Council to slash its carbon emissions

A computer programme will be installed at the council to power down equipment which may otherwise run through the night. Other initiatives include installing timers and running an awareness campaign to encourage staff to save energy.

Last year, the council signed up to the national 10:10 campaign. Council leader Carl Minns says he is a "climate change agnostic" – neither a "denialist" nor advocate of the theory that carbon is the cause of climate change.

Coun Minns said: "I am an avid believer in reducing bills and saving taxpayers' money. I think the causes are a lot more complex than simplistic arguments which are on both sides of the debate.

"What I look for is scientists being scientists and not, as they have been for the last few months, advocates for a particular view. Doing this is good for the taxpayer and that's something everyone can unite under."

The main aim of the 10:10 campaign is for councils to cut emissions by 10 per cent. But authorities like Hull which has cut emissions 10 per cent in the last eight years have been set an alternative target of three per cent.