Agenda for Sustainability Cabinet Committee on Monday, 19th January, 2009, 3.00pm

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Sustainability Cabinet Committee - Monday, 19th January, 2009 3.00pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Tanya Massey, Democratic Services Officer

Items
No.	Item
15.	Procedural Business (a) Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct. (b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration. NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public. A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls. Minutes: 15A Declarations of Interest 15a.1 There were none. 15B Exclusion of Press and Public 15b.1 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Sustainability Cabinet Committee considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(1) of the Act). 15b.2 RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.
16.	Chairman's Communications View the background to item 16. Minutes: 16.1 The Chairman stated that she was delighted to see more people in attendance. She added that the Administration took sustainability issues seriously and welcomed the opportunity for debate.
17.	Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 58 KB View the background to item 17. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2008 (copy attached). Minutes: 17.1 RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2008 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
18.	Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Committee (b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson (c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member. NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions form Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 18.1 RESOLVED– That all items be reserved for discussion.
19.	Petitions View the background to item 19. No petitions received by date of publication. Minutes: 19.1 There were none.
20.	Public Questions View the background to item 20. (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 12 January 2008) No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 20.1 There were none.
21.	Deputations View the background to item 21. (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 12 January 2008) No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 21.1 There were none.
22.	Letters from Councillors View the background to item 22. No letters have been received. Minutes: 22.1 There were none.
23.	Written Questions from Councillors View the background to item 23. No written questions have been received. Minutes: 23.1 There were none.
24.	Notices of Motion View the background to item 24. No Notices of Motion have been received. Minutes: 24.1 There were none.
25.	Procurement Code of Practice - Sustainability PDF 80 KB View the background to item 25. View the decision for item 25. Report of the Interim Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached). Additional documents: Item 24 Appendix 1 , item 25. PDF 307 KB Decision: (1) That the Cabinet Committee notes the principles within the revised Code of Practice outlined in Appendix 1. (2) That the Cabinet Committee approves and endorses the revised Code of Practice. Minutes: 25.1 The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Finance & Resources concerning the council’s revised Procurement Code of Practice for Sustainability (for copy see minute book). 25.2 The Lead Councillor for Sustainability explained that, as a big purchaser of goods and services, the Code of Practice demonstrated the council’s commitment to protecting the environment while growing the economy, with particular emphasis on local procurement to support local jobs. 25.3 The Cabinet Member for Central Services added that the Code of Practice would also contribute to the council’s corporate priority of making better use of public money. 25.4 The Cabinet Member for Housing commented that the Code of Practice would be used when tendering and letting the 10-year contract for repairs to and maintenance of the council’s housing stock. 25.5 Councillor Steedman welcomed the report and requested that minimum specification standards, such as those identified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), be incorporated into the Code of Practice alongside the general principles. He also suggested that specific targets be set for the future. Alternatively, he requested that officers monitor procurement and report back to the Cabinet Committee on the actual standards reached in relation to sustainability. 25.6 The Contract Management Advisor explained that officers were encouraged to thoroughly explore the market place to identify best practice and that by setting minimum standards the council may inadvertently limit its achievements with regard to sustainable procurement. 25.7 The Chairman commented that it was important that the council led by example and should push for best practice rather than minimum expectations. She confirmed that monitoring would be carried out and that Members would be kept up to date with performance. 25.8 RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations: (1) That the principles within the revised Code of Practice outlined in Appendix 1 be noted. (2) That the revised Code of Practice be endorsed and approved.
26.	Urban Biosphere City Status PDF 91 KB View the background to item 26. View the decision for item 26. Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached). Additional documents: Item 25 Appendix 1 , item 26. PDF 79 KB Decision: (1) That the Cabinet Committee affirms the council’s commitment to work towards designation of Brighton & Hove as an Urban Biosphere. (2) That the Cabinet Committee seeks integration of the Urban Biosphere target into the work programmes of the City Sustainability Partnership and 2020 Community Partnership. (3) That the Cabinet Committee, working with the 2020 Community Partnership, publishes an agreed strategy and costed action plan to set out the steps required to achieve Urban Biosphere status. Minutes: 26.1 The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance concerning proposals for Brighton and Hove to achieve the status of Urban Biosphere City (for copy see minute book). 26.2 The Lead Councillor for Sustainability explained that the Urban Biosphere concept had real potential for improving the look and feel of the city in many ways. She added that the proposed timescale was appropriate and that it would be important to communicate the concept to the public clearly. She requested that officers consider an alternative working name to ‘Urban Biosphere’ when the proposal goes public, to ensure its meaning is understood. 26.3 The Cabinet Member for Housing added that the council had already begun to show its commitment to this concept through the work carried out at Wild Park in Moulsecoomb, and that this had also benefited the community in a number of ways. 26.4 RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations: (1) That the council’s commitment to work towards designation of Brighton & Hove as an Urban Biosphere be affirmed. (2) That the integration of the Urban Biosphere target into the work programmes of the City Sustainability Partnership and 2020 Community Partnership be sought. (3) That, working with the 2020 Community Partnership, an agreed strategy and costed action plan to set out the steps required to achieve Urban Biosphere status be published.
27.	Sustainable Cities Index PDF 91 KB View the background to item 27. View the decision for item 27. Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached). Additional documents: Item 26 Appendix 1 , item 27. PDF 71 KB Decision: (1) That the Cabinet Committee notes the content of the report and considers what might be done to improve performance across all indicators. Minutes: 27.1 The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance concerning Brighton and Hove’s ranking in the 2008 national Sustainable Cities Index (for copy see minute book). 27.2 The Lead Councillor for Sustainability explained that the Index showed Brighton & Hove to be very near the top of the sustainability league in the UK. 27.3 The Chairman added that while the city had dropped on place in the ranking, this did not detract from the achievements made. 27.4 In response to concerns form Councillor Steedman the Cabinet Member for Central Services confirmed that the council was working to improve the city’s ecological footprint. 27.5 The Cabinet Member for Housing added that both council and private sector housing had a role to play in this and that these issues were at the forefront of recent and forthcoming measures. 27.6 RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations: (1) That the content of the report be noted and that the Cabinet Committee considers what might be done to improve performance across all indicators.
28.	Draft One Planet Living Plan for Brighton & Hove View the background to item 28. Verbal update from the Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy. Minutes: 28.1 The Cabinet Committee received a verbal update concerning the Draft One Planet Living Plan. 28.2 The Head of Sustainability and Environmental Policy explained that the Draft One Planet Living Plan had been issued partly to address the city’s ecological footprint and had come about through the consideration of the 10 principles of One Planet Living by One Brighton. The ideas contained in the Draft Plan were very complex and the next step would be for officers and Members to give it careful consideration before taking any further action. 28.3 Councillor Steedman supported the concept and hoped that the council would take it forward once work had been completed. 28.4 The Chairman confirmed that officers and Members would be considering the Draft Plan and ensuring that it could be delivered in the city. 28.5 RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

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