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  • Agenda and minutes

    Environment Policy Development Group - Tuesday, 8th November, 2022 5.30 pm

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 292 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 3 MB
    • Printed minutes PDF 139 KB

    Venue: Phoenix Chambers, Phoenix House, Tiverton

    Contact: Carole Oliphant  Member Services Officer

    Link: audiorecording

    Items
    No. Item

    36.

    Apologies and substitute Members (0.02.52)

    To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

    Minutes:

    There were no apologies or substitute Members

    37.

    Declarations of Interest under the Code of Conduct (0.03.39)

    • View the declarations of interest for item 37.

    To record any interests on agenda matters.

     

    Minutes:

    Cllr B G J Warren declared a personal interest for item 10 as he was Chairman of Willand Parish Council

    38.

    Public Question Time (0.04.24)

    To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

    Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

     

     

    Minutes:

    There were no members of the public present

    39.

    Minutes of the Previous Meeting (0.04.32) pdf icon PDF 139 KB

    To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on

    Minutes:

    The minutes of the meeting held on11th October 2022 were agreed as a true record and duly SIGNED by the Chairman

    40.

    Chairman's Announcements (0.05.22)

    To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

    Minutes:

    The Chairman had no announcements to make

    41.

    Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change Update (0.05.28)

    To receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

    Minutes:

    The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change gave an update on his portfolio and stated that the 3 weekly bin collections had commenced on 10th October key issues included:

     

    ·         200 bins were yet to be delivered

    ·         4500 calls had been actioned

    ·         Crews were logging any discrepancy

    ·         All side waste was being collected

    ·         Enforcement officers were actively patrolling the streets to assist with education

     

    In response to a question asked he stated that he had abstained on a vote at Council with regard to motion 583 as he felt that South West Water and the Environment Agency were already doing the measures asked for and that Members could have asked for the issue to be looked at by the Scrutiny Committee without a motion. He had also been concerned about the amount of officer time required to produce reports and analysis into the matter.

    42.

    Climate Change Action Plan update (0.09.54) pdf icon PDF 332 KB

    • View the background to item 42.

    To receive an update on actions taken for the Climate Change Action Plan and to receive Electric Vehicle Car Sharing Options report with recommendations to the Cabinet

     

     

    Additional documents:

    • Environment-PDG08nov2022Climate-and-Sustainability-AnnexA , item 42. pdf icon PDF 303 KB
    • Environment-PDG08nov2022Climate-and-Sustainability-AnnexB-Investment-Options , item 42. pdf icon PDF 462 KB

    Minutes:

    The Group had before it a *report from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist providing an update on the Climate Change Action Plan.

     

    The officer explained the Net Zero Advisory Group (NZAG) had a special meeting with Members of the Environment PDG and had discussed the RAG rated investment options available. NZAG discussions and Audit had highlighted the importance of ensuring that Climate Change was a consideration in the decision making process and business cases.

     

    Consideration was given to:

     

    ·         A meeting with the Environment Agency was due to be held regarding Hydro Power which would be valuable with regard to feasibility

    ·         Fortnightly progress meetings were being held with Deletti partnership Electric Vehicle Chargepoint phase 2 delivery. Rural sites were the next logical step but less commercially attractive to providers

    ·         There had been no outreach to farmers regarding sustainable farming initiatives since the Mid Devon Show but there was plenty of information on the Council website to signpost interested parties to other organisations

    ·         The projected spend on the Hydro Schemes and consultants was an estimate and had yet to be decided and therefore did not affect the budget

    ·         The financial pressures on farmers

    ·         The use of consultants could open up greater funding streams

     

    It was therefore RESOLVED that:

     

    1.         That the Environment PDG notes and accepts this report as an update on the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency, documenting progress with the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the wider Climate and Sustainability Programme.

    2.         That the Environment PDG recommends to the Cabinet that the team with delegated authority (13 May 2021 Cabinet decision) lead next steps with regard to Environment PDG input regarding options for green travel hire schemes.

    3.         That Environment PDG consult with Corporate Management Team (CMT) to formulate a method for a Climate and Sustainability Statement that can be consistently applied to all business cases. Feedback to inform a Recommendation to Cabinet.

    4.         That Environment PDG and Net Zero Advisory Group (NZAG) consult with CMT and the C&S Specialist to devise a consistent approach to climate change impact statements noted on committee reports. Feedback to inform a Recommendation to Cabinet

     

    (Proposed by the Chairman)

     

    Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

    43.

    Environment Enforcement Update Report - Q2 (0.36.08) pdf icon PDF 324 KB

    To receive the Q2 update from the Environment and Enforcement Manager

    Minutes:

    The Group had before it, and NOTED, a *report from the Environment and Enforcement Manager providing the Q2 report for the Environment and Enforcement Service.

     

    The officer explained that the report had provided an update on body worn cameras.

     

    Consideration was given to:

     

    ·         Officers had made efficiency savings and were now proactive with fly tipping

    ·         The amount of time spent on each enforcement activity would be provided to Members

    ·         An acknowledgement and thanks from Members for the recent litter picking activity on the A361

     

    Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

     

     

    44.

    Access to Information - Exclusion of Press and Public (0.43.10)

    Discussion with regard to the next item, may require the Policy Development Group to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Policy Development Group would need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  

     

    Recommended that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

     

     

    Minutes:

    The Chairman indicated that discussion with regard to the next item, may require the Committee to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Committee would need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

     

    45.

    Medium Term Financial Plan - General Fund (GF), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme (0.45.42) pdf icon PDF 406 KB

    • View the background to item 45.

    To present to Member’s the updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), previously presented to Cabinet on 1st November 2022, which covers the period 2023/24 to 2027/28 and takes account of the Council’s key strategies (i.e. the Corporate Plan, Business Plans, Treasury Management Plan, Asset Management Plan, Work Force Plan and Capital Strategy) and demonstrates it has the financial resources to deliver the Corporate Plan. This models potential changes in funding levels, new initiatives, unavoidable costs and proposed service savings.

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix 1 - 2022_23 Budget by Service Unit , item 45. pdf icon PDF 26 KB
    • Restricted enclosure 10 View the reasons why document 45./3 is restricted
    • Restricted enclosure 11 View the reasons why document 45./4 is restricted
    • Restricted enclosure 12 View the reasons why document 45./5 is restricted
    • Restricted enclosure 13 View the reasons why document 45./6 is restricted
    • Restricted enclosure 14 View the reasons why document 45./7 is restricted

    Minutes:

    The Group had before it and NOTED, a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive providing the Medium Term Financial Plan.

     

    RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

     

    (Proposed by the Chairman)

     

    Members then reviewed the options included within the Part 2 appendices and made recommendations to the Cabinet on the options preferred.

     

    (Proposed by the Chairman)

     

    Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

     

    The meeting then returned to open session

     

    46.

    Work Programme (0.45.42) pdf icon PDF 96 KB

    To receive the current work plan for the Environment PDG.

    Minutes:

    The Group had before it, and NOTED, the *Environment PDG Work Plan for 2022-2023.

     

    Note: *Work Plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes