Issue - meetings

To set out a package of monitoring measures to ensure successful implementation of the Sustainable Products Policy (report of the Assistant Director - Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which set out a package of monitoring measures to ensure successful implementation of the Sustainable Products Policy.

The report was introduced by the Climate Change and Environment Officer who outlined the background to the report and the monitoring measures that had been identified. Appendix A detailed the monitoring measures action plan.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the report and acknowledged the importance of the policy.

• Members asked whether the suppliers framework incorporated a cost margin for green credentials. Whilst it was important that the Council operated sustainably, costs also needed to be controlled.
  • The Climate Change and Environment Manager stated that:

§  the introduction of the new Procurement team from April 2023 would increase awareness of the Sustainable Products Policy throughout Council services and that implementation of the policy was in the early stages;

§  whilst a cost margin for green credentials had not yet been agreed, the introduction of a margin was considered to be beneficial;

§  until such time that a cost margin be introduced, procurement choices would continue to be made on an ad basis through the consideration of social, economic and environmental factors.

• Members stated the importance of recycling within the S&ELCP. In addition, as SHDC was now part of the wider partnership, greater economies of scale could be achieved to mitigate the increased costs of sustainability.

o   The Climate Change and Environment Manager responded that whilst recycling was commended, that the recycling process itself incurred environmental costs and therefore a broader view, of prior consideration of the necessity of procured items, needed to be taken.

• Members requested that performance be monitored against stated baseline measures, so that progress and transition was identifiable.

o   the Climate Change and Environment Officer responded that baseline measures were key to monitoring progress, and that these would be informed by the initial audits.

AGREED:

a)    That following consideration of the outlined monitoring measures to support the successful implementation of the Sustainable Products Policy, in line with the Council’s commitments to resource and waste management and mitigation and adaption to Climate Change, that the monitoring measures be approved; and

b)    That the comments of the Panel be noted.