Agenda item

28/20              

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update to Members; set out the progress made to date; and recommended that the Council now adopted the draft Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy.

In her introduction, the Leader highlighted that all Members had been in receipt of a detailed paper that had been prepared by Cllr McKay in advance of this meeting.  To enable for the contents of the paper to be suitably evaluated, the Leader had requested that a meeting be arranged between lead officers, herself, Cllr McKay and Cllr Birch (in his capacity as the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel) in the upcoming weeks.

The Leader also advised those in attendance that, at the appropriate time, she would be proposing parts 1 and 5 of the report recommendation and an additional part 6 that would read as follows:

‘That the remaining funds within the one-off Earmarked Reserve (£380,000) be allocated in accordance with Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the presented agenda report.’

In the ensuing discussion, particular reference was made to:

(a)     the Community Forum.  A detailed debate took place on the Forum during which the following points were raised:

-          It was noted that the first meeting of the Forum had been particularly positive and well received;

-          In response to disappointment being expressed that Members (in an observing capacity) were prohibited from attending meetings of the Forum, the Leader committed to reviewing this current arrangement; and

-          With regard to the recruitment and selection process that had been followed, officers advised that 86 expressions of interest had been received to serve on the Forum.  It was confirmed that there was a gender and geographical balance on the Forum and that representatives were from a mix of the business sector, community interest companies and local town and parish councils.  Officers also agreed to list the representatives on the website;

(b)     the role of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group.  An amendment to the recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

‘That the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group continue to meet on a quarterly basis to review and consider (as needed) the Action Plan and work as it goes forward.’

In support of the amendment, some Members felt that, whilst Climate Change was an Executive function of the Council, it would be unfortunate to disband the Working Group and it should be retained and meet on an ad-hoc basis.  In contrast, other Members stated their opposition to the amendment and considered that part 3 of the recommendation provided for an adequate set of governance arrangements for the Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST;

(c)     the Executive Forward Plan and Overview and Scrutiny Panel Work Programme.  In the event of part 3 of the recommendation being approved, it was confirmed that reports relating to the Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan would be included on both the Executive Forward Plan and the Overview and Scrutiny Panel Work Programme.

                        It was then:

                                    RESOLVED

1.     That the Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy (as set out at Appendix 1 of the presented agenda report and including an updated Action Plan) be adopted;

2.     That it be noted that the Action Plan will be a continually evolving document and that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Governance and Assurance, in consultation with the lead Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, to make revisions to the Plan as and when deemed necessary;

3.     That the Terms of Reference of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Panel be updated to enable the strategic oversight and implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan to be a function of the Executive and performance against the Action Plan to be monitored by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel on a six-monthly basis;

4.     That the verbal feedback from the Climate Change Community Forum session held on 9 December 2020 be noted;

5.     That thanks be put on record to the Members of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group for developing the draft Strategy and Action Plan;

6.     That the remaining funds within the one-off Earmarked Reserve (£380,000) be allocated in accordance with Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the presented agenda report.