Minutes
OF A MEETING OF THE
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Climate Emergency Advisory Committee
HELD at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 28 January 2020
Meeting Room 1, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB |
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Present
Sue Roberts (Chair)
Sam Casey-Rerhaye (Vice Chair), Sue Cooper, Stefan Gawrysiak, Sarah Gray, Kate Gregory, Lynn Lloyd, Caroline Newton, David Rouane and Celia Wilson
Officers
John Backley, Paul Bateman, Chloe Bunting, Liz Hayden, Candida Mckelvey, Heather Saunders, Michelle Wells
23 Chairman's announcements
None.
24 Apologies for absence
Councillors Ian White and Simon Hewerdine sent apologies for absence.
25 Minutes of previous meeting
RESOLVED:
To adopt the minutes of the committee meeting held on 20 November 2019 as a correct record and agree that the Chair signs them as such, subject to correcting a typographical error for minute number 18, under the paragraph “Future meetings of the advisory committee”.
26 Declarations of interest
Councillor Rouane declared that he is a Director of the climate action charity, Possible.
27 Urgent business
No urgent business
28 'Deep Adaptation' article
Committee Chair urged members to read the “Deep Adaptation” article, but it was not going to be discussed as part of the agenda.
29 Public participation
Four members of the public were present with three minutes each to present to the committee.
The first speaker was Giles Cattermole, Councillor for Wallingford, but speaking as a private individual. Mr Cattermole discussed what he considered to be the two main sources of CO2 emissions in the area – Gas and electricity for household heating, and transport emissions. Ideas included for the heating issue are: improving thermal efficiency of housing – new build and old, with nothing below code six. Revocation of the EU “REACH” Directive against copper wood arsenic treatment of windows and doors, and LED lighting. For transport emissions, Mr. Cattermole suggested reducing the need for residents to commute out of area for work, and promotion of electric vehicles with subsidised parking, charging zones and various incentives for switching to electric.
The second speaker was Patrick Fleming. Patrick thanked the three officers who attended a meeting with Henley Town Council. He discussed wilding trees and a move back to holistic agriculture, reducing nitrates and increasing grazing. The Chair asked for a future committee agenda item on collaboration with local farmers, which was regarded as key to climate awareness success.
RESOLVED to:
Include an item to a future committee agenda on collaboration with local farmers.
The third speaker was Guy Wilkin of harBUG – a local cycling group. He discussed cycling outcomes in the new housing developments, stating that the connections with towns were poor. He suggested challenging County Council to support cycling in planning. The committee noted that Full Council already passed a motion that it would work closely with County whilst planning the Didcot network. Further discussion confirmed that landowners were helped to create cycle paths. The idea of replicating cycle to train commutes with cycle to bus was mentioned.
A fourth speaker was given permission to speak. John Broad is involved in the local motorcyclist action group. Mr. Broad was talking in support of motorcycles as a smaller alternative to cars, which create less congestion and take up less parking space. He mentioned an example of Northamptonshire, who include motorcycles in their strategy to fight pollution and congestion. He raised the point that motorcycles were much better for people who cannot pedal cycle for health reasons or have to travel long distances.
30 Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Steering Group
The Committee was asked to nominate a representative for the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Steering Group.
RESOLVED:
To nominate Councillor Caroline Newton to represent the Council at the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Steering Group.
31 Climate Emergency -Year One Work Programme
The Committee Chair gave an address, which is attached in the appendix to these minutes.
The committee read through the report of the Head of partnership and insight. Officers were present to answer questions. The committee reviewed the year one work programme.
Cllrs Newton, Robb and Roberts are part of the task and finish group who reviewed all the initiatives and prioritised them for the programme. The focus was on the projects that were deemed to have the biggest impact. These were split into themes and priority levels. Priorities included electric pool cars for business use, the new Crowmarsh office build and operation, and low carbon new homes and retrofitting.
The report included a budget request for a dedicated climate change officer lead, on a twelve month fixed-term basis. The committee commended the task and finish group.
Theme: Council business
On the subject of electric vehicles, the committee discussed charging facilities at Milton Park. The group were informed that the proposal is to have some dedicated staff charge points, but public charge points would be in liaison with MEPC rather than a cost to the council. The committee considered that a report was required on distribution of electric car charge points per area.
Councillors discussed with officers the merits of having a carbon emissions model, following on from the baseline review. Officers explained that having a model helps inform the committee’s decision making for future plans. The model would be a one-off investment to help the committee make choices, so would not constitute being over-consultation, and would tie into ongoing consultancy fees. The model would help enable committee actions. It was agreed that preparation was needed. The budget for this item was supported.
Theme: Housing
The committee discussed Cosy Homes. Councillors would like to see more information available to the public. Under the behavioural change theme – there was a proposal of £1,000 to inform and communicate with the public, and officers were asked to include retrofit as a feature. The Super Homes programme was cited as something to replicate. An item for the task and finish group is to work on a new build and retrofit housing criteria. The committee supported in principle the production of a booklet for residents suggesting changes that could be made to different styles of housing.
A planning design guide by the Planning Policy team is being created to act as a guide for new homes. Officers explained that this would include a section on climate emergency. The project initiation document is working its way through governance and would be brought to the committee. This would be a future item for the committee to consider.
Theme: Behaviour change
The committee debated the classification of projects in the grants programme, as environmental impact now received a heavier weighting. For example, children’s playgrounds and village halls could be disadvantaged. These could score more poorly for environmental issues, despite being very much needed for social cohesion and health. It could be argued that there is environmental benefit as these facilities could prevent parents from driving their children somewhere for entertainment. A community hall could receive funding for insulation yet be denied funding for a new community facility. Some concern was expressed about grant funding moving to climate emergency from community health.
Therefore, it was agreed that the word “solely” requires removal from the paragraph on page 51, as it disadvantaged some projects. It was added that awarding any amount, no matter how small, actually was a gateway to further funding streams. Officers would review how new weighting for energy-saving criteria affects applications. This would be considered by the committee at a future meeting.
Theme: Ongoing Projects:
With reference to table 31, Park and Charge Project – the wording required changing from ‘council’ to ‘county’, for clarity that the car parks are across the county.
The Crowmarsh council office building was discussed and committee Chair stated that her opinion was that the new office should be zero carbon in its build and operations, without off-site carbon off-setting.
Theme: Businesses
It was suggested that OxLEP should lead on training. It was agreed that the South Council Leader should write to OxLEP about this and request the Council consider this.
There was agreement that some key representatives should be invited to the planned staff conference, such as OxLEP. The task and finish group would consider this as part of their conference scoping work.
Theme: Biodiversity
Chiltern Conservation Board was mentioned as an important potential partner.
Regarding planting trees, there needed to be consideration of tree type, avoidance of monoculture and the fact that maintenance is the expensive aspect. Advice sheets on tree planting and care could be useful. It was noted that town and parish councils had land availability to progress this activity. Officers would amend the wording of this project to include a planting and maintenance programme.
It was considered that activities such a tree planting had a financial implication, and cost reductions could be achieved through working with volunteer groups.
An officer for the Nature Recovery Network would likely be housed at West Oxfordshire district council, and South Oxfordshire could possibly contribute to the funding of this post as part of this project.
RECOMMENDATION: to Cabinet;
To adopt the climate emergency work programme 2020/21.
The committee Chair asked for an inclusion into the work programme - for a minimum of code four enforcement (at least for sustainable new homes) as part of the core strategy. RESOLVED: to scope an indication of the cost of this option, before the budget presentation on 30 January 2020, if possible.
RESOLVED: to;
Send comments to the committee Chair regarding Future Homes, who will share them with committee members.
32 Communications and Engagement update
Officers will circulate a written update to the Chair.
33 Forward Programme for the Committee
Actions were given to the committee secretary – to circulate the minutes draft as soon as possible, and to find a date for a March/April committee meeting.
34 Exclusion of the public
RESOLVED: to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business under Part 1 of Schedule 12A Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:
(i) it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1-7 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and
(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
35 Car Parking Fees and Charges
The committee reviewed a car parking charges proposal and gave comments for Cabinet.
The meeting closed at 6.37 pm
Chairman Date
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