Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency

 

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

 

Decisions

 

Set out below is a summary of the decisions taken at the meeting of the Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency held on Tuesday, 19 November 2024. The wording used does not necessarily reflect the actual wording that will appear in the minutes.

 

Members are reminded that, should they wish to call in a decision, notice must be given to Democratic Services no later than 4pm on the fifth working day after this meeting.

 

If you have any queries about any matters referred to in this decision sheet please contact LouiseCook.

 

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5.            Enforcement Policy for Smoke Emissions within Smoke Control Areas (SCAs)

 

 

 

Resolved: That the Executive Member adopted the ‘Civil Penalties for Smoke Emissions within Smoke Control Areas Policy’ in accordance with the following:

 

·        The inclusion of ‘Civil Penalties for Smoke Emissions within Smoke Control Areas Policy’ at Annex A of the report with statutory minimum penalty of £175 for first offence and statutory maximum penalty of £300 for any repeat offence.

·        That authority be delegated to the Director of Transport, Environment & Planning to issue warning letters, notices of intent, final notices and to consider objections received under Schedule 1A of the Clean Air Act in accordance with the Policy at Annex A of the report and the procedural flowchart at Annex B of the report.

 

Reason: The outlined policy and penalty regime is in line with DEFRA guidance and the revised Clean Air Act, introduced in response to new national air quality targets introduced through the Environment Act 2021.

The policy would enable consistency in approach with other UK authority areas and would act as a deterrent to burning non-authorised fuels (or using non-exempt appliances) in smoke control areas which contribute to air pollution and especially fine particulate concentrations across the city which impact human health.

 

 

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6.            Update of Climate Change Action Plan

 

 

 

Resolved: That the Executive Member approved the refreshed Climate Change Action Plan and reverted to biennial updates of the plan.

 

Reason: The updated action plan is more in-line with current Council actions and those that can be achieved in the next few years. The updated Action Plan covers both mitigation and adaptation actions, providing a more comprehensive reflection of activity to support our climate change objectives.

 

A biennial update reduces the resource requirements on the team and will allow for a more detailed revision, with full consultation and continuous improvement of the Action Plan.

 

 

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7.            Annual Carbon Emissions Report 2023/24

 

 

 

Resolved: That the Executive Member approved the Annual Emissions Report for publication.

 

Reason: To monitor progress against the Council’s ambition to be net zero by 2030.

 

 

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8.            York Emissions Inventory Report 2024

 

 

 

Resolved: That the Executive Member approved the York Emissions Inventory Report for publication.

 

Reason: To provide transparency of progress against the ambition for York to be net zero by 2030 in line with the Council Plan’s Key Performance Indicator.

 

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