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Answer:

The council’s calculated emissions do not include the whole supply chain due to the complexity of calculating this. However, we are very aware that we are responsible for emissions throughout the supply chain.

To tackle this our Procurement Team is developing a Sustainability Matrix to be used when procuring goods and services to ensure sustainability and climate change is considered throughout council processes.

Through embedding climate change considerations into the procurement process the Council will be encouraging, influencing, and rewarding businesses for climate action. This will also reduce emissions in our supply chain.

Summary

  • The council reports carbon emissions in accordance with the Government BEIS/DEFRA Environmental Reporting Guidelines
  • Reporting currently covers energy use and fuel consumption for buildings and transport
  • developing sustainability matrix for all procurement processes to embed climate change considerations into procurement process the council will be encouraging, influencing, and rewarding businesses for climate action
  • investigating how to accurately report whole life cycle of services, products, and processes into future reporting.
Answer:
As part of bringing the waste, recycling, and street cleansing service "In-House" from April 2020, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) needed to replace vehicles previously supplied and operated by our contractor Veolia. 
Most of the old Veolia fleet was aged and non-compliant with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).  Only diesel vehicles with a Euro 6 low emission engine standard, Euro 4 petrol engine or electric vehicles, can enter the ULEZ area without being subject to an additional charge. 
We allocated £10 million in capital funds to procure most of these vehicles. We spent approximately £9 million on larger cleaner diesel waste, recycling, and cleansing vehicles, all of which meet the current Euro 6 reduced emission standard.  
Whilst the council plans to increase the use of electric powered vehicles, at the time we needed to deliver a fleet that could operate efficiently and costs effectively. The lack of widespread charging infrastructure, the need to maintain essential waste services, high cost and short operating range of large electric waste and cleansing vehicles did not make this possible. 
The remainder of our fleet have been replaced on short term leases to enable us to introduce electric cars, vans, and some larger vehicles. This will happen when we have installed the required electric charging infrastructure and suitable vehicle can be supplied.
Further trials and early introduction of electric and electric / hybrid vans and cars is a priority in 2020/21. In addition, we are reviewing options and monitoring vehicle technology developments to plan for wider introduction of clean fueled vehicles in 2023.
Answer:

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

There are ongoing discussions on green washing but to a certain degree LBTH are bound by local authority procurement regulations. However, this has been highlighted across the utility sector and changes are being implemented to ensure all green supplies are transparent.
LBTH are looking at CPPA’s (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements) for future supply.

Canary Wharf Group

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) have been procuring renewable electricity backed by industry accepted Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificates (REGOs) since 2012.

In addition, CWG are a member of RE100 which promotes the use of renewable forms of electricity. In 2020, CWG published long term science-based targets which recognises this form of electricity procurement.

However CWG are, like the rest of society, continually looking to achieve best practice and in conjunction with ongoing supplier performance reviews and long term procurement cycles, CWG can confirm that Corporate Power Purchase Agreements are a part of the CWG long term energy purchasing plans of the Estate.

Without doubt credible REGOs have been a helpful ‘stepping stone’ to enable many consumers to make the transition from brown energy procurement.

Summary

Renewable energy purchase - The council is continually looking to achieve best practice and ensure transparency through emission reporting and energy purchase. LBTH are looking at CPPA’s (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements) for future supply.

Answer:

We don’t have previous experience of this. However, it is something we are keen to look at and develop. Although there will be an increased cost to getting to net zero the benefits of this will outweigh the financial costs to ensure we are addressing the climate emergency.

Summary

Delivering a net zero carbon borough has many challenges. In some instances there could be an increased cost to getting to net zero, however the benefits of this will outweigh the financial costs to ensure we are addressing the climate emergency through minimising future retrofit costs and mitigating against financial and social costs associated with climate change.

Answer:

We are engaging with one Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) and the work they are doing on promoting renewable energy amongst residents on that estate. We are always open to providing support to TRAs on climate related work.

 

Answer:

Q7. Will the council commit to opposing national infrastructure projects like the silvertown tunnel. There is evidence that these projects increase traffic rather than reducing it. How can the council support green renewable projects while expressing support for projects that will increase emissions and pollution in the borough?

Q8 Part of the council strategy is a reduction in HGV emissions. How will support for the Silvertown Tunnel help to achieve this?

Silver Town Tunnel

Assessment of traffic impacts by TfL suggest that the scheme (compared with no implementing) will reduce CO2 emissions in 2021 (projected scheme opening at time of submission) but will increase them by 2036.

Throughout the Development Consent Order process, the Council offered ‘in principle’ support for the scheme recognising the potential benefits to substantially reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in an area with sharp exceedances of NO2 legal limits.

Support was, amongst other matters contingent upon the forecast air quality improvements being fully secured and any possible adverse impacts upon air quality fully mitigated.

Any increase in GHG emissions from the scheme does not change the targets set to the borough via the Mayor Transport Strategy to reduce carbon emissions from transport sources in the borough by 72 per cent by 2041 (from 2013 baseline).

Find out more on the Project details. In here you will find details of LBTH representations to the Planning Inspectorate setting out our position throughout the Examination in Public.

Answer:

We already have a portal for residents to identify sites for housing, this could be used to identify land for community spaces.

Answer:

You will need to conduct a risk assessment for your work setting (i.e., the place where you base your team and/or where you run activities for the public) in line with government guidance.

The Health and Safety Executive has advice on how to do this including a template risk assessment to fill in.

  1. Make sure the right people are involved in the risk assessment process, e.g. board/trustees, senior team, staff, volunteers, services and building users.

  2. The risk assessment should help you to compare the risks of staying closed vs. opening. If you decide to re-open your building and/or start running activities in person again, you should consider which activities are essential and which need to stay suspended.

  3. Check the restrictions and exceptions carefully and take them into account in your risk assessment and decision making.

  4. Your assessment should consider the risk of people mixing or being unable to maintain social distancing. Under the High alert level groups can gather outside in groups no greater than 6 in adherence to social distancing rules. However, activities where there is a significant likelihood of groups of six interacting, and therefore breaking the law, should not take place.

  5. Check if any changes you make will impact on your insurance cover.  You may need to contact your insurers to discuss this.

  6.  A fire risk assessment should be undertaken if your building or space is repurposed, for example when there is any change in the way you use the space or to exit arrangements.

  7. Where possible, share your risk assessments with any other tenants in your building.  Make sure the risk assessment is communicated to all of your own team and to other building users.
Answer:

If you require a change of vehicle for your permit, you no longer need to cancel your permit. You can log into your parking account and submit a request for a change of vehicle. 

On your Account Summary screen, click on the ‘View’ button next to the permit you wish to change. On the next screen, select the ‘Change Vehicle details’ tab and follow the instructions. You will need to upload one proof of vehicle ownership for your new vehicle, such as your vehicle registration document (V5C) or your insurance certificate and schedule, showing your name, address and new vehicle registration number.

Your new vehicle will not be covered to park until your change request has been approved. If you require instant cover for your new vehicle, you can use the ‘Apply for Temp Cover’ option or use visitor vouchers to park until your application is processed. We aim to process all applications within 3 working days.

You may have to pay an additional fee if your new vehicle has a higher CO2 emission rate. If the CO2 emission is lower you may receive a refund, which will be credited to your account within 28 days of us processing your request.

If you submit a cancellation of your permit and your permit is then cancelled, you will not be able to use the change of vehicle function.

Answer:

The council will only consider proposals from organisations that are set up not-for-profit.  This includes voluntary sector organisations, social enterprises (with appropriate asset lock in place) and registered social landlords.

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