem watercourses are added to the
inspection list which has been successful in reducing future localised flooding.
Sandbag stocks are maintained at Craven District Council depot on Engine Shed lane and
Settle Coal depot. As an alternative to delivering sandbags during flooding, we now have
community sandbag stores at; Sutton, Bentham, Bradley, Consitone with Kilnsey,
Gargrave and Ingleton. More stores are currently being sourced.
The Planning Authority is responsible for ensuring that all new developments are not
subject to flooding and should consult the Environment Agency and Environmental Health
about the suitability of sites. All new developments should be required to have no
additional burden on the existing surface drainage system in accordance with the
Governments code of practice on sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).
The Craven Multi Agency Flood Plan is a government requirement for all local authority
areas, setting out what each organisation will do during a flood event. Craven District
Council has an approved plan that aims to identify areas at risk of flooding and outline the
policies and procedures which enable the emergency services and supporting agencies to
manage river and surface/ground water flooding within the Craven District area.
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) - As the Highway Authority, NYCC has duties
to deal with flooding on roads, maintains the road drainage system and clears blocked
road gullies.
The County Council has been given the new role of lead local flood authority by the Water
Management Bill and the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 to create local flood risk
management strategies and carry out other responsibilities (referred to in the report.)
The County Council now acts as the Land Drainage Authority using powers under the
Land Drainage Act 1991. This was formally a Craven District Council function until 2011,
and requires the owners of watercourses and culverts to keep them free flowing.
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Yorkshire Water and United Utilities - The Sewerage undertakers have responsibility for
public sewers and for dealing with blockages and carrying out repairs and improvements.
In the north of Craven this is United Utilities and in Skipton and the South, this is Yorkshire
Water.
The Environment Agency - The main river systems throughout Craven are under the
jurisdiction of the Environment Agency, a government body that deals with a range of
water management and quality issues. They carry out enforcement, maintenance and
improvement works and have been instrumental in tackling the causes of the previous
disastrous floods in Skipton 25 years ago.
The Environment Agency has emergency plans in place to deal with flooding. They have
set up river monitoring and early warning systems around Craven based on triggers from
level recorders on rivers, including Skipton town centre where there are level recorders
near Morrisons, the Haw Beck/Waller Hill Beck level station and near the Fisher medical
centre.
The Environment Agency has a Flood Warning Plan whereby they notify both professional
partners and local residents about potential flooding. They issue flood warnings via out of
hours numbers to Environmental Health, to the general public through the media and also
directly by phone to residents who have signed up to the early warning system (in flood
risk areas).
A Craven multi agency flood plan is to be developed in 2009 which will be produced
together by the Professional Partners, co-ordinated by the Environment Agency.
The Airedale Drainage Commissioners - Look after specific watercourses and ditches
on behalf of its members around the River Aire in the south of Craven.
Landowners/ Riparian owners - The owner of any watercourse is responsible for its
upkeep. This may be the landowner on whose land the watercourse or culvert flows, or it
can the owner of the land either side, ie the Riparian owner. These landowners do not
have a duty to carry out improvements.
Sustainable Development - Biodiversity
The changing climate is impacting on UK ecosystems and this impact is expected to
increase and accelerate in future, threatening the conservation of biodiversity. Without
plants and animals we would not be able to survive e.g. pollination of crops by bees. The
success of each species is essential to the health and well being of the whole planet, if
species are destroyed having taken millions of years to evolve.
The UK Government pledged to take action and as a result the UKBAP was published.
The UKBAP was published to maintain and enhance Biodiversity and guides local
government to publish a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). The Craven LBAP
(http://www.ukbap.org.uk/lbap.aspx?id=535) identified that there are 19 UKBAP priorities
in the district and 11 habitats of conservation concern. The LBAP also identified 53
species that are considered to be under threat locally.
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The Craven Local Biodiversity Action Plan is due to be updated in 2012. The update will
be led by North Yorkshire County Council and it is currently unclear what format this
update will take, or when it is likely to happen. Craven will continue to use the 2005 Local
BAP until an updated version is available.
The Council will continue to have a regard for the conservation of biodiversity when
carrying out its various functions, as is required by the NERC Act (2006). Within the
planning department, policies will be written into the new Local Development Plan to
protect and enhance biodiversity, and ecological surveys will be required to accompany
planning applications on sites where development is likely to have an impact on
biodiversity.
Craven District is fortunate to have a National Park within its boundaries and the Yorkshire
Dales National Park has its own LBAP. These two LBAPs provide a comprehensive
assessment of the varieties of species within the District and highlights area where work
needs to be undertaken to preserve/ enhance environments. Within Craven there are a
total of 112 (15 in Craven and 97 within the Yorkshire Dales Boundaries) Sites of Special
Scientific Interests (SSSI’s). The Forest of Bowland to the East of Craven is another area
of natural beauty which is threatened by climate change. This unique area of natural
beauty needs preserving and protecting from the impacts of climate change in the future
and all the organisations that are responsible for protecting this rural landscape need to
co-ordinate their activities to optimise their effectiveness in reducing the impacts of climate
change.
Managing Direct Emissions - Energy Management
Energy is critical to our everyday lives and how the council operates. We often take it for
granted that electricity is available 365 days a year, but in the near future energy security
could inhibit how the council can operate it services and how communities could survive
with black outs or power shortages. The Department for Energy and Climate Change is
currently trying to seek solutions to energy security in Britain but the council can play its
part by reducing the amount it uses or requires by managing its resources effectively using
the elements of the energy hierarchy (demand reduction and energy efficiency).
Craven District Council is committed to reducing energy from its operations and has put a
target of XXXXXXXXXXXXXX and will implement a basic Carbon Management Plan to
ensure all viable options/ solutions are explored/ installed to maintain or reduce our future
energy use. This commitment replaces the energy management policy that was agreed at
Craven District Council Policy Committee in 19th January 2011.
Managing Direct Emissions - Renewable Energy
Since the launch of the climate change strategy in 2009 the renewable energy sector has
evolved rapidly as the Government is working towards achieving its own and European
targets and ensuring renewable technologies assist with the ever increasing energy
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demand and the decreasing old energy generation technologies (e.g. Coal fired power
stations).
In 2010 the Government launched the Feed In Tariff (FIT) which rewards approved
installations of electricity generating technologies with a set tariff over a set period plus
other incentives of free electricity and export tariffs. Since 2010 the tariff have been
amended for some renewable technologies but is still in place to stimulate growth,
business and opportunities in the renewable energy technologies sector. For more
information regarding the FIT visit the Department for Energy and Climate Change
Website.
As well as the launch of the Feed In Tariff the Government has extensively consulted and
investigated rewarding residents and businesses that install renewable heat technologies.
This scheme is called the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and is currently available for
the commercial sector and the Department for Energy and Climate Change hope to roll out
the domestic RHI in the summer of 2013. The RHI will enable residents and businesses in
Craven to install accredited renewable heat technologies and receive payments per kW of
heat produced which will reduce the payback time. For more information on the
Renewable Heat Incentive please visit the Department for Energy and Climate Change
website.
Another Government initiative that is due to be launched in 2012/13 is the green deal
which includes renewable heat technologies. The green deal will basically involve a
building being assessed for energy efficiency and renewable heat solutions and this will be
provided in report format to the Craven resident or business. As long as the solution/s
meet the criteria of the green deal they can then choose a green deal provider to install the
solution and the equipment will be taken from the savings achieved in the buildings
energy/ fuel bills. As mentioned this scheme is not available until after the strategy is
launched and the details are still to be agreed Nationally. Please visit Craven District
Councils website in 2013 for more information regarding the green deal.
Craven District Council used the Craven Residents feedback panel in November 2011 to
understand the resident’s views on renewable energy technologies being installed in
Craven. The survey highlighted the following information;

96% of returned resident’s feedback surveys indicated that renewable energy
technologies are required to meet the ever increasing energy demand in the UK.

50% of the returned resident’s feedback surveys stated that they had investigated
installing some form of renewable technology on or within their properties.

Finally in November 2011 54% of the returned residents feedback surveys stated
the preventing factor of installing the technologies is the upfront capital expenditure
even with the Government incentive schemes in place to reduce the paybacks of
renewable energy technologies.
Another study that was conducted by AECOM was launched in March 2011 to examine
the potential for renewables in Yorkshire and Humber. This study highlights that Craven
has the most potential in Yorkshire and Humber to produce electricity from hydro electric
power. Please see the FIGURE XX below for potential figures for Craven.
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CRAVEN
Potential
Current Current
Resource
Capacity Capacity
- Heat
(MW)
(GWh's)
(MW)
Commercial Wind
Small Scale Wind
Hydro
Solar Photovoltaic
Solar Hot Water
Air Source Heat
Pumps
Ground Source Heat
Pumps
Biomass (woodfuel)
Potential
resource electricity
(MW)
Potential
resource
(GWh's)
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
36
1
5
2
0
95
1
18
2
2
0
0
6
0
9
0
0
4
0
7
0
1
7
0
18
Figure XX – Current capacity and renewable energy resource in Craven. AECOM’s - Local
Carbon and renewable energy capacity in Yorkshire and Humber study, March 2011
Managing Direct Emissions - Water Management
The average household in England and Wales uses 150 litres/person/day (enough water
for more than 500 cups of tea). On average Yorkshire Water supplies Yorkshire with 1.2
billion Litres of fresh treated water every day. The provision and removal of water to
domestic and non domestic properties uses a significant amount of energy. About 2% of
total energy used in the UK is used to treat water. This highlights how much we are
dependent upon energy and this level of use is not sustainable in the long-term. The
Government target for consumption of water is 130 litres/person/day by 2030.
Craven District Council recognises that water management is a necessity and is a high
Carbon emitting process and therefore introduced a water management policy (see
appendix C) on 19th January 2011 which demonstrates our commitments to tackle the
council’s operational water consumption.
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Managing Direct Emissions - Waste Management
In the UK over 290 million tonnes of rubbish is generated every year, with the average
residual waste per person in England being 263 kg per year. In 2010/11 50% residual
waste collected by local authorities went to landfill sites, which are fast filling up, and
combined with the resulting greenhouse gases they create, the disposal methods of waste
needs re-evaluating. Reducing the amount of waste going to landfill not only reduces the
production of methane, it is also very important because if we do not recycle we are using
up the world's valuable resources, many of which cannot be replaced. The waste strategy
for the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership, of which Craven District Council is a
partner, is to encourage waste minimisation, increase recycling and composting and to
divert the remaining waste away from landfill by investing in alternative waste treatment
technologies
Maximising home composting is a good way Craven Residents can reduce their impact on
climate change as it reduces the need to travel to household recycling centres and
provides a good resource to put back on residents gardens in the future, therefore
reducing the need to travel and/ or using fertiliser (which is a carbon intensive production
process).
Managing Direct Emissions - Transport
Transport carbon emissions per capita in 2010 contributed to 32.5% of Craven Districts
Carbon Footprint.
Emissions from vehicles account for a significant proportion of CO2 equivalent emissions
but emerging Government strategies and new technologies should enable us to tackle this
issue and make transport greener.
Within Craven District Council’s fleet we are continually searching for solutions to reduce
fuel usage and mileage and this will continue to aid in reaching our annual operational
reduction in Carbon Emission.
Locally transport is the most difficult area to address in terms of climate change. This is
because mobility is so central to life in rural communities. North Yorkshire County Council
has tried to address some of these issues in the Local Transport Plan 3 (2011 – 2016)
please refer to the North Yorkshire County Council website for more details on plan.
Empowering Communities – Housing
Domestic carbon emissions per capita in 2010 contributed to 33.75% of Craven Districts
Carbon Footprint.
During the writing of this strategy this a large shift/ transition from energy companies
Carbon tax funded energy efficiency schemes (through CERT and CESP) to a more
privately financed energy efficiency schemes like Green Deal and ECO.
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It is difficult to give further information at present as the Department for energy and climate
change is still consulting on elements and the future of all the different schemes is
uncertain as to when the officially terminate and commence.
Overall there is energy efficiency and Carbon Saving scheme available for the majority of
households in Craven and please contact the council for further information.
As well as energy efficiency the Government have introduced two other schemes that
focus on producing renewable forms of electricity (Feed In Tariff) and heat (Renewable
Heat Incentive). The Feed In Tariff (FIT) has been available since April 2010 and has
evolved since, but the basis is if a domestic property installs an accredited renewable
electricity generating technology they will receive the free electricity generated, an export
tariff and a set tariff for each kWh produced. The Department for Energy and Climate
Change is currently consulting on the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), but
basically a household that installs an accredited renewable heat technology will receive a
set tariff for every kW of heat produced by the accredited equipment. Please consult the
Department for Energy and Climate Change website for further information regarding both
the FIT’s and RHI.
During 2012 the Department for Energy and Climate Change has been working on
updating/ amending the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995, to get Local
Authorities to report every other March (starting in March 2013) on what activities have
taken places to improve energy efficiency in Cravens housing and monitor how Craven
District Council is performing at trying to encourage residents to improve the energy
efficiency and Carbon Reduction by predominately using the financial mechanism listed
above to assist with implementing the different solutions to households in Craven.
Empowering Communities - Businesses
Businesses carbon emissions in 2010 contributed to 33.75% of Craven Districts Carbon
Footprint.
A Department for Energy and Climate Change report launched in May 2012 titled
‘Capturing the full electricity efficiency potential in the UK’ revealed that Britain is missing a
large opportunity for electricity savings in the commercial sector revealing that the largest
potential electricity savings remain in the non-residential sectors.
Therefore after a successful pilot of sustainability audits for core funded organisations
within Craven, Craven District Council will work with Economic Development to pilot a
Carbon Reduction Survey to highlight to businesses in Craven this opportunity to reduce
electricity and/ or potentially generate renewable sources of heat and/ or electricity.
Although there does not seem to be opportunities for all businesses in Craven to reduce
their Carbon Footprint and increase their energy efficiency many of the schemes that are
mentioned in the domestic section above apply to the business sector as well. For
example the Green Deal is going to be available to the commercial sector and the RHI and
FIT are already available to businesses in Craven.
Another option to drive efficiencies in the work place is to set up an environmental
management system which will ensure your business continually improves its
environmental performance and there are many different system in the market place from
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Investors in the Environment to ISO 14001. For Example Investors in the Environment
offers three levels of accreditation which mean offers something to suit every
business each level is designed to provide you with a manageable route to greater
efficiency, cost savings and reduce your impact on the environment.
Empowering Communities - Adaptation
Adaptation is the response made to the effects of climate change, in particular to planned
responses aimed at minimising the threats and maximising the opportunities of a changing
climate.
The effects of climate change can already be seen in our everyday lives. During the last 40
years, the UK's winters are warming, with heavier bursts of rain. The summers are drier
and hotter. Much of the UK is experiencing extreme climates more associated with our
European neighbours. Figure XXXX demonstrates what the UK Climate Impact
Programme projects could happen to the weather in the future. This highlights the reasons
why adaptation is so important for tackling the impacts of climate change. For example
winter precipitation is projected to increase by up 20% if this correct the incidents
associated with pluvial and surface water flooding will increase and this is the reasoning to
assist with setting up community/ parish resilience plans to ensure communities adapt to
the increasing levels of winter precipitation. This is also the reasoning to promote the
Environment Agency Flood Alert service as this is underutilised throughout Craven.
Humans must adapt to survive. Therefore we all need to understand how climate change
is going to impact us locally, what risks it poses and what we can do to prevent or reduce
the consequences.
As an example, the increase of extreme rainfall deluges lead to frequently burst river
banks and flash surface water floods. The floods experienced in Craven in 2008 led to the
first severe flooding warning being issued on Eller Beck. It is therefore important that we
take steps to adapt to these weather extremes within the Craven District.
Figure XXXX UKCP09 Predictions for Craven District Council
UKCIP (UK Climate Impacts Programme) conducted a piece of work in 2009 to project
how the climate may change in 2020, 2050 and 2080 and below shows how they project
the weather could change over the next 70 years in Craven.
2020 Yorkshire and Humber Climate Projections






The estimate of increase in winter mean temperature is 1.3ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean temperature is between 1.3 - 1.4ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily maximum temperature is 1.7 1.8ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily minimum temperature is 1.5ºC.
The estimate of change in winter mean precipitation is 5%.
The estimate of change in summer mean precipitation is –6% - -5%.
2050 Yorkshire and Humber Climate Projections
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





The estimate of increase in winter mean temperature is 1.9ºC - 2.5ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean temperature is 2.2ºC - 2.6ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily maximum temperature is 2.9ºC 3.5ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily minimum temperature is 2.4ºC 2.9ºC.
The estimate of change in winter mean precipitation is 9% - 12%.
The estimate of change in summer mean precipitation is –15% - –18%.
2080 Yorkshire and Humber Climate Projections






The estimate of increase in winter mean temperature is 2.5ºC - 3.6ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean temperature is 2.5ºC - 4.2ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily maximum temperature is 3.4ºC 5.6ºC.
The estimate of increase in summer mean daily minimum temperature is 2.8ºC 4.7ºC.
The estimate of change in winter mean precipitation is 12% - 20%.
The estimate of change in summer mean precipitation is –17% - –28%.
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Further Information
Craig Wilson
Craven District Council’s Asset Efficiency and
Compliance Officer
01756 706311
[email protected]
If you need this document in an alternative format or language please contact us:
Craven District Council
1 Belle Vue Square
Broughton Road
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 1FJ
Tel: 01756 700600
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cravendc.gov.uk
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www.cravendc.gov.uk
APPENDIX A – CLIMATE LOCAL COMMITMENTS
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APPENDIX B – CLIMATE LOCAL COMMITMENT
Climate Local Craven District Council:
Our commitment to taking action in a changing climate
Craven District Council recognises that our council has an important role to help our
residents and businesses to capture the opportunities and benefits of action on climate
change. These include saving money on energy bills, generating income from renewable
energy, attracting new jobs and investment in ‘green’ industries, supporting new sources of
energy, managing local flood-risk and water scarcity and protecting our natural
environment.
Craven District Council will progressively address the risks and pursue the
opportunities presented by a changing climate, in line with local priorities, through
our role as:
Community leader – helping local people and businesses to be smarter about
their energy use and to prepare for climate impacts;
Service provider – delivering services that are resource efficient, less carbon
intensive, resilient and that protect those who are most vulnerable to climate
impacts;
Estate manager – ensuring that our own buildings and operations are resource
efficient, use clean energy, and are well prepared for the impacts of a changing
climate.
In signing this commitment, Craven District Council will:
Set locally owned and determined commitments and actions to reduce
carbon emissions and to manage climate impacts (which will be specific,
measurable and challenging)
Publish our commitments, actions and progress, enabling local communities
to hold us to account
Share the learning from our experiences and achievements with other
councils
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Regularly refresh our commitments and actions to ensure they are current and
continue to reflect local priorities.
Signed –
Date – 19/11/2012
Councillor Chris Knowles-Fitton (Leader of Craven District Council)
APPENDIX C – WATER MANAGEMENT POLICY (Approved at Policy Committee on
19/01/2011)
Craven District Council’s Water Management Policy 2011 – 2014
Statement of Commitment
Craven District Council is committed to the effective management of water, as a corporate resource,
with the express intention of making the Council more cost effective and efficient and contributing
to the conservation of the natural environment.
Craven District Council will pursue efficiency in the management of water within our facilities by: Carrying out physical improvements which reduce water usage and disposal.
 Ensuring that our staff understand the financial and environmental reasons for using water
efficiently.
 Monitoring consumption and setting targets for reducing the amount of water we use.
Objectives
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Minimise expenditure on water bills and unnecessary water loss by reducing water
consumption in all current new build or refurbished council facilities
Promote conservation of water amongst council employees
Install cost effective water saving devices in council owned properties
Include cost effective water saving devices as part of all future building refurbishment and
new build programmes under our ownership.
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
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Create and maintain a high profile for Water Management within the Council
Specify water efficient design when planning and building of new facilities
Procure water efficient plant and equipment.
Monitor water consumption to minimise usage and identify high consumption
Consider the use of rainwater harvesting and grey water systems wherever practicable.
Target Setting
Regular monitoring will commence during 2011 to collect an accurate baseline of water usage.
Once a baseline is established the council will aim to reduce water use by at least 3% per year.
THIS POLICY WILL BE SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW
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