Venue: Collingwood Room - Civic Offices. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: There were no apologies of absence received at this meeting. |
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To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 18 October 2022. Minutes: It was AGREED that the Minutes of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel held on the 18 October 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. |
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: The Chairman made the following announcement –
Firstly, I should like to welcome all present and especially Councillor Harry Davis as this is his first Climate Change Scrutiny Panel since becoming elected in October 2022.
I was pleased to see the Government launch its £18m 'It All Adds Up' energy saving campaign at the end of last year. The campaign features tips on simple, low or no-cost actions that households can take to immediately cut energy use and save money while ensuring people are able to stay safe and warm this winter. The Government's website also provides more detailed information on larger 'spend to save' improvements such as heat pumps or solar panels as well as grants available to eligible households.
Given the current weather, ironically at a time when arctic ice melt is being highlighted it is hoped that as energy costs hit people’s pockets this will focus residents and business into taking very serious and prompt measures.
We look forward to hearing from the Head Building Control Partnership during this meeting on the potential impact new measures being brought in will have on future builds, through the planning and building control process, to hasten progress towards our net zero goals and hit the less than 2% (preferably nearer 1.5%) global warming target agreed in the Paris agreement by 2050.
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Declarations of Interest and Disclosures of Advice or Directions 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. Minutes: No declarations of interest were received at the meeting. |
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Deputations To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged. Minutes: A deputation was received from Anne Stephenson from Fareham and Gosport Friends of the Earth. |
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Building Control Partnership Service Update To receive a presentation from the Head of Building Control on the new building regulations that aim to reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings and existing homes and the impact these new regulations will have on the Council’s development projects.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Building Control Partnership. The presentation provided an overview of the building regulations that are being introduced by the government to reduce the carbon footprint of new and existing buildings and the impact these new regulations will have on the Council’s development projects.
Members asked for reassurance that existing properties across the Borough will be required to have the same energy standards as new builds and what will be done to achieve this. The Head of Building Control Partnership addressed the Panel to explain that the Building Regulations generally require similar standards to be applied to extensions and alterations to properties, but it is likely that incentives and grants will also be introduced by central Government to encourage homeowners to bring their properties in line with the targets set by Government. This will be a further challenge as some new low carbon technologies will rely on a package of thermal upgrades to the fabric of buildings to ensure they are effective, together with improved information for building users on how the systems operate.
RESOLVED that the Panel note the contents of the presentation.
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Hampshire County Council Scoping Report To consider a scoping report to invite officers from Hampshire County Council to a future meeting of the Panel to explain the plans for carbon neutrality by 2050. Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a scoping report from the Director of Planning and Regeneration asking them to consider the report as part of an invitation to request that officers from Hampshire County Council attend a future meeting of the Panel to explain the County’s plans for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Members asked that in addition to the objectives set out in the scoping report attached at Appendix A to the report, Hampshire County Council are also asked to provide details on the collaborative work taking place with Fareham Borough Council and other local authorities across Hampshire, to help meet their target of net zero by 2050. In particular, with regards to cycle routes and infrastructure and public transport links.
RESOLVED that the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel considered the scoping report attached at Appendix A to the report. |
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Climate Change Action Plan Update To consider an update from the Policy, Resources and Engagement Manger on prevailing climate change matters.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received a presentation from the Policy, Resource and Engagement Manager on prevailing climate change matters. The presentation provided an overview of the main areas of progress that have been made since the last update to the Panel in October 2022.
A question was asked by Members on the efficiency of solar panels as several the measures being proposed in carbon reduction by the Council have a dependency on this technology. The Policy, Resource and Engagement Manager advised that although the technology is still developing and improving all the time, the feedback that has been received from residents within the Borough that have recently had solar panels installed into their properties through the Governments Warmer Homes Scheme has been positive.
RESOLVED that the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel note the contents of the presentation. |
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To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of Climate Change Scrutiny Panel. This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.
Minutes: There were no items of Executive Business for the Panel to consider. |
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Climate Change Scrutiny Panel Priorities To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Climate Change Panel. Minutes: The Chairman asked that Members of the Panel consider the scrutiny priorities for the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.
Members asked for officers to consider a future Panel agenda item relating to the operation of both the Fareham and Holly Hill Leisure Centres, through the Council’s operator Everyone Active to provide an overview of the feasibility studies undertaken for reducing energy use in both Leisure Centres. The Director of Planning and Regeneration addressed the Panel to confirm that this would be added to the list of priorities for the next municipal year 2023/24.
RESOLVED that the Panel considered the Scrutiny Priorities for the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel. |