Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies of absence received at this meeting.

The Chairman made the following announcement –

I would like to briefly address the Panel, only that I should like to welcome those viewing online and thank those of you who have already expressed interest in this new panel.  Please do not think the Council has been ignoring this issue as a lot of work has been going on over a long period of time by members and officers to ensure our engagement on climate change in a responsible and timely way.  Please do look at information and links on the Fareham Borough Council Website detailing how we approach these challenges.  You can even use the calculator to work out your own personal carbon footprint and consider ways you (or your business) can do your own ‘net zero’ plan.  I’m sure the council officers and members look forward to working with our communities to make a positive difference.  A window into what can be achieved having been shown during last year’s lockdown, giving everyone time to reflect … now is time for action, with this panel having an ongoing monitoring role.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Standing Orders and Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

The Panel received video deputations in respect of item 5 - Climate Change action Plan from Lesley Goddard and Anne Stephenson.

To consider the Executive report on the Climate Change Action Plan from the Director Planning and Regeneration.

The Panel received a report from the Climate Change Officer on the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan which is to be considered by the Executive on the 07 June 2021. The Climate Change Officer provided an overview of the Executive report and then went onto provide the details of the Climate Change Action Plan set out at Annex 1, Appendix A to the report.

At the agreement of the Chairman Councillor S Martin addressed the Committee during discussions on this item.

The Panel agreed that the Climate Change Action Plan is a good start and thanked Officers and Members that have been involved in developing the plan up to this point.

Members asked questions for clarity and discussed several aspects of the plan and the wider climate change work. One of the key topics for discussion related to the opportunities available to the Council to establish new and stronger links with the community and outside organisations to assist the residents and businesses within Fareham Borough in progressing towards carbon neutrality. 

RESOLVED that having considered the Executive report at Annex 1, the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel were supportive of the Climate Change Action Plan.  

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive, that falls under the remit of Climate Change Scrutiny Panel. This will include any decisions taken by individual Members.

There were no items of Executive Business for the Panel to consider at this meeting.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Climate Change Panel.

The Chairman asked Members of the Panel to consider the Scrutiny Priorities for the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.

Members requested that a presentation on the work being undertaken by the Greening Campaign within Fareham Borough, commissioned by the Council, be made to the Panel. The Director of Planning and Regeneration addressed the Panel to confirm that this would be a worthwhile exercise and that, in consultation with the Chairman, representatives of the Greening campaign be invited to a future meeting of the Panel.

Members also asked that an item be considered on the environmental upgrades to the Council’s housing stock. The Climate Change Officer confirmed that there is a great deal of work taking place to upgrade existing homes so this would be formulated by officers by way of a presentation or report to the Panel at a future meeting.

RESOLVED that the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel: -

a)    considered the Climate Change scrutiny priorities;

b)    request that officers invite representatives of the Greening Campaign to a future meeting of the Panel, to advise on the work commissioned by the Council;

c)     request that a presentation or report on the environmental upgrades to the Council’s housing stock be brought to a future meeting of the Panel; and

d)    request that a presentation or report on the opportunities for future engagement with Fareham’s business community on climate change matters be brought to a future meeting of the Panel.