Agenda and draft minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor J Englefield.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel meeting held on the 09 July 2024.

It was AGREED that the Minutes of the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel held on the 09 July 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman made the following annoucement –

I am pleased to say that following promotion by the Council to residents and local community organisations within the Borough, two groups, one in Titchfield and the other in Portchester, have now signed up to the second phase of the Greening Campaign.  These two groups will initially work with their local communities to encourage small behaviour changes that will positively impact on the energy use and resulting carbon emissions of households. They will also get additional support from expert advisors to begin to tackle more serious ‘second phase issues.’ Known as the Five Pillars, these are:

Ø Space for Nature

Ø Health & Wellbeing in light of Climate Change

Ø Energy Efficient Warmer Homes

Ø Waste Prevention

Ø Cycle of the Seed. 

Fareham Borough Council paid for the registration fees, with further funding and support from Hampshire County Council and the National Lottery. It is great to see such enthusiasm and desire to tackle climate change issues amongst our community and would encourage more to get involved in the Greening Campaign.

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.

No declarations of interest were received at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

An in-person deputation was received from Andy Rolfe from Fareham and Gosport Friends of the Earth.

To receive a presentation by the Policy, Resource and Engagement Manager providing details on the Council’s Carbon Footprint 2023/24.

A presentation was received from the Policy, Research and Engagement Manager providing the Panel with an update on the Council’s Carbon Footprint for 2023/24.

Members discussed the Council’s ability to reach its target of carbon neutrality by 2030 and challenged if the Climate Change Action Plan is robust enough to reduce the carbon emissions required to reach this target and questioned if more needs to be done to underpin an inherent understanding through all Panels, Committees and Executive decisions of Climate Change.

RESOLVED that the Panel note the contents of the presentation.

To consider an update from the Policy, Resources and Engagement Manager on prevailing climate change matters, including the Annual Review of the Climate Change Action Plan 2023/24.

The Panel received a report with supporting presentation on the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and annual review from the Policy, Research and Engagement Manager.

Members of the Panel praised Officers on the annual review document of the CCAP and asked several questions for clarification. Members discussed the challenge presented in achieving the Council’s Carbon Neutrality by 2030 commitment and the need to continue to push forward and achieve what we can. Officers explained that the Environment Strategy, that will be brought before the Panel next year, will help to set out a clear direction for the Council moving forward.

RESOLVED that the Panel note and comment on the contents of the Climate Change Action Plan review document at appendix A of the report.

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.

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 Panel were invited to consider the priorities for the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.

The Director of Planning and Regeneration addressed the Panel to advise that a project update from the Coastal Partners would be presented to the next meeting of the Panel which is currently scheduled for 14 January 2024.

RESOLVED that the Panel considered the priorities for the Climate Change Scrutiny Panel.