Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any items on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Annual Council and Business Council meetings held on 26 April 2021.

To receive any announcements that the Chair may wish to make at this meeting and lead the Council in a two minute silence to honour NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers Day.

To receive any announcements the Leader may wish to make at the meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8 to allow members of the public to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period up to fifteen minutes.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

The following questions had been received from members of the public.

(a)       Question submitted by Becky Turner to Councillor Jeremy Kenyon  

            The UK will host a COP26 in Glasgow this November.  The conference aims to accelerate action to prevent climate change.  The UK government has committed to work with multiple partners to inspire climate action ahead of COP.

            What will NEDDC be doing to inspire climate action ahead of COP in our region?

(b)       Question submitted by Mrs Thoday to Councillor Jeremy Kenyon

            I was saddened to hear that on 26^th April a motion proposed by Cllr Reader that this Council support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE Bill) was rejected.

            Some of the reasons in the debate for rejecting the motion seems to centre around achieving net zero carbon emissions.  In actual act the Bill does not specify net zero target dates.  What the Bill does is to set out a framework within which policies would be developed to ensure the UK takes responsibility for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions under current legally binding commitments.

            The Government’s own Climate Change Committee published two progress reports this month, showing the UK is lagging behind on its key goals.  The Chief Executive of the Committee said “Government strategy on cutting emissions has been late and what has come has almost all been too little”.

            Although many people choose to ignore the facts, we all know the consequences of doing too little are potentially horrifying for all future generations.

            Would you be prepared to review the CEE Bill in detail and the Climate Change Committee’s report and then to encourage this Council to reconsider a motion to support the CEE Bill?

(c)        Question submitted by Brian Lever to Councillor Jeremy Kenyon

            I appreciate that the District Council is making changes to limit its own carbon emissions.  I also appreciate that the environmental impact of District Council’s own activities is only a tiny fraction of the total impact of the activities of all the District’s residents and businesses.

            We all know from personal experience that the biodiversity of our planet is rapidly collapsing, and that if the collapse is not halted this will quickly result in worldwide crop failure and famine.  Also, science tells us that without very rapid moves to zero carbon humanity everywhere will “reap the whirlwind of floods, storms and drought” within very few generations.  We are on a “war footing” in the battle against extinction.

            Does Councillor Kenyon and the Council as a whole therefore appreciate that lifestyles and human behaviour everywhere must change rapidly, and that District Councils everywhere are  ...  view the full agenda text for item COU/35/20-21

Report of the Head of Corporate Governance & Monitoring Officer

Report of the Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer

Please note that is an urgent item of business that has been accepted by the Chair. 

Report of the Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer.

Report of the Chairs of Scrutiny Committees 2020-21

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Portrfolio Holder for Environmental Services

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 9.2 for this meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members.  Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

The following Motions had been received from Members.

(a)      Motion submitted by Councillor R Shipman

          Council notes:

·             In July 2019, North East Derbyshire District Council declared a Climate Emergency and adopted its Climate Action Plan.

·             The Council is tracking its carbon emissions throughout the organisation.

·             The Council aimed to reduce its carbon emissions by 100 tonnes CO2 in 20-21 and 300 tonnes CO2 in 22-23.

          Council Resolves:

·             To publish on the Council website a method statement on how it’s calculating its carbon emissions.

·             To publish the total carbon emissions of the organisation on a quarterly basis.

(b)      Motion submitted by Councillor N Barker

This Council notes:

·             The powerful evidence which demonstrates the link between people’s homes and their health, wellbeing and life chances.

·             That the COVID-19 emergency has reinforced the need for healthy environments which provide space for recreation, children’s play and walkable streets.

·             That well-designed homes that meet all our citizens’ needs over their lifetimes can radically reduce costs to NHS and social care budgets.

·             That people have a basic right to live in environments free from unacceptable pollution.

·             That homes must be affordable to heat and built to zero carbon standards.

·             That current government policy to deregulate planning is creating thousands of substandard homes through conversion of existing buildings into homes, without planning permission.

·             That this council is determined to create the highest quality places for residents which will be a fitting legacy for future generations.

This council agrees to:

1.          Adopt the Healthy Homes Principles. That includes ensuring:

·         all new homes must be safe in relation to the risk of fire;

·         all new homes should be built within places that prioritise and provide access to sustainable transport and walkable services, including green infrastructure and play space;

·         all new homes must secure radical reductions in carbon emissions in line with the provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008; 14 January 2021

·         all new homes must be built to design out crime and be secure;

2.          Review all policies, processes and procedures to ensure that new homes meet the requirements of the Healthy Homes Principles. Present an action plan by December 2021 detailing how the council will deliver on the requirements of the principles.

3.          Review the corporate plan to ensure the healthy homes principles are a priority.

4.          Make the principles an integral part of activity throughout the council, including all decision making on housing and planning.

The Chair to move:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006). 

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

Report of Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder Leisure, Transformation and Climate Change.

(Paragraph 3)

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

To consider any other matter which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.