Issue details

Decision

That the Dorset Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action Plan be adopted.

Details

Dorset Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and established an Executive Advisory Panel to strategically guide the Councils response. A draft Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action Plan was produced and approved for public consultation by Cabinet in October 2020.

A public consultation exercise on the Strategy and Action plan started in October 2020 and closed on 20th January 2021. The analysis of the consultation results highlighted an overall high level of agreement for the Councils strategy and action plan. Further consideration of over 12,000 text responses highlighted a number of key issues for each area of the strategy.

 The results of the consultation were discussed with the Executive Advisory Panel on 25th February 2021, together with suggested changes to the Strategy and Action plan.

This paper sets out the findings of the consultation exercise and proposed changes to the Dorset Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action plan for approval by Cabinet.

The Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan is a living document that reflects the scale of the challenge and complexity of the issue. It aims to set an initial road map and direction of travel but recognises at this stage there is still further work to do. Many of the actions are therefore aimed at more detailed investigation and the development of more detailed initiatives.

All the actions have target dates for completion and can therefore be monitored and evaluated against them. The monitoring and evaluation of the strategy should be on a six monthly basis and take the form of a report to the Policy and Overview Committee.

Reason for the decision

Dorset Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and established an Executive Advisory Panel to strategically guide the Councils response. A draft Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action Plan was produced and approved for public consultation by Cabinet in October 2020.

Background documents

Agenda for Dorset Council on Thursday, 15th July, 2021, 6.30 pm - Dorset Council (wdwp.local)