Energy efficiency plan gets council go-ahead
South Lanarkshire councillors have approved plans to tackle climate change and reduce fuel consumption.
Councillor Kirsten Robb (East Kilbride East), proposed a motion which asked the local authority to take further steps to cut fuel consumption, reduce carbon emissions and to kick-start the local green economy across the area.
Plans were seconded by councillor Ross Clark (Larkhall), and an amendment was added by council leader Joe Fagan.
Councillor Robb presented the motion and its ambitions.
She said: “The cheapest form of energy is that which you don’t use, so this motion is all about minimising energy consumption through behaviour, campaigns, simple changes and high standards of insulation. Voting for this motion will ensure energy saved immediately and in the future, as councillors and staff we’ve all experienced buildings that are too warm, or lights left on unnecessarily. And we’ve all heard about the immense pressure on council budgets from over a seven million increase in energy costs.
“This needs an immediate, strategic reaction. So the first part of the motion calls for an energy reduction plan prepared in consultation with unions and building professionals and it calls for simple immediate campaigns this winter so we can save more energy and money for our vital front line services.”
She added: “The second part of the motion is primarily about raising standards in council-funded new-builds as some other councils are doing. It’s also about ensuring current standards are met too. I have researched it, consulted council officers, unions, other building professionals and taken on board comments from other political parties.
“The construction industry has found nationally that when tested, many
buildings do not meet the current energy standards that are set out to be achieved, resulting in energy and money being wasted. This needs to change and it is changing nationally through building regulations and national planning framework. But we can also do our bit in South Lanarkshire to help prepare for the changes, avoiding the costs of retrofitting in just a few years time. Therefore this part of the motion focuses on council buildings designed from 2023 onwards.
“And finally with the third part of the motion, South Lanarkshire Council can be a leader in this field, using our spending power and our build programme to kickstart the green economy, creating stable long term decent jobs long into the future.
“A note to end on, for me and many others, this motion is about common sense, it is about using our precious energy resources carefully, it’s about taking further steps to insulate the council and residents in new builds against future energy price shocks and yes, it’s about
action and climate change too. Acting on climate change now will be far cheaper than paying the price later of inaction or unambition. We councillors are the decision makers right now and we have a narrow window of opportunity to act for every generation to come, and we can’t kick the can down the road, our citizens are looking to use it for leadership on fuel bills and climate change now.”
Councillor Clark supported the motion by seconding it, and he said: “I’m delighted to be able to second this motion behalf of the SNP group. I would like to thank members of other parties including the leader of the council for a cross party engagement on this and I’m also happy to accept the proposed amendment.
“We need to be ambitious when it comes to climate change, similar to what councillor Robb said, the cost of not acting on climate change far outweighs the cost of action now.
“Scotland has ambitious targets of net zero emissions by 2045, South
Lanarkshire needs to play a part in this; rapid decarbonisation is needed to avoid the most catastrophic and irreversible impacts of climate change. It’s an issue that will affect all of us in generations to come, adopting a fabric first or equivalent approach forms part of this journey.
“We’re in a cost of living crisis with soaring bills and people will continue to struggle for years to come, which means we need long-term solutions to support our residents as well as actions we can take now.
“I’m pleased that this motion seeks to work positively and engage with staff and unions on this. The motion gives us flexibility to design the best approach that works for South Lanarkshire while supporting our local business and supply chain to provide green opportunities and skill to workers and help grow our green economy.”
Councillors agreed to take extra action on energy efficiency to achieve multiple benefits such as save money for frontline services, reduce South Lanarkshire’s risk to future energy price shocks, cut carbon emissions, improve wellbeing, reduce poverty and kick-start the local green economy.
Council leader Joe Fagan contributed to the motion by adding an amendment which was accepted, and said: “I think the approach that both councillor Robb and councillor Clark set out was very constructive and I think very helpful at this point where we try to make our capital programme in particular as ambitious as it can be when it comes to meeting our requirements that drive towards net zero. But to also make sure that the targets and the standards we set for ourselves and ones we work with are achievable and affordable as well.”
An energy demand reduction plan for council buildings will be drafted as well as the council adopting high standards of energy efficiency for all council-funded building projects.