Agenda item

E.95/21                 

(a)      Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 4 November 2021

O&S.37/21: Task and Finish Group – Climate Change & Biodiversity Action Plan

During discussion, it was recognised that the Task and Finish Group had now been given the opportunity to consider the revised part 1 of the proposal and the Executive was supportive of the conclusions reached by the Group.

Specifically regarding point 3 of the recommendation, the lead officer outlined some of the steps that were being taken by the Council to provide additional support to the Climate Change & Biodiversity Specialist.  These steps were welcomed by Members.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.         That, as a partner of the Devon Climate Emergency, South Hams District Council, through a revision of its Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (which will take place within 3 months of the publication of the final Devon Carbon Plan) will ensure the targets, indicators and monitoring of the Devon Carbon Plan, as well as its carbon budget periods, are included. In this revision, an interim target of 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 below 2010 levels will be set and the action plan will be frontloaded with impactful actions, aligning with the DCP. Section 5.1 of the Interim Devon Carbon Plan outlines Devon’s Net Zero Target, as well as detailing carbon budget periods to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest.

The implementation of the Devon Carbon Plan will be monitored regularly, and a review will be triggered if carbon emissions are not reducing at the necessary pace. SHDC will contribute to future reviews as a partner and align its Action Plan reviews alongside the Devon Carbon Plan budget periods;

2.         That the Council should setup a CC&B Community Partnership Group that brings together the range of expertise and energy to achieve the goals of the Action Plan. This could be established through a revision of, the current Community Forum. It is suggested that the six organisations that presented to this Task and Finish Group are invited to join the existing Community Forum members) along with relevant officers, any elected member, and the lead member for Climate Change and Biodiversity. A revised Terms of Reference will be agreed to set the context for the group with a rotating chair; and

3.         That, in recognition that officer resources are limited, notwithstanding the remit of the Task and Finish Group, urgent consideration should be given to identify additional funds for CC&B and accessing other available funding streams to support our specialist Adam Williams either through recruitment or through employing relevant expertise.

(b)      Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 20 January 2022

O&S.55/21 Devon Home Choice Review

RESOLVED

That the Council continue to be a member of Devon Home Choice.

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MINUTES E.88/21 PART 1; E.90/21 PART 1; E.91/21; E.92/21 PART 2; E.93/21 PART 2; E.94/21 PARTS 2, 3, 4 AND 5 (WHICH ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 31 MARCH 2022) WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2022 UNLESS CALLED IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).