Agenda item

Notice of Motion

Meeting of South Hams Council, Thursday, 25th November, 2021 11.00 am (Item 59/21)

to consider the following motions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1

a) From Cllr O’Callaghan and Cllr Jackson

‘There is a housing crisis in the South Hams, and genuinely affordable homes for local people must be our top priority.

The Council will look to find solutions by forming a Working Group in the immediate future which will report back to the Executive and/or Full Council as soon as is practicable.’

b) From Cllr Rose and Cllr Chown

Moving away from Gas and Oil in South Hams

The transition away from fossil fuels is complex, expensive, and urgent. While SHDC is often reliant on National Government policy to set the pace of the shift, we can significantly influence attitudes and behaviour through our communications and publicly stated intentions.

Council notes:

· That many of our residents are deeply concerned that global CO2 emissions continue to rise.

· That the burning of fossil fuels, including gas and oil, is directly responsible for this.

· That Government policy is not yet in place to ban the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds.

· That a great deal of time and expense are being invested into retrofitting houses to emit less C02.

· That developers were given notice as long ago as 2007 under the Code for Sustainable Homes that all new homes would have to be zero carbon by 2016. These requirements were scrapped in 2015.

· The comments from Sustainable South Hams:
‘New homes need to be built to zero carbon standards as would have been required by 2016 under the scrapped Code for Sustainable Homes. This reduces up-front costs for heating infrastructure and brings running costs down, as well as lessening the burden on the electricity grid. Aside from ensuring homes are insulated to best practice standards, one of the best tried and tested means to achieve zero carbon is to install a heat pump. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps are as green as the electricity powering them. So as the UK’s remarkable progress in greening its electricity grid continues, heat pumps will tend towards zero carbon in operation. They also of course emit no dangerous PM2.5 particulates, unlike gas and oil boilers. And as SHDC stated in the April 2018 Clean Air Strategy, “there is no safe level for PM2.5”, and “life expectancy can be significantly affected due to exposure to poor air quality”.’

Council agrees:

o That it is likely that most gas boilers installed from today will eventually need to be removed and replaced with heat pumps.

o That in a time of climate and ecological emergency it is unacceptable for gas and oil boilers to be installed in new builds.

o That our residents should not be exposed to PM2.5, for which SHDC has already stated that there is no ‘safe’ level.

And therefore, South Hams District Council resolves to:

· Make a public statement to house builders informing them that: SHDC will be banning the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds as soon as we are able to under Central Government regulations. Developers should consider this as fair warning and the beginning of a grace period to prepare for this change.

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy that requires new builds to be zero carbon.

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy to ban the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds.

c) From Cllr Pennington and Cllr Long

1. This Council asks that the Executive make all necessary arrangements to empty resident’s Brown Garden Waste Bins as soon as possible.

Options being by the use of multiple contractors to cover different areas within the District; and/or by FCC arranging overtime with existing staff for this one off collection.

2. This Council asks the Executive to revoke the decision to suspend the South Hams garden waste collections until spring 2022. And for the great benefit of South Hams residents and council taxpayers renegotiate with FCC this hugely appreciated service during the months of January, February and March 2022 under the terms of the agreed contract. A monthly collection would suffice until the spring review is completed.

d) From Cllr Sweett and Cllr Long

Due to the further increases in house prices over the past eighteen months combined with a lack of available rental properties in the South West many local people especially young people do not have housing options within their home towns and villages. This Council will recommence the useful discussions between various traveller groups,’ caravan dwellers’, interested parties and South Hams officers to continue to find a variety of solutions to the ‘housing’ crisis. This will include the options discussed previously with the for example a transit site in collaboration with DCC, smaller sites within Wards, engage with developers on these issues and simplify the planning process for both tolerated sites and those living low impact lifestyles.

e) From Cllr Hodgson and Cllr Rose

In preparation for the forthcoming review of the Joint Local Plan, this Council will invite Parish Council’s to propose potential hamlets and similar locations for new Conservation Area Assessments to ensure the future protection of some special heritage and historic locations in the district that are currently vulnerable to inappropriate new development.

f) From Cllr McKay and Cllr Birch

Background

The emergency we now face requires immediate action and much of this effort needs to come from our communities, but they need our help and support.

Sustainable South Hams (SSH) is a local organisation working to coordinate the activities of the myriad groups and parish councils across the district that are each working hard to try and address the emergency of climate change and biodiversity loss. By bringing groups together, so that there is a sharing of knowledge, experience and expertise, as well as through training in the many disciplines needed, the efforts of the whole community of volunteers can be much more efficient and effective.

SSH have been highly effective in bringing groups together and promoting the sharing of knowledge through monthly members meetings, networking introductions and project visits and would make ideal partners for the Council to work with to compliment and enhance its own efforts in this area.

SSH are in a unique position to deliver results. They started only 2 years ago and have proven themselves to be professional, extraordinarily hard working and delivering exactly what is needed to make sure we have the best chance of being ready for the future.

The task SSH has taken on is enormous. It is not a local group, it is now a key local organisation in the mitigation and adaptation race against climate-change and biodiversity loss. It needs out support and it is requesting a grant of £22,500 to be used for:

£3.5k Basic Business Setup (CIC formation, Website, Marketing, IT etc.)

£10k Project Management (1.5 days per week)

£6k Paying Mentors to assist new projects delivery (1 day per week)

£3k Revenue Stream Development and Funding Application (0.5 days per week)

Motion

This Council recognises the outstanding and important contribution that SSH has made to addressing Climate Change and Biodiversity loss and in order for it to continue and to build on the work it has done, this Council feels it is appropriate to award a discretionary grant to SSH of £22,500 to be taken from the Council’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Fund.

g) From Cllr Hodgson and Cllr Rose

In light of the current difficulties with the collection of green waste and the likelihood that this will remain a problem for some areas of the district, and in the spirit of COP 26 to reduce the carbon footprint of waste recycling, this Council will encourage and support community composting initiatives that are supported by parish councils in the South Hams.

Minutes:

59/21

It was noted that seven Motions on Notice had been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1:

(a) By Cllrs O’Callaghan and Jackson

“There is a housing crisis in the South Hams, and genuinely affordable homes for local people must be our top priority.

The Council will look to find solutions by forming a Working Group in the immediate future which will report back to the Executive and/or Full Council as soon as is practicable.”

In her introduction, the proposer made particular reference to:

o the urgency of the housing crisis necessitating the need for an open ended Working Group;

o the motion leading to an increased level of Member engagement and consultation; and

o there being a genuine need for an increased provision of both rental properties and social housing in the South Hams.

In the ensuing debate, reference was made to:

(a) a recognition that there was a need for all Members to be involved in finding potential solutions to the housing crisis;

(b) the scope to investigate premises above retail units being brought into housing use;

(d) the report that was considered by the Executive on 14 October 2021 titled ‘Response to the Housing Crisis’ (Minute E.51/21 refers). In opposition to the motion, a Member outlined the number of proposed measures and concepts that were set out in the Executive report to address the crisis and felt that officers should be given the opportunity to develop these instead of being required to support an additional Member Working Group.

When put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST.

(b) By Cllrs Rose and Chown

“Moving away from Gas and Oil in South Hams

The transition away from fossil fuels is complex, expensive, and urgent. WhileSHDC is often reliant on National Government policy to set the pace of the shift, we can significantly influence attitudes and behaviour through our communications and publicly stated intentions.

Council notes:

· That many of our residents are deeply concerned that global CO2 emissions continue to rise;

· That the burning of fossil fuels, including gas and oil, is directly responsible for this;

· That Government policy is not yet in place to ban the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds;

· That a great deal of time and expense are being invested into retrofitting houses to emit less C02;

· That developers were given notice as long ago as 2007 under the Code for Sustainable Homes that all new homes would have to be zero carbon by 2016. These requirements were scrapped in 2015.

· The comments from Sustainable South Hams:

· ‘New homes need to be built to zero carbon standards as would have been required by 2016 under the scrapped Code for Sustainable Homes. This reduces up-front costs for heating infrastructure and brings running costs down, as well as lessening the burden on the electricity grid. Aside from ensuring homes are insulated to best practice standards, one of the best tried and tested means to achieve zero carbon is to install a heat pump. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps are as green as the electricity powering them. So as the UK’s remarkable progress in greening its electricity grid continues, heat pumps will tend towards zero carbon in operation. They also of course emit no dangerous PM2.5 particulates, unlike gas and oil boilers. And as SHDC stated in the April 2018 Clean Air Strategy, “there is no safe level for PM2.5”, and “life expectancy can be significantly affected due to exposure to poor air quality”.’

Council agrees:

· That it is likely that most gas boilers installed from today will eventually need to be removed and replaced with heat pumps.

· That in a time of climate and ecological emergency it is unacceptable for gas and oil boilers to be installed in new builds.

· That our residents should not be exposed to PM2.5, for which SHDC has already stated that there is no ‘safe’ level.

And therefore, South Hams District Council resolves to:

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy that requires new builds to be zero carbon.

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy to ban the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds.

In his introduction, the proposer highlighted that he had discussed the wording of his motion with other Members since the agenda had been published and he therefore wished to propose the following revisions (in red font) to his motion:

‘Moving away from Fossil Fuels in South Hams

And therefore, South Hams District Council resolves to:

· Make a public statement to the press and house builders informing them that: SHDC will use its power as a planning authority to require all new homes to be net zero as soon as Central Government regulations allow for this. Developers should consider this as fair warning and the beginning of a grace period to prepare for this change. SHDC urges house builders to cease the installation of fossil fuel burning boilers and pay great attention to achieving very high standards of insulation;

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy that requires new homes to be net zero carbon;

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy to ban the installation of fossil fuel burning boilers in any new builds prior to the proposed Government ban in 2025.

(These revisions were subsequently seconded by Cllr Chown).

In his introduction, the proposer felt that approval of this motion would help to demonstrate a real statement of intent that the Council was taking its declared Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency seriously.

During the ensuing debate, the Leader gave an assurance that the Joint Local Plan Officers were fully aware of these issues and were in the process of drafting a policy to address these with the working title ‘Super DEV 32’.

It was then:

RESOLVED

Moving away from Fossil Fuels in South Hams

Council notes:

· That many of our residents are deeply concerned that global CO2 emissions continue to rise;

· That humanity’s reckless burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) is directly responsible for this;

· That Government policy is not yet in place to ban the installation of coal, gas and oil boilers in new homes;

· That a great deal of time and expense are being invested into retrofitting houses to emit less C02;

· That developers were given notice as long ago as 2007 under the Code for Sustainable Homes that all new homes would have to be zero carbon by 2016. These requirements were scrapped in 2015; and

Council agrees:

· That it is likely that most fossil fuel boilers installed from today will eventually need to be replaced (or converted) with cleaner tech such as heat pumps or hydrogen boilers;

· That in a time of climate and ecological emergency it is unacceptable for gas, coal, or oil boilers to be installed in new builds.

And therefore, South Hams District Council resolves to:

· Lobby Central Government to bring forward policy that requires new homes to be net zero carbon;

· To lobby Central Government to bring forward policy to ban the installation of fossil fuel burning boilers in any new builds prior to the proposed Government ban in 2025.

(c) By Cllrs Pennington and Long

‘1. This Council asks that the Executive make all necessary arrangements to empty resident’s Brown Garden Waste Bins as soon as possible.

Options being by the use of multiple contractors to cover different areas within the District; and/or by FCC arranging overtime with existing staff for this one off collection.

As a consequence of the discussions earlier in this meeting (Minute 54/21 above refers), the Chairman ruled that this motion was in breach of Council Procedure Rule 16.1: ‘Recission of Previous Decisions and Motions’ and the motion was therefore not considered at this meeting.

(d) By Cllrs Sweett and Long

“Due to the further increases in house prices over the past eighteen months combined with a lack of available rental properties in the South West many local people especially young people do not have housing options within their home towns and villages. This Council will recommence the useful discussions between various traveller groups,’ caravan dwellers’, interested parties and South Hams officers to continue to find a variety of solutions to the ‘housing’ crisis. This will include the options discussed previously with the for example a transit site in collaboration with DCC, smaller sites within Wards, engage with developers on these issues and simplify the planning process for both tolerated sites and those living low impact lifestyles.”

In her introduction, the proposer emphasised the importance of this motion and therefore hoped that progress could be made as soon as was practically possible.

In debate, an amendment (as set out in red font) was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

This Council will recommence the useful discussions between various traveller groups, caravan dwellers, interested parties and South Hams officers to continue to find a variety of solutions for these communities to the ‘housing’ crisis. This will include the options discussed previouslyfor example a transit site in collaboration with DCC, some smaller sites within Wards, engaging with developers on these issues and assisting with the planning process for both tolerated sites and, if and where appropriate, those living low impact lifestyles.”

Since these amendments were felt to provide greater clarity to the initial motion, the proposer and seconder were content to accept this amendment and it therefore became the substantive motion.

It was then:

RESOLVED

This Council will recommence the useful discussions between various traveller groups, caravan dwellers, interested parties and South Hams officers to continue to find a variety of solutions for these communities to the ‘housing’ crisis. This will include the options discussed previously for example a transit site in collaboration with DCC, some smaller sites within Wards, engaging with developers on these issues and assisting with the planning process for both tolerated sites and, if and where appropriate, those living low impact lifestyles.

At this point and, in accordance with Meeting Procedure Rule 8.3(b), the Chairman advised that the 45-minute time limit for consideration of Notices of Motion had now expired and it was therefore his intention to formally close this Council Meeting.