Agenda item - Phasing out single use plastics (SUPs)

Report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture

RESOLVED: That the Committee -

(i)            Noted the report and work progress detailed in section 4.

(ii)          Approved the draft Corporate SUPs policy Appendix 1, including:

- strengthening the existing Sustainable Event Commitment Form and guidance circulated to exhibitors and traders;
- the possibility of requiring event organisers and vendors to avoid Single Use Plastics as a condition of their event permission
- authorise the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to insert the above in the appropriate part of Appendix 1.

(iii)      Approved the recommendation that reporting on this will be brought to Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on an annual basis, including an action plan detailing the timeframe for achieving the goals set out in the policy, until such time that the committee is confident that the city council has done all it can to reduce and eliminate SUPs use in the city.

34.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture which proposed a new policy approach to phasing out single use plastics (SUPs) across council buildings and services.

34.2    The Chair noted that an amendment to the recommendations had been submitted by the Green Group, and asked Councillor Mac Cafferty to propose that amendment.

34.3    Councillor Mac Cafferty welcomed the report which had some very strong initiatives, and thanked officers for the work undertaken. He said that one of the key things that the Group raised in the Notice of Motion, which was considered by Council in November 2017, was that there were people outside of the Council who were already looking at this matter and it would be beneficial to tap into what they were doing and build on their initiatives. He said that the Green Group amendment was constructive, and sought to underline particular issues such as the existing Sustainable Event Commitment form and to encourage event organisers to completely avoid SUPs. The amendment also requested an action plan be included in the annual report to the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, as this would add weight to any action plan in those reports.

Councillor Mac Cafferty proposed the following amendment (changes in italics):

2.1 Note the report and work progress detailed in section 4.

2.2 Approve the draft Corporate SUPs policy Appendix 1, including:

- strengthening the existing Sustainable Event Commitment Form and guidance circulated to exhibitors and traders;
- the possibility of requiring event organisers and vendors to avoid Single Use Plastics as a condition of their event permission
- authorise the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to insert the above in the appropriate part of Appendix 1.

2.3 Approve the recommendation that reporting on this will be brought to Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on an annual basis, including an action plan detailing the timeframe for achieving the goals set out in the policy, until such time that the committee is confident that the city council has done all it can to reduce and eliminate SUPs use in the city.

34.4    Councillor Gibson seconded the amendment.

34.5    Councillor Mitchell (Chair of Environment, Sustainability & Transport Committee), said that the Council now had a draft policy which could be built on, but it wasn’t something which the Council could do by themselves and would need to work with partners and look to central government for additional support. The Labour Group would be happy to support the Green Group amendment.

35.5    Councillor Bell said that the Conservative Group would also support the Green Group amendment. He noted that staff were being asked to no longer use disposable cups for refreshments, but to use their own crockery, glasses etc and asked if that had had an impact. Officers advised that it was being monitored and would be reported back to the ETS Committee in due course. Councillor Bell noted that that had been a lot of negative publicity about the amount of SUPs left after the last marathon, and asked if that would be looked at for next year’s event. The Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture said that conversations were taking place with the organisers of the marathon on that issue.

35.6    The Committee agreed to accept the amendment.

35.7    RESOLVED: That the Committee -

(i)            Noted the report and work progress detailed in section 4.

(ii)          Approved the draft Corporate SUPs policy Appendix 1, including:

- strengthening the existing Sustainable Event Commitment Form and guidance circulated to exhibitors and traders;
- the possibility of requiring event organisers and vendors to avoid Single Use Plastics as a condition of their event permission
- authorise the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to insert the above in the appropriate part of Appendix 1.

(iii)      Approved the recommendation that reporting on this will be brought to Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on an annual basis, including an action plan detailing the timeframe for achieving the goals set out in the policy, until such time that the committee is confident that the city council has done all it can to reduce and eliminate SUPs use in the city.