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Climate Change Scrutiny Panel Final Report

Meeting: 03/02/2021 - Cabinet (Item 7)

7 Climate Change Scrutiny Panel Final Report pdf icon PDF 1005 KB

Environmental Services and Sustainability Portfolio

 

To consider report OSC/292 of the Chair of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 1 February 2021.

 

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

Cabinet endorses the principle of the recommendations set out in Section 6 of report OSC/292, subject to a full evaluation as part of the development of the Council’s Climate Change Emergency Action Plan and for that Action Plan to be brought back to Cabinet for consideration as soon as possible.

 

That Full Council be requested to:

 

a)            endorse the Scrutiny Panel’s findings and recommendations contained within report OSC/292

 

b)            request that any necessary revisions to the Council’s Constitution relating to paperless committee meetings be made.

 

c)            Request that the Governance Committee look at the future format of the Council’s formal and informal meetings to consider which should be face to face, virtual or hybrid.

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

The recommendations reflect the motion agreed by Full Council and outline proposals to help the Council to achieve the ambition to reduce carbon emissions generated by Crawley Borough Council activities by at least 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050s.

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Jaggard as Chair of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel presented report OSC/292 the Panel’s final report to the Cabinet. The Cabinet were reminded that the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel was established following a Notice of Motion at Full Council in July 2019, which had been carried unanimously. The remit of the review as identified by Notice of Motion was to “look into and make recommendations focusing upon the workings and activities of Crawley Borough Council relating to carbon emissions.”  The Cabinet were informed that the Scrutiny Panel’s large number recommendations reflected the motion and outlined proposals to help the Council to achieve the ambition to reduce carbon emissions generated by Crawley Borough Council activities by at least 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050.

 

Councillor T Belben presented the O­verview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report as detailed in report OSC/293, to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 1 February 2021, which included:

·         It was considered that the Panel’s recommendations were practical and the idea of a climate change impact assessment document on any new project/change in policy or service was thought to be very important.

·         Recognition that in order to reach its carbon emissions target the Council may have to lead by example and change the way it works and adapt.

·         It was noted that the heating of the pool at K2 Crawley was the most major source of emissions. The Panel had fully recognised there were industry standards and there were mixed views from individuals on the pool temperature. However, it strongly wished for the recommendation to be considered.

·         Support for the Climate Emergency Action Plan should be regularly reported back to OSC and Cabinet. The Climate Emergency Officer Advisory Group would consider options for reporting back as part of their actions.  The officers’ group was best placed to have the expert knowledge and skill to identify actions, activities and timescales within the council’s services.

·         There was general support for the recommendations from the majority of members. However, there was concern raised from some regarding recommendation ‘q’ and paperless meetings, particularly the need to read reports thoroughly and the impact upon people’s eyes of such length of time on devices.  In contrast, there was recognition of the large environmental and financial benefits together with the availability of additional equipment along with further training. It was acknowledged the Cabinet Member for Resources took the decision that any newly elected councillor would be paperless from May 2018, whilst remaining compliant under the Equality Act.

·         During the debate Councillor Lanzer (seconded by Councillor T Belben) moved a proposed amendment adding a further recommendation:

 

2.3 c) That Full Council be asked to – Request the Governance Committee look at the future format of the Council’s formal and informal meetings to consider which should be face to face, virtual or hybrid.

 

Councillor Jhans, as Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability was invited to speak. Whilst thanking the Panel and officers for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7


Meeting: 01/02/2021 - Overview and Scrutiny Commission (Item 5)

5 Climate Change Scrutiny Panel Final Report pdf icon PDF 1005 KB

To consider report OSC/292 of the Chair of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.

Minutes:

The Commission considered report OSC/292 of the Chair of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel, Councillor K L Jaggard. 

 

The Climate Change Scrutiny Panel was established to “look into and make recommendations focusing upon the workings and activities of Crawley Borough Council relating to carbon emissions”. It further requested that OSC co-opted a member or members of the Youth Council to the Scrutiny Panel.  However despite repeated requests, unfortunately a co-optee was not forthcoming from the Youth Council. 

 

The Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations reflected the motion unanimously agreed by Full Council in July 2019 and outlined proposals to help the Council to achieve the ambition to reduce carbon emissions generated by Crawley Borough Council activities by at least 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050.

 

Councillors made the following comments:

·       General support for the report and the Panel’s work.  Panel members and officers were thanked for a thorough and comprehensive report.

·       It was considered that the Panel’s recommendations to be very practical and thought the idea of the climate change impact assessment document on any new project/change in policy or service to be very important.

·       It was disheartening that there had been a lack of response from co-optees but the public attendance pre-Covid and witness sessions had been positive and engaging.

·       Acknowledgement there was the option to share best practice with other districts and boroughs.

·       Recognition that in order to reach its carbon emissions target the council may have to lead by example and change the way it works and adapt.

·       It was commented that the heating of the pool at K2 Crawley was the major consideration of energy consumption and the Panel had fully recognised there were industry standards and there were mixed views from individuals on the pool temperature. However it strongly wished for the recommendation to be considered.

·       Support for the Climate Emergency Action Plan to be regularly reported back to OSC and Cabinet. The Climate Emergency Officer Advisory Group would consider options for reporting and report back as part of actions.  The officers’ group was best placed to have the expert knowledge and skill to identify actions, activities and timescales within the council’s services. The action plan was set to identify resources, sources of funding and timescales for completion of actions in order to ensure the council remained on target. Led by the Climate Emergency Officer Advisory Group who have in-depth, enhanced expert knowledge of specific projects and have a crucial view on the council’s services.

·       Whilst there was general support for the recommendations from the majority of members, there was concern raised from some regarding recommendation ‘q’ and paperless meetings, particularly the need to read reports thoroughly and length of time on devices.  In contrast, there was recognition of the large environmental and financial benefits together with the availability of additional equipment along with further training.  It was acknowledged the Cabinet Member for Resources took the decision that any newly elected councillor would be paperless from May 2018, whilst remaining compliant under the Equality Act.

·       During  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5