Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Kathy Clegg, Councillor Lilian Deighton and Councillor Carolyn Renwick.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 17 November 2025 and 8 December 2025.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committees held on 17 November 2025 and 8 December 2025 were approved and signed by the Chair.

Council Plan Targets Performance Update.

Kath Drury, Information & Improvement 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 31 December 2025.

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

Update on achievements to date against the Action Plan.

Tris Burdett, Programmes Manager and Interim Economic Development & Regeneration Manager

The Programmes Manager presented Members with a draft Climate Change Strategy Action Plan Update.

Members were informed that the Action Plan was a large document with a number of actions underneath each strand.

The Committee were given an overview of the key achievements, progress against actions and next steps.

The Programmes Manager explained that the department had appointed an Economic Development & Programmes Support Officer, and this would help with supporting the workload.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To update the Committee on the recommendations submitted to Cabinet.

Cllr Caroline Smith, Chair

The Chair gave an update on the situation with the Wingerworth Lido review. The Chair explained that she had been to a Cabinet meeting to present the final recommendations of their review.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that since the Cabinet meeting, Council Officers had been moving forward with the recommendations.  An action plan had been drafted and discussions were currently underway with the Angling Club, local parish, DWT and other stakeholders so that a temporary fishing licence could be issued. 

Members requested that an officer update on progress with the recommendations on the Lido be added to the Work Programme for July 2026.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To receive additional statistical data following last meeting.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that Members had received additional statistical data on fly-tipping following the last meeting, where they requested fly-tipping comparisons with other nearby local authorities.

Members were presented with a table of figures for fly-tipping incidents and instances for each area.

Members asked whether it was possible to check the fine figures in terms of charge levels and those actually paid as many authorities were reporting zero payments from fines, but also check whether the two-tiered system used in Sheffield had been considered and whether the officers could provide this information at some point in the future.  The Senior Scrutiny Officer advised that she would speak to the officers.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since May 2025.  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 in November 2025. 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 between 15 January and to 15 February.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

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 the Committee’s Work Programme, and to also 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, that could form potential topic items for the Work Programme in the future. 

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the draft Work Programme 2025/26 for the Committee to consider.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme 2025/26 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.

None.

The next meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place on 11 May 2026 at 10.30 am.

The next meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 11 May 2026 at 10.30am.