Driving action from the backbenches

Non-Executive members can help to drive action on climate change through scrutiny and other initiatives.

Scrutiny reviews can be a powerful way of stimulating councils to take more concerted action on climate change. There are inspiring examples of scrutiny reviews that have kick-started new initiatives. See the case studies below.

You might choose to scrutinise your council's response to all aspects of climate change, or just concentrate on either adaptation or mitigation. You might also choose to take a narrower focus, such as how well the council is tackling climate change in its own estate or influencing its residents.

Questions that you might ask in a scrutiny review are:-

1. Does the council have a climate change plan(s) or other plans that:

• Address both adaptation and mitigation?
• Cover the three key roles of estate manager; service provider; and community leader?

2. How effectively is the plan or plans being implemented?

3. Are council services doing as much as they could on climate change? (See guidance for individual services under Advice for Council Services.

Scrutiny or select committees can also take the lead on developing new initiatives. For example Kent County Council's Select Committee on Climate Change initiated a new more strategic approach, while the Lewisham Environment Select Committee held a community focussed event on climate change.

Case studies

1. Kent County Council established a cross-party Select Committee on Climate Change in 2005. The Select Committee's report initiated a new strategic and comprehensive approach to climate change.

2. In 2004 Cambridgeshire County Council's Environment and Transport Scrutiny Committee carried out a review of the Council's preparedness for climate change. The review made 17 recommendations which were all agreed by the Cabinet.

3. Nottingham City Council undertook a major scrutiny review on climate change which re-energised the council's commitment.

3. The London Borough of Lewisham's Environment Select Committee organised a community focussed event around climate change