Agenda and minutes

Communities Scrutiny Group - Thursday, 29th April, 2021 7.00 pm

Items
No. Item

35.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

36.

Minutes of the meeting 28 January 2021 pdf icon PDF 326 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Jones referred to Minute 31 ‘Edwalton Golf Course Strategic Review’ and referred to the sentence “…. other leisure options had been considered but were not considered affordable” and suggested that the word ‘consultants’ should be added to that sentence to better reflect the issue that was raised, given that some members of the Group had challenged if that was a wide enough range of leisure activities.

 

Members of the Group were happy to support the suggested amendment to the minutes.

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2021, were approved as a true record of the meeting, subject to the following amendment: to Minute 31:

 

“….. other leisure options had been considered by the consultants but were not considered affordable.”

 

37.

Carbon Management Plan pdf icon PDF 319 KB

The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods introduced a report, which summarised the work previously undertaken to bring the Carbon Management Plan forward, including the annual scrutiny of the Plan by this Group.

 

The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods advised the Group that the report provided an update on the various workstreams, which had continued to be brought forward, in spite of the Covid pandemic.  Reference was made to the development of a Carbon Clever Progress Dashboard, which provided a snapshot of progress in respect of the Council’s carbon reduction commitments, and moving towards its goal of becoming net zero by 2030.  The Group was advised that going forward, the Dashboard would be updated and shared regularly with all Councillors, other interest groups and the public, to ensure transparency.   

 

The Team Manager Environment delivered a presentation on the Carbon Management Plan Progress Update, which provided details on the following issues, and members of the Group were invited to make comments and observations on the presentation and report:

 

·       Understanding different greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the climate.

·       Explaining what the different Carbon ‘scopes’ mean.

·       How the Council was performing.

·       Emerging opportunities

·       Priorities for 2021/22.

 

Members of the Group thanked the Team Manager Environment for the comprehensive and informative presentation, which was extremely positive and in particular, welcomed the introduction of the Carbon Clever Progress Dashboard.

 

In answer to a question regarding the availability of the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Phase 2 Funding, the Team Manager Environment advised that the allocation was available throughout the Midlands, and all the Nottinghamshire districts had accepted that allocation.  The funding was to promote ‘green’ recovery, and to improve energy measures in owner occupied properties that had an E, F or G rating. Currently an area in East Leake was being considered, as it was easier to deliver a project in a more concentrated area of similar type housing.

 

In respect of the three Carbon Emission Scopes, the Group was advised that the Council had already made a commitment in relation to Scopes 1 and 2.  In relation to Scope 3, which were indirect emissions and not under the Council’s control , there was already some understanding of that; however, as the Council gained a better understanding, initially the amount of emissions would increase,  as currently no data had been captured for the supply chain, and that would be the largest contributor.

 

In answer to a question regarding the importance of ensuring that residents continued to be made aware of the important role that everyone needed to play to reduce carbon emissions, the Team Manager Environment advised that a comprehensive Communications Plan was in place, which would highlight both the Council’s carbon neutral activities and the progress being made, together with an emphasis on promoting behavioural change and ensuring that residents understood the important role that they must also take.  

 

In respect of the 2019/20 data for the Dashboard, the Group was advised that although there had been some delay in collecting data due to Covid,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 305 KB

The report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

Minutes:

The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods presented the report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services, which detailed the proposed Communities Scrutiny Group Work Programme for 2021/22.  The Group was advised that currently there were a number of topics on the Scrutiny Matrix, which would further populate the Work Programme in due course.

 

The Chairman updated the Group on the continued progress of the Rushcliffe Equalities Scheme, following its consideration by the Group in August 2020 and January 2021.  The feedback provided by the Group had been taken on board and the report would be considered by Cabinet on 11 May 2021.  Members were thanked for their hard work and the importance of the scrutiny process was reiterated. 

 

It was RESOLVED that the Work Programme detailed below be approved by the Communities Scrutiny Group:

 

July 2021

 

Safeguarding Adults and Children Strategy

Work Programme

 

October 2021

 

Police Performance and Resources for Rushcliffe

Work programme

 

January 2022

 

Housing Delivery Plan

Work programme

 

April 2022

 

Carbon Management Plan

Waste Strategy

Work Programme