Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence of Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

All Members of the Committee were in attendance.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3^rd August 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3^rd August 2021 were agreed as a correct record

An update was provided in relation to the item on ‘Our Council Plan’     (Minute 21), as follows:

·       The latest draft had been discussed at an informal Corporate Scrutiny Panel the previous day. Councillor Cooper, Chair of the Panel, reported that the item had generated lots of valuable and varied contributions to influence the final version.

·       In respect of the issues identified by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, it was reported that:

Local spend and support for local businesses; the refresh of the Kirklees Economic Strategy, supported by a revised Economic Recovery Plan, would provide the opportunity to identify actions to help build a more inclusive economy.

Customer experience / access to services; the Corporate Scrutiny Panel would be receiving a report, at a later date, in respect of the ongoing work to support customer access to services.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were considered in public session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public.

A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on a particular issue of concern, relevant to that body’s terms of reference. In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2) members of the public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting subject to the petition relating to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

The Committee received a deputation on behalf of Kirklees Cycling Campaign in relation to the progress report on the Climate Emergency and the Net Zero Road Map.

The meeting will hear any questions from the general public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

Questions should be emailed to executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 27^th September 2021.

Questions were asked by Alison Abbott, representing the Save Our Spen group, in relation to:

(i) the intentions of the Council in terms of identifying those areas of the district that are already suffering from high levels of pollution and high levels of hospitalisation of people with respiratory issues, and if so, once identified, the plans to influence any increase in these pollution levels in specific areas.

(ii) what the Council’s vision was in terms of ensuring that this district never sees a case like Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the young girl that had air pollution named as a cause of death.

The Chair explained that the questions were more relevant to the remit of Cabinet than Scrutiny but she would ask the responsible officer to provide a written response and that this would then be reported back to the Committee Members. She also explained that the Council’s Air Quality Annual Status Report for 2021 would be submitted for consideration by Scrutiny, in due course.

Councillor Will Simpson, the Cabinet Member responded to the second question.

The Committee will consider a report which provides updates in respect of:

(a) the Kirklees Climate Commission and the development of the Council’s road map to becoming carbon neutral by 2038; and

(b) the Council’s annual internal carbon emissions reporting, against the 40% reduction target set in 2010, and progress in relation to the Council’s phase 1 climate emergency actions.

Contact:

Shaun Berry, Operational Manager, Environment and Climate Change

John Atkinson, Project Manager (Energy and Climate Change), Environment and Climate Change

The Committee received a report which provided updates in respect of:

(i)    The Climate Emergency and Phase 1 climate emergency actions.

(ii)   The Council’s annual internal carbon emissions reporting, against the 40% reduction target set in 2010

(iii) The development of the Council’s road map to becoming carbon neutral by 2038;

(iv) The Kirklees Climate Commission

Councillor Will Simpson, the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Greener Kirklees, introduced the aspects of the report relating to the Climate Emergency, Phase 1 actions and carbon reduction projects highlighting the following:

·       The on-line Youth Climate Festival held in March 2021, with an estimated one thousand participants, and the associated follow-up actions.

·       The Kirklees White Rose Forest Programme; aiming for a 35% increase in canopy cover across the district by 2050; largely completed by 2038 with 10% delivered on Council land by 2026.

·       Progress in respect of the transition of the Council’s fleet to electric vehicles, including charging infrastructure.

·       Work on the publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the district, to encourage adoption of electric vehicles.

·       Free/lower rate parking offer for electric and low emission vehicles on Council-run car parks.

·       Development of the Huddersfield Heat Network.

·       Council Housing projects in the district; including pilot schemes in respect of new-build and retrofit to existing properties.

John Atkinson, Project Manager (Energy and Climate Change) from the Environment and Climate Change Team gave a presentation highlighting the following points:

·       The background and current position in respect of the district’s net-zero road map. The consultation draft was expected to be completed by late 2021/early 2022.

·       The scale of the challenge for Kirklees in reducing its carbon emissions.

·       The routes for meeting the target, split into cost-effective and structural change options.

·       The proposed next steps, including the development of; a detailed programme of activity, based on the findings of the road map; an effective partnership and collaborative approach; and a communication and culture change strategy.

Shaun Berry, Operational Manager and Martin Wood, Acting Head of Public Protection were also in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·       In response to a question about the work done since the climate emergency declaration in January 2019 and the declaration of further Air Quality management Areas. it was explained that significant work had been undertaken, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances in the intervening period. For example, the internal 2020 target for reducing carbon emissions by 40% had been exceeded. However, it was accepted that there was much more to do to reach the targets that the Council had set itself and acknowledged that, as the target moved nearer, this may become harder; the ‘easy wins’ having been taken . Carbon reduction was also something that needed to be undertaken with partners and on a national basis as well as by the Council.

·       In respect of the planning and research undertaken to inform the development of a strategic approach to provision of the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To give consideration to the Committee’s Agenda Plan and Work Programme for 2021/22.

Date of next meeting: 9^th November 2021

Contact: Sheila Dykes

Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The Committee noted the current Work Programme and the date of the next meeting; 9 November 2021.