Issue - meetings

To provide an update in regard to monitoring of progress (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory, which provided an update on delivery of the Sustainable Products Policy.

The Climate Change and Environment Officer and the Climate Change and Environment Group Manager attended virtually for this item, and the Assistant Director – Regulatory attended in person.

The Climate Change and Environment Officer introduced the report to members and highlighted that:

• The policy had been developed to support the Council’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact and achieve its Net Zero targets;
• Since adoption of the policy, a significant amount of work had been undertaken to audit procurement practices across the Partnership, with a particular focus on identifying the use of single-use products;
• Audits had been conducted across the Partnership which had identified purchasing behaviours and the top ten suppliers of single-use items such as PPE, cleaning products and stationery; and
• The audit process had been time-consuming and largely manual, due to limitations in the current finance system, particularly where purchasing cards were used.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the report and supported the work being undertaken.

• Members raised concerns about Amazon being listed as the second highest supplier and queried whether more sustainable and local alternatives could be sourced.
  • The Climate Change and Environment Officer responded that efforts were underway to reduce reliance on Amazon by encouraging officers to raise purchase orders through approved suppliers, which would also improve data tracking and accountability.

• Members queried the total purchasing value of the products covered under the policy.
  • The Climate Change and Environment Officer stated that while costs were attached to the top ten suppliers, the data was currently organised by cost centre rather than supplier, making it difficult to provide a comprehensive figure. Work was ongoing to improve the breakdown of costs and to define the data more effectively. Nonetheless, the data currently held would be shared with members;
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory added that:
    • The sharing of the current data was supported however a full purchasing cycle was required to establish a robust benchmark. As a result, a further report would be brought back to members in 18 months to allow for meaningful financial and carbon analysis; and
    • The policy was already driving behavioural change across the three councils, although such change would take time to fully embed.

• Members queried whether the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was included in the audit.
  • The Climate Change and Environment Officer confirmed that the audit covered all cost codes relating to single-use or disposable items, including those within the housing department.

AGREED:

1)    That the progress to date be noted; and

2)    That a further update report be received in 18 months’ time, once sufficient time has elapsed to enable the outcomes to be quantified in financial and carbon terms.