|
City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
|
|
Meeting |
Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
|
|
Date |
12 January 2022 |
|
|
Present |
Councillors Vassie (Chair), Baker (Vice-Chair), S Barnes, Fisher, Wann, Perrett and Melly |
|
|
Apologies |
||
26. Declarations of Interest
Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any
personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any
prejudicial or discloseabale pecuniary interests, which they might
have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.
27. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021 be approved and signed by the Chair as an accurate record, with the following amendment. That minute 23. ‘The Director for Transport, Environment and Planning and the Sustainable
Transport Manager also gave an update on the Local Transport Plan.’ Be replaced with ‘Chairs Remarks: At this point in the meeting an additional agenda item was introduced. The committee considered an update on the council's draft Bus Service Implement Plan (BSIP) from the Director of Transport, Environment and Planning and the Sustainable Transport Manager, who were in attendance to provide a verbal update and answer questions.’
28. Public Participation
Debby Cobbert noted that she felt that insufficient information was being provided to the Committee in reports. She asked that the Committee consider further how to retrain and redeploy people in York away from ‘dirty jobs’. She recommended the Committee read Climate Jobs: Building a workforce for the climate emergency. She enquired about student participation on the Committee and made note of several upcoming events.
Christopher Copland raised concerns that the proposed St George’s Field car park in relation to its impact on climate change in the city. He asked that the Committee recommend to the Executive that any decision taken on the car park wait until the Councils climate change strategy was released to ensure that the car park would not go against the strategy.
29. York Hospital Emissions Reductions
The Committee were joined by Jane Money Head of Sustainability for York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management, who provided the committee with a wide ranging presentation on Sustainability and Net Zero at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Members discussed the Hospital Trusts priorities and plans for net zero and raised a number of questions about the trusts polices, on areas including waste removal, laundry, and York Hospital buildings energy efficiency. It was noted that the Trust had built into its procurement its net zero targets and therefore it was confirmed new hospital contracts should take into account how different functions undertaken by the Trust can be more energy efficient.
The work of the Climate Commission was raised and the role of a city energy plan was discussed. It was noted that the Trust had been a part of a study by Leeds City Region on a district heating plan, however, a strong business case was never developed for the plan to go ahead. It was confirmed that the Trust would welcome involvement in future schemes and it was noted that joint funding opportunities would be welcomed by the Trust due to financial constraints and the requirements for ensuring day to day practice is maintained.
Resolved:
i. That the Committee noted that update provided by Jane Money Head of Sustainability for York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management.
Reason: To ensure the Committee remains updated on the work of key stakeholders in reducing carbon emissions.
30. Climate Change Strategy
The Committee received a presentation on Strategic Alignment and the developing Climate Change Strategy, and it was confirmed that the presentation would be published as an agenda supplement.
The Committee discussed the role of these strategies to meet the growing interest in electric vehicles (EVs). It was noted that uptake of EVs across the city, at the scale required for net zero, would likely require a switch away from everyone using a private vehicle, however, the EV charging strategy is modelled against the expected rise in electric vehicles to deliver sufficient charging points.
The Committee also raised the role of the Local Plan in facilitating the Council’s objectives to achieve Net Zero. It was confirmed that if the Local Plan was agreed and implemented it would allow the Council additional control on new planning applications. It was also confirmed however, that the Local Plan not being in place would not be a barrier to the Council making interventions to cut carbon emissions.
Resolved:
i. The Committee noted the update on the Climate Change Strategy.
Reason: To ensure the Committee remain updated on the Climate Change Strategy.
31. Economic Strategy
It was confirmed that the reports for this item should have been published with the agenda and it was confirmed that they would be published as an agenda supplement. The Committee received a presentation on the Economic Strategy.
Resolved:
i. That the Economic Strategy be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee.
Reason: To allow the Committee to consider the reports for the item.
32. Work Plan 2021/22
The Committee discussed their work plan for 2021/22 and agreed to request that the 8 March 2022 be altered from a forum meeting to a full committee meeting. The Committee agreed to amend the work plan with the 8 March meeting considering the Economic Strategy and the Climate Change Strategy. They also agreed to amend the 12 April 2022 committee to now consider the following items: Transport model and how to use it to explore carbon reduction issues Part 2, LTP4 update, Climate Commission update Programme of activities.
Resolved:
i. That the Committee enquire about the availability of changing the 8 March 2022 Forum Meeting to a Full Committee Meeting;
ii. That the 8 March 2022 work plan items be amended to the Economic Strategy and the Climate Change Strategy;
iii. That the 12 April 2022 work plan items be amended to Transport model and how to use it to explore carbon reduction issues Part 2, LTP4 update, Climate Commission update Programme of activities.
Reason: To ensure the Committee has a work plan of items for 2021/22.
Cllr Vassie, Chair
[The meeting started at 5.33 pm and finished at 8.20 pm].