Part of a councillor’s role is to attend Full Council and other meetings and serve on committees. Last May I was appointed Vice-Chair of the county council’s Scrutiny Committee for Environment and Climate Change, and in the past few months we have scrutinised the council’s policies and work on decarbonisation of buildings, electric vehicles, nature recovery, flooding (see here).

In December we heard SCC’s proposals to end peat extraction in Somerset, through financial incentives being agreed with DEFRA for peat extractors to stop digging early, as peat habitats are rich in biodiversity and a store for carbon, and extraction is a source of carbon dioxide emissions and biodiversity loss (see here). This was also an item in BBC Politics West last weekend with cllr Sarah Dyke.

We also had a presentation on the estate decarbonisation projects the county council team have been working on (see item 8 report and presentation here) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills, and were pleased to see two Frome projects on the list of work done:

• Frome Library: Air Source Heat Pump – removal of gas boiler/s, Radiators, Cavity wall insulation, Loft insulation, Replacement windows, Ventilation system, Electrical upgrade
• Frome Key Centre: Air Source Heat Pump – removal of gas boiler/s, Hot water solutions, LED lighting

Frome College is on the list for potential future decarbonisation work, subject to funding.

At the next meeting on Tuesday 28th February, the committee will consider an update on the flexible plastic recycling pilot project, work towards a Local Energy Plan for Somerset, and governance of the work to address the climate emergency – see here.

The last Mendip Ful Council meeting on 27th February will consider a report on progress to address the climate and ecological emergency – see here. This work will need to continue in the new unitary council.

   Leave a comment