Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Temperton welcomed members to the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 19 April 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Following the latest Climate Change Summit, the JCAB Support Group had undertaken work to produce an initial draft of the vision statement for the Community Climate Emergency Strategy. This had been based on all the feedback from the summit.

The initial draft of the vision statement was as follows:

“All communities in Bracknell Forest will work together to live sustainably, making green choices, and we will achieve net-zero as close to 2030 as possible.”

In discussion on this draft the following feedback was given:

• The phrase had a good mix of inputs and was effective at collating the JCAB’s aims.
• The phrase “making green choices” could be put in more simple language as many may not be clear what is meant by green choices.
• It could be rephrased to begin “A place where all communities in Bracknell Forest”.
• If possible, it should be 10 words or less, as that is the optimum length to keep a reader’s attention.
• The statement could focus on encouraging individuals to make greener choices, instead of expecting them to make perfect choices in all aspects of their lives. This would make the statement feel more attainable for communities.
• It was important to keep the commitment to achieve net-zero as close to 2030 as possible, to reinforce the need to act urgently.
• The reference to all communities does not consider those who do not assimilate into any given community.
• An alternative term to net-zero could be considered than encapsulated the entirety of climate change.
• Some doubts were raised about whether 2030 was a realistic date to achieve net-zero.
• It was suggested the term “informed choices” may be better than green choices.

Based on this feedback the Board were presented with 4 different choices for the proposed vision statement. Upon being put to a vote the following received the majority of support

“A place where all citizens and communities in Bracknell Forest work together to live sustainably, making greener choices, and we will achieve net-zero as close to 2030 as possible.”

Some concerns were raised about the start “A place where all citizens and communities” the use of the word citizens. It was therefore agreed a survey would be circulated following the meeting so that a finalised vision statement could be agreed.

Members were asked to fill out the survey at the attached link Bracknell Community Climate Emergency Strategy Vision Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Councillor Collings and Paul Adkins provided an update on the Biodiversity Working Group. There were now 26 members of the working group. A group had been setup to ensure survey methodologies are consistent across the borough. This would feed into the state of nature survey and the biodiversity action plan. Paul Adkins had hosted a workshop on biodiversity at the climate change summit. Sebastian Wright had the PowerPoint that was used in this workshop and was happy to share with anybody interested.

Sebastian Wright gave a update on business sector. The ESDP had been disbanded and would be replaced by the newly formed Bracknell Forest Economic Partnership (BFEP). The Board had received the Bracknell Forest Business Climate Strategy 2024-2028 in the agenda pack. This strategy would be driven by the newly formed BFEP.

Ben Earl updated the Board on the Housing Working Group. An event had been planned in the Lexicon for the 5 September to showcase an air source heat pump. It was hoped this would get a conversation started about the future of heating homes. Kevin Gibbs offered to contact the Assistant Director Planning, Jo Male to get more details on the planning aspects of heat pumps.

Russell Julier provided an update on the Transport Working Group. The most recent meetings had been focused on putting the Transport Working Group’s plans into action. The Board received an outline of the 5 projects the Transport Working Group were currently working on:

• Reducing the need to travel.
• Improving business community engagement with transport related emissions.
• Establishing the Bracknell Forest Cycling Group to get more people cycling more often.
• Increasing the use and availability of buses.
• Addressing EV charging inequality.

Lauren Lee provided an update on the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector Working Group. The group was running a forever fashion event, which sought to promote stable and sustainable fashion whilst raising money for a charity in Nigeria. The flyer for the event would be attached to the minutes. Anything not sold at the end of the event would be gifted to the Cowshed charity, who would donate the goods to those in need. Work was also underway to launch Repair Cafés across Preistwood and Harmans Water. It was hoped these would be up and running by October.

Joey Gurney provided an update from the Education Working Group. A successful workshop had been run alongside Reading University at the Climate Change Summit. The focus had been on developing a climate action plan for schools as it would be DfE requirement by 2025. The Group was working with Cllr Temperton on how to better engage with head teachers and governors within schools as they were the ultimate decision makers.

Sarah Taylor provided an update on the Health Working Group. The meetings had now been shifted to Thursday’s at 6pm, in the hope this would allow more members to attend. Sarah had provided a session on writing climate change reports at the Climate Change Summit. The Working Group was looking into being adopted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Sebastian Wright gave an update on the Draft Bracknell Forest Climate Change Strategy that would run from 2024 to 2028. The draft strategy had been underpinned by 4 research reports. Several aims and barriers had then been identified, with actions created to ensure aims were met and barriers could be overcome.

The strategy had been divided into different areas based upon the level of influence the Bracknell Forest Council had upon them:

• Council emissions – Areas under direct control such as investment in council assets and considering climate in procurement.
• Stronger influence – Considering climate in regulations and policies, and delivering place shaped actions.

• Helping others – Showcasing and enabling good practice within the borough as well facilitating collaborations by bringing others together.
• Primary influence elsewhere – Lobbying national government and other organisations.
• Consumption Emissions- Engaging with stakeholders.

Three aims had been identified for the strategy: net zero as close to 2030 as possible, adaptation to the effects of climate change and the expansion of the green economy.

Four enables had been identified; these would be focused on to ensure the strategy was delivered. These were:

1. Organisational capacity and skills
2. Funding
3. Communications and engagement
4. Partnerships and support.

The draft would now go out for consultation with the intention for a finalised strategy to be brought before full council for approval in January.

Will Barnes provided an overview of the Climate Change Annual Report 23/24. The highlights of Bracknell Forest Council’s work had included:

•           There had been an overall 5-year downward trend in emissions within Bracknell Forest, although 2023 had seen a slight increase on 2022.

•           The biggest contributors to the borough’s emissions were domestic energy and transport.

•           Key projects that had taken place in 2023/24 had included: the first climate change summit in July 2023, supporting the JCAB and support the JCAB working groups to start beginning the production of a Community Climate Emergency Strategy.

•           A number of domestic building projects including solar panels, EV chargers and heat pumps.

•           A number of transport projects had been undertaken including the introduction of low emission buses and a number of schemes to encouraging cycling.

•           There had been an increase in recycling including food waste recycling.

•           Climate Change e-learning had been made mandatory for new starters.

•           The Local Plan had been adopted.

Will Barnes provided a summary of the Schools Conferences. The conferences had been organised by SEED, with Bracknell Forest Council being represented by both councillors and officers. The Secondary Schools’ Conference had been held on 11 July, with the Primary Schools’ Conference being held on 12 July.

The JCAB were notified of the key takeaways that had emerged from the conferences. These had included:

• There was a focus on overconsumption within the Secondary School Consumption, with waste and pollution identified as issues that students feel they can influence. Areas such as energy had been seen as more unattainable at a secondary school elevel. 
• As there was a high level of understanding about the issues, work should focus on ensure more engagement on actions, instead of focusing on education.
• There was value in engaging schools on singular areas or issues and creating space for actions to be recognised and celebrated.

Emerging form the Schools Conferences 2 key ideas had been agreed:

• Convene Headteachers and caterers to tackle the issue of waste.
• Encourage and enable students to create energy monitoring teams and incentivise energy efficiency measures.

Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Future | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk) – Seb Wright and Will Barnes

The JCAB were notified that National Lottery Grant had started a Climate Action Fund to help fund community climate projects. It was hoped the JCAB could submit a joint bid with Bracknell Forest Council for this funding. The funding would be worth between £500k and £1.5M over 3 to 5 years and the bid would have to be submitted by the end of 2024.