Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Coles and Rose, they were substituted by Cllrs Baxter and Nelson respectively.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see the attached sheet for further guidance for Members.]

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2025.

The Chair sought clarification on the resolution for the Review of the Scrutiny Function, in relation to the consideration of the number of proposed new scrutiny committees.

Resolved:  That the Democracy Officer would check the record and the minutes would be brought back to the following meeting for approval.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Thursday 10 April 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Cllr Vassie spoke to all items on the agenda and raised his concerns regarding the target setting and measuring targets, questioning the source and validity of the targets.  He urged innovative solutions to reduce car journeys and improve transport systems and suggested a scheme of borrowing and investment to support this.   

This report provides an update to the Committee, following the previous report in December 2023.

The Chief Strategy Officer, together with the Head of Carbon Reduction provided a project update on the Net Zero Fund, noting that the previous update had been in December 2023.

Members asked a range of questions covering the Harewood Whin Feasibility Study, James St, Honeysuckle House and CYC lighting.

In response to Member’s questions, Officers, who were joined by the Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency, reported the following:

·       The cost of the feasibility study was in line with the size and value of the overall project.

·       The outline survey had been undertaken and the second stage was a more detailed physical site assessment.  Following this, a report would go to Executive in September.

·       Offtaking involved an end user taking the energy generated prior to going through the National Grid (NG); connecting to the NG was complex and costly.

·       Should funding be secured, there would be a phased approach to the project, working with partners to ensure a greater level of offtaking.

·       Planning had been granted for James Street…

·       Future projects had insufficient energy demand to take advantage of offtaking and behind meter solutions.

·       A survey had been taken of potential offtakers although this had proved insufficiently dynamic

·       27 flats in Honeysuckle House were due to receive air source heat pumps and a range of other improvements.

·       Officers agreed to come back to Members with a written response to a question around PV and battery storage in garages. They also agreed to review the lighting management system at West Offices.

Resolved:             That the report be noted.

Reason:                To inform the development and delivery of Carbon Negative Challenge Fund projects.

This paper provides an overview of the process to update “York and North Yorkshire’s Routemap to Carbon Negative.

Members considered the Routemap to Carbon Negative Refresh which was presented by the Chief Strategy Officer, Head of Carbon Reduction and Katie Thomas, Senior strategy Manager, Low Carbon and Environment at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).  Officers noted that the paper presented was an early draft proposal.

Members questioned the officers and the Executive Member on their plans for future public consultation and commented on the presentation and accessibility of the draft Routemap. Members emphasised the importance of the Routemap being credible, accessible and deliverable.  There was some debate, but no consensus, around York’s net zero carbon target of 2030, noting North Yorkshire’s target was 2034.  The Executive Member acknowledged a performance gap, and stated that any new date, should there be one, needed to be data informed and realistic.

[6.30 pm Cllr Rowley left the meeting. Cllr Baxter left the meeting between 7.03 and 7.06 pm]

Resolved:             That the report be noted.

Reason:                To ensure that Members were aware of, and could contribute to the Routemap refresh.

[7.16 to 7.24 pm the meeting adjourned.  7.25 pm, Cllr Widdowson rejoined the meeting.  Cllrs Ayre and Baxter left the meeting.]

This report asks the Committee to provide feedback on the draft York and North Yorkshire Retrofit Strategy.

The Head of Carbon Reduction was joined by Katie Thomas, Senior Strategy Manager – Low Carbon & Environment, YNYCA and Lucy Allis, Local Authorities Climate Action Co-ordinator, YNYCA.  They presented the draft York and North Yorkshire Retrofit Strategy, noting that it did not replace the existing CYC strategy.

Members asked a range of questions covering retrofitting council stock, EV charging, barriers to implementation, skills mapping and data availability.

It was reported that:

·       The EV charging strategy would be considered as part of the review.

·       The strategy would pull together the good work currently taking place and provide an opportunity to work with central government. A one stop shop approach aimed to develop local champions and consumer confidence.

·       A smart meter was an enabler rather than a retrofit measure.

·       The Combined Authority had devolved funding for skills, working with partners would identify the types of courses needed to improve or provide the skills available.

·       There was no viable replacement for EPC data available.

Resolved:             That the report and feedback from Members be noted.

Reason:                To inform the development and delivery of the retrofit strategy.

To consider the Committee’s work plan and the Scrutiny Overview work plan.

Members considered the Committee’s draft work plan for the upcoming municipal year and the scrutiny work plan for the four scrutiny committees.

Resolved:             That the work plan be noted.

Reason:                To ensure an overview of the scrutiny work programme.