Decision - Sustainability Conference Theme 2009/10

(1)       That the Sustainability Cabinet Committee directs officers in the Sustainability Team to organise the next Sustainability conference on the theme of the sea.

1.     The Deputy Leader with special responsibility for sustainability supports the sea theme proposed.

1.     An alternative theme could be A Sustainable Economy.  This could examine both the job creation potential of large scale energy efficiency and the future growth potential of environmental industries across the city – though this is already the subject of a Scrutiny Panel between March and May this year.

2.     Another alternative could be related to Saving Money and Saving the Planet, in response to the credit crunch and continued interest in tackling climate change.  This could explore how to expand energy efficiency programmes, smart metering and also the plans for water company programmes of water metering and retro-fitting of water saving devices.  But this also raises affordability issues re water metering for larger, low income families.

3.     There is a realistic option to return to a single day conference if sponsorship and other resources (help in kind) cannot be secured to run a successful two-day event.