Agenda for Sustainability Cabinet Committee on Thursday, 21st January, 2010, 3.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 208 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Tanya Massey, Senior Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(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.
Note: Councillor Young, Cabinet Member for Finance, substituted for Councillor Caulfield who was unable to attend the meeting due to Council business. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 16.1 The Chairman reported that, in response to Councillor Mitchell’s request for a Members Seminar on carbon reduction, a free seminar had been arranged on 16 February with support from the Energy Saving Trust and would concentrate on broader climate action planning, hopefully including carbon trading. She added that a more specific seminar could be arranged, but would take a little time as the Council’s new Energy Manager would lead on this and had only been in post since the beginning of January.
16.2 The Chairman advised that the issue of school participation in the Carbon Reduction Commitment was due to be explored with the Schools’ Forum of headteachers and governors.
16.3 RESOLVED– The minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2009 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. |
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Chairman's Communications Minutes: 17.1 The Chairman reported that the national 10:10 Campaign team and Director, Eugenie Harvey, had thanked the council for being one of the first 100 councils to sign up to the 10:10 commitment and asking the council to urge others to do the same. She also advised Members that the University of Brighton had signed up to 10:10 and had welcomed the council’s leadership. The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) had also written to the council to endorse the commitment made to achieving 10:10.
17.2 The Chairman reported that she had received an invitation to the city’s Business 10:10 launch on 9 February. Brighton-based eco designer Oliver Heath and national campaign partnerships director James Grugeon would be speaking at the event. It was important to see local business people at the forefront of not just the city campaign, but local versions of the campaign. The council would be supporting the launch and city campaign and would be represented on the steering group by Thurstan Crockett, Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy.
17.3 The Chairman announced that the council had heard from Crown Estate in relation to the selected developer for the windfarm off the Sussex coast. The successful bidder was Eon Climate and Renewables and local offshore energy specialists, Searoc were involved in the Eon bid. When fully operational the wind farm would generate 600 megawatts of electricity. Site selection within the zone & submission of the planning application for site would take place in 2010, with construction expected from 2014-2016. It was expected to be fully installed and operational from 2020. The council would be organising a briefing with both Crown Estate and Eon and both would be presenting at the Sustainability Conference in April. Eon would be part sponsoring the conference thanks to some quick work by Mita Patel in the Sustainability Team.
Officers from Economic Development would be attending an offshore wind supply chain event at Gatwick on the 23 February and it was being promoted to local businesses as part of the council’s push to maximise the economic benefit to the city. The event would act as a ‘marketplace’ to enable all those involved in developing the offshore wind sites to do business.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Members of the Cabinet Committee
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokespeople
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Chairman.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from 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. |
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Petitions No petitions received by date of publication. Minutes: 19.1 There were none. |
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 14 January 2009)
No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 20.1 There were none. |
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 14 January 2009)
No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 21.1 There were none. |
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received. Minutes: 22.1 There were none. |
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 23.1 There were none. |
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Notices of Motion referred from Council Minutes: 24.1 The Chairman reported that two Notices of Motion had been referred to the Cabinet Committee and that as both related to the 10:10 commitment, which would be dealt with under Item 25 on the agenda, it would be appropriate to move to that item. |
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Proposed by Councillor Phillips (copy attached). Minutes: 24a.1 The Cabinet Committee considered the following Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Phillips:
“This council notes that 10:10 is a mass movement that has seen people and organisations from across the country sign up to reduce their carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. From councils and hospitals to faith groups, scout troops and national newspapers, organisations across the UK have joined what it commonly being seen as the start of the journey to a low-carbon society.
Leaders of the national Green, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative parties have all committed to 10:10. Councils from across the political spectrum including Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Richmond, Oxford, Slough, West Sussex, Stroud, Eastleigh, Kirklees have also signed up.
This council notes that:
· Cutting global carbon emissions is vital if we are to stave off runaway climate change.
· The Lancet earlier this year published a report warning that climate change is the biggest threat to global health of the 21st century.
· There are compelling business reasons for joining the 10:10 campaign, not least that cutting our spending on energy is one way to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
· The importance of the outcome of the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen in December this year cannot be overstated, and early commitment to the 10:10 Campaign has the potential to influence those talks to make urgent cuts in global emissions a reality.
Therefore this council requests the Cabinet to consider the possibilities of Brighton & Hove City Council signing up to the 10:10 campaign.”
24a.2 RESOLVED – That the Notice of Motion be noted. |
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10:10 Carbon Commitment Proposed by Councillor Fallon-Khan (copy attached). Minutes: 24b.1 The Cabinet Committee considered the following Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Fallon-Khan:
“This Council recognises the progress that has been made in recent years to reduce the Council’s and City’s carbon emissions and on wider sustainability initiatives. In particular:
· Launching a £6 million energy efficiency grant scheme over three years to help householders cut costs and carbon emissions · Committing to installing a network of electric car charging points in the city · Running a successful Carbon Management Programme, saving more than £50,000 to date in energy efficiency measures, with more to follow · Committing the council and the city to tough, short-term targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions – by 12% over three years · Helping secure £180,000 from the Department for International Development for Climate Connections, a three year city-wide public engagement project · Committing to introduce a network of park and rides sites at key strategic locations in the City · Launching an impressive bid at an internationally-recognised conference to become the world’s first Urban Biosphere · Playing an integral part in helping the city’s Food Partnership secure a grant of £500,000 over four years · Launching a major Be Local Buy Local campaign to support local jobs and the environment.
This Council welcomes the national 10:10 campaign to persuade every sector of British society to work together to achieve a 10% cut in their carbon emissions in 2010. The 10:10 campaign is receiving growing support from a wide range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors as well as from individuals and households.
Therefore, as part of its continuing drive towards achieving a low carbon Brighton & Hove, this Council resolves to:
· Call on the Cabinet, as soon as possible, to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce the City Council’s carbon emissions by 10% in 2010/11. · Request that the Cabinet considers calling for a report to be brought to the meeting of the Sustainability Cabinet Committee in January 2010 outlining the measures which will be taken to attempt to achieve this ambitious goal.”
24b.2 RESOLVED – That the Notice of Motion be noted.
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Meeting the 10:10 Commitment Report of the Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: (1) That the Cabinet Committee recognises the importance of this in terms of city leadership, notes the council’s challenge to the members of Brighton & Hove Strategic Partnership to sign up to 10:10, and the development of a city-wide campaign.
(2) That 10:10 is used as an internal communications tool to actively engage staff in saving energy and fuel and hence carbon emissions and taxpayers’ money. Minutes: 25.1 The Cabinet Committee consider a report of the Director of Finance & Resources outlining the proposed measures to be taken by the council in order to reduce carbon emissions from its operations by 10% in 2010/11 (for copy see minute book).
25.2 Councillor Steedman welcomed the report and reported that the Cabinet Member for Housing’s energy efficiency working group had been enthusiastic about working towards 10:10; tenants had suggested that a proportion of the estate development budget be devoted to energy efficiency projects.
He asked for confirmation of whether the council would be committing to longer term targets and when the council would have an indication of whether the measures proposed would deliver the 10:10 target.
25.3 The Chairman explained that it was important for the council to benchmark itself and show that it could deliver 10:10 before committing to longer term aspirational targets that it would be able to consider in the future.
25.4 The Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy explained that no indication of whether 10:10 would be delivered could be given yet as baseline data was still being gathered. He added that 10:10 was a challenging target and the council would do everything it could to achieve it, but that the focus should be on developing measures, not just measurement.
25.5 In response to questions from Councillor Mitchell, who welcomed the report, the Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy advised that the steering group for the city 10:10 campaign had obtained permission from the national campaign to tweak their branding, and an agreement had been secured to use it across the council and the whole city.
25.6 Councillor Janio emphasised the importance of considering the data that was being collected for the 10:10 target in order to determine where best to concentrate resources in order to achieve longer term targets. He added that many people were driving the campaign forward across the city and that the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) should be leading the way.
25.7 Councillor Young commented that if the council achieved the 10:10 target, it would continue to set more ambitious targets going forward.
25.8 Councillor Fallon-Khan commented that it was encouraging to see that the proposals had received cross-party support and he hoped Members from all groups would attend the business 10:10 launch. He advised that the council had a close working relationship with the Carbon Trust and was exploring with them how energy savings by local businesses might be re-invested in apprenticeships.
25.9 RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the importance of the 10:10 campaign in terms of city leadership be recognised, and that the council’s challenge to the members of Brighton & Hove Strategic Partnership to sign up to 10:10 and the development of a city-wide campaign be noted.
(2) That 10:10 be used as an internal communications tool to actively engage staff in saving energy and fuel and hence carbon emissions and taxpayers’ money. |
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Sustainable Communities Act Verbal update. Minutes: 26.1 The Cabinet Committee received an update from the council’s Policy Team in relation to the Sustainable Communities Act.
26.2 The Policy Development Officer reported that of the nine proposals submitted by the council to the Local Government Association (LGA), the following eight had been shortlisted to go forward to the next stage of the process:
1. That the council is given the power to offer discretionary business rate relief to encourage and sustain small and medium local businesses.
2. That legislation is changed to allow allotment holders to sell their surplus produce to local businesses.
3. That national planning policy, specifically planning policy statement 1 is changed to explicitly support localised food systems.
4. That the legal restriction that prevents councils which own housing to borrow against the Housing Revenue Account (rent) is removed.
5. That legislation is amended to release existing and accumulated capital receipts from the sale of council housing to councils to build new affordable housing or invest in existing affordable housing.
6. That the installation and use of renewable energy by households is made more accessible and affordable.
7. That the council is given the power to set vehicle speed limits on public roads at any maximum below existing regulations, according to local needs.
8. That legislation is introduced that requires supermarkets – § To reduce their use of food packing that is non- recyclable; § To provide recycling facilities for plastic not recycled by the council; § To ensure that the plastic is recycled or, where this is not practicable, to bear the cost of treating it as landfill waste.
He explained that the news had been communicated to the people and groups that had submitted the proposals and to community groups.
The next stage would involve negotiation between the LGA and the Secretary of State over the implementation. No timetable had been issued, but council had been informed that the LGA was lobbying central government to complete the process by the end of March 2010.
26.3 In response to a query from Councillor Mitchell in relation to the selection process, the Policy Development Manager explained that the LGA had already checked the proposals for eligibility and that no detailed selection criteria had been announced by government. 198 proposals had been shortlisted and these had been grouped into themes; it was expected that some financial modelling would be involved in the selection process.
26.4 RESOLVED – That the update be noted. |
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Brighton & Hove Fairtrade City Status Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: (1) That the Cabinet Committee approves the formation of a steering group to examine the benefits of continued ‘Fairtrade City’ status and develop a city programme, with a remit to report its findings to the Committee for approval.
(2) That delegated power be granted to the Head of Sustainability and Environmental Policy to establish the steering group. Minutes: 27.1 The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance concerning Brighton & Hove’s ‘Fairtrade City’ status (for copy se minute book).
27.2 Councillor Mitchell stated that the Labour Group had devised a Notice of Motion asking the council to renew its Fairtrade impetus; there were many more Fairtrade shops and products available in the city, however, the situation within the council remained mixed. She added that it was important to revisit the issues in order to support developing countries that had been affected by the global recession.
27.3 Councillor Steedman emphasised the need for the council to put minimum standards in place in relation to procurement. He contended that the issue ought to be revisited because officers were not consistently seeking out the best ethical and sustainable options.
27.4 The Chairman agreed that the council needed to do more work on its procurement and that officers could learn from the experiences of colleagues.
27.5 RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Committee accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That a steering group be formed to examine the benefits of continued ‘Fairtrade City’ status and develop a city programme, with a remit to report its findings to the Committee for approval.
(2) That delegated power be granted to the Head of Sustainability and Environmental Policy to establish the steering group. |
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Food growing on council land
Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached). Additional documents: Minutes: 28.1 The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing exploring issues around growing food on council housing land (for copy see minute book).
28.2 Councillor Steedman welcomed the report and asked for confirmation of when details of identified land would be made available.
28.3 The Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy explained that despite the enthusiasm for the initiative, it was a complex issue involving a number of council departments and the local community. Work was currently focussed on one area, which would act as a model for future projects; those involved would learn from the experiences of the first project.
28.4 The Chairman commented that it was important to ensure that tenants were actively engaged in the initiative.
28.5 Councillor Mitchell welcomed the work taking place in her ward and commented that there were many indirect benefits of such projects. She stated that it was encouraging to see tenants asking to be involved and taking ownership of the work and that she understood the need for such projects to be sustainable.
28.6 Councillor Janio advised that Councillor Smart was the lead councillor for allotments and would be driving the initiative forward.
28.7 Councillor Fallon-Khan emphasised the need to actively involve young people in order to help combat rising levels of obesity.
28.8 Councillor Young asked whether the council was also helping tenants with gardens that they found difficult to maintain to be put in touch with other tenants who wished to tend to gardens.
28.9 The Head of Housing Management for East Brighton confirmed that the council had been promoting this among tenants and that it would be reported at the next round of area housing panels.
28.10 The Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy advised that the Food Partnership was promoting the issue locally with the ‘Grow Your Neighbours Own’ campaign.
28.11 RESOLVED – That the report be noted. |
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Report of the City Sustainability Partnership (a) To note the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2009 (copy attached).
(b) To note the draft minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2009 (copy attached). Additional documents: Minutes: 29.1 The Cabinet Committee considered the minutes of the City Sustainability Partnership (CSP) held on 19 October 2009 and the draft minutes of the CSP held on 30 November 2009 (for copy see minute book).
29.2 RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted. |