COUNCIL'S APPROACH TO THE ENVIRONMENT 'MORE HOT AIR THAN SUBSTANCE'

10.43.20am GMT Wed 21st Nov 2007

Councillor Steve Darling, the Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, has expressed his outrage at official figures, which show that Torbay Council is one of the worst Councils at reducing residential energy.

The Association for the Conservation of Energy recently published figures, which showed that Torbay Council is set to fail to meet its target of reducing residential energy consumption by 30% by 2011. In fact, on a league table of local authorities in the Southwest Region (which stretches from Gloucester to Cornwall) Torbay is in the bottom 5 local authorities.

In light of the figures, Councillor Darling tabled a question at the last Full Council meeting, asking, "What action is the council taking to reduce residential energy consumption in the Torbay area?"

The answer outlined 4 areas of activity that the Council were taking, but failed to mention the figures from the Association for the Conservation of Energy, or what action they were going to take to meet the 30% reduction target by 2011 set by the Home Energy Conservation Act.

Councillor Darling said: "The answer to the question was more hot air than substance. The Liberal Democrats believe that the environment should be placed at the heart of the Council's decision making. The Conservative administration is clearly in denial on this issue. The council officer with responsibility for this work left in February of this year and has not been replaced."

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