Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Alex Dale.

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

Councillor Carolyn Renwick advised the Committee of an interest in any discussions relating to both environmental issues and Derbyshire County Council, as she was the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment. This would not prevent Councillor C Renwick from participation in any item.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2024.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair.

To receive an overview of the LAEP.

Jason Tyler, Project Lead, LAEP Co-ordinator

The Net Zero Innovation & Delivery Manager for the Midlands Net Zero Hub delivered a presentation to the Committee about the below aspects of the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP):

• Who are the Midlands Net Zero Hub?
• What is Local Area Energy Planning?
• Energy Systems Catapult (the organisation) and their method for Local Area Energy Planning
• The Hub’s approach in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
• Socioeconomic Benefits
• Timescales

Members discussed the amounts of funding involved for the Plan and the presentation referring to how the East Midlands Combined County Authority would fund the whole cost. The Net Zero Innovation & Delivery Manager explained that costs would be kept as low as possible, because LAEP would simulate decarbonisation pathways to find the most cost-effective route to net zero.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

Council Plan Targets Performance Update.

Kath Drury, Information, Engagement and Performance Manager/Amar Bashir, Improvement Officer

The Improvement Officer presented a report to the Committee summarising progress on the strategies underpinning the Council Plan objective ‘A great place that cares for the environment’ for the period ending 30 September 2024.

Some of the Members felt that the Key Performance Indicators in the report should describe more of what they involve and include detailed data.

RESOLVED – That progress against the Council Plan “A great place that cares for the environment” objective was noted.

To receive the action plan.

Sylvia Moffatt, Sustainability Officer

The Programmes Manager delivered a presentation updating Members on the Climate Change Action Plan since its publication in July 2024. The presentation included detail on specific areas targeted since July 2024, including:

• The Carbon Disclosure Project Report
• Dronfield Active Environment Management System Audit
• Home Energy Advice Team Hub
• Promotion of National Vegetarian Week

Members were informed that performance progress reports were linked to the Action Plan outcomes.  Members suggested that it would be beneficial to see some measurable targets against the actions in the Plan.  

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since 23 May 2024.  This information is published by Cabinet meeting on the Council’s website.  Cabinet Agendas, Decisions and Minutes can be viewed at: Cabinet

The Forward Plan of Executive decisions.

Plans

These plans are updated to include new business.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented a digest of Cabinet decisions taken since the last Committee meeting on 9 September 2024. The digest set out key information for each decision.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer also presented Members with the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions for the period 15 October 2024 – 15 November 2024.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

Highlights following the budget announcement.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that there were a number of things to make Members aware of in light of the Government’s recent Autumn Budget, and pointed them to the DCN Briefing that had been circulated at the meeting.

The Committee were informed that the Senior Management Team were working through the information and incorporating it into the Medium Term Financial Plan which would be presented to Members in due course. 

Some Members felt that the Autumn Budget could impact rural areas. The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that she would collate the concerns of Members about the Autumn Budget from every Scrutiny Committee and submit them together to the Senior Management Team so that they were aware of any concerns.

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that there were no major policies for Members to consider.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To consider and contribute to potential changes in the operating environment which may include legislation, regulation and key projects being undertaken by the Council, for example.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer updated Members on potential significant changes in the Council’s operating environment, including changes to national legislation and regulation.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that there was nothing to bring to the attention of Members.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the draft Work Programme 2024/25 for the Committee to consider.

The Chair explained that a motion accepted by Council on 23 September 2024 about installing more Electronic Vehicle charging points in the District had been researched by the Senior Scrutiny Officer, and following this research, a list of potential sites for installation had been submitted to Derbyshire County Council. The Committee agreed that they would like to consider this issue and add it to the Work Programme.

Members referred to the Assistant Director of Planning attending the Committee meeting on 9 September 2024 regarding bio-diversity and water management, and agreed that the issue of water management and flooding needed revisiting. The Chair stated that the Committee could add this topic to its next Work Programme for 2025/26.

RESOLVED –

(1)           That any additions be made to the Work Programme as required.

(2)     That the Work Programme 2024/25 be approved.

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

Additional Urgent Items

None.

The next meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place on 17 February 2025 at 3.30 pm.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 17 February 2025 at 3.30pm.