Issue - meetings

This report will follow.

Katrina Downey, Principal Strategy Adviser, Carbon Management presented the report and the appendix and in response to questions, explained that:

·       As there was only space for six questions, they had to be as specific as possible. 

·       She hopes that this is the first of many more direct climate change engagement mechanisms.

·       Although there may not be the opportunity to have questions on climate change in next year's survey, she is hoping to run a separate one.  The questions in the residents' survey may not be suitable to be used as a baseline due to the low number of respondents and therefore the questions may change after more targeted communications have been carried out.

·       It is essential that the information is gathered so that work can be focussed.

Andrew Waggott added that some funding had been used for market research in the Summer to understand the barriers for people accessing Switched On Portsmouth which included people not thinking they were eligible, prohibitive upfront costs and lack of trust and understanding of the products and technology. 

In response to a question, he added that the smallest measure that the team is doing is solar panels and the savings to most homes is approximately £500 and 750kg of carbon dioxide in the first few years.

The team responded by adding more information on the website with tailored messages, more engagement in the community and teaching front-line council and external companies' staff all about the scheme so that they can signpost service users.  Referrals to companies are tracked. 

Councillor Barrett noted that:

·       The findings can be used to show what is needed and to tailor engagement.  It is good that many people are being reached.

·       The new communications officer will focus on green issues so more can be done. 

·       She would love to see more people being asked about climate and environmental issues as it is something that they are talking about and it links up with cost-of-living crisis and health problems.

·       New questions as well as the ones in this survey could be included in the next survey, whether the Big Portsmouth one or a specific one on climate change. 

·       Although the council cannot force businesses to take greening measures, the Green Charter event is an important mechanism to enable the council to work with them. 

·       The council is also working with small and medium sized enterprises.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment noted the report.