Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, members are asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

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 discloseable pecuniary interest that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. Cllr Barnes declared a personal non-prejudicial interest through his employment with an off shore renewable energy company.  The Chair also declared a personal non-prejudicial interest through his employment with a Fair Trade company. There were no further declarations of interest.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Monday 9 September 2019.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been eight registrations to speak under the general remit of the Committee.

June Tranmer, a local resident, explained that she was a founding Member of One Planet York. She updated the committee on the work of One Planet York and expressed concern regarding the withdrawal of council support for it. She added that One Planet York hoped to collaborate with the Committee. She noted the energy efficiency of city centre premises and the new discretionary rate for businesses going into listed premises not currently occupied, and she asked for this to be included in the Committee remit. She also asked for trees not to be cut down.

Caroline Lewis, a local resident, welcomed the overdue commitment to the climate change emergency. She welcomed the changes to traffic flow on Micklegate and the positive impact this would have on pedestrians. She further welcomed the involvement of the Green Party in the new administration and expressed that she hoped to see more round table discussions with the public.

Thea Jacob, a local resident and independent small trader, also welcomed the council declaring the climate emergency. She outlined the work she did with young families and noted the concerns of those families about climate change. She felt that council leaders and local communities could work together to show that show York is doing everything it can to address climate change.

IzééDesrouchesseux spoke about her PhD at the University of York Environment Department. This was a European Commission funded project entitled Eco Risk 2050, which involved 21 universities and other institutions in Europe analysing and studying the effect of global changes (including climate change) on the chemical risk to aquatic risk eco systems by 2050. She explained that York was chosen as one of cities in the project scenarios used. She asked for there to be a joint meeting involving researchers and the council to mitigate the risk from chemical pollution.

Richard Maddalena, a local resident, spoke in the interests of efficiency and compassion and said that he loved York.

Kate Lock, a local resident, had been involved in looking at environmental issues affecting the city for a number of years as the former Chair of York Environment Forum (YEF) and as a campaigner, writer and journalist. She had written a report for YEF on York being a sustainable city by 2020 and she expressed disappointment that York had been unable to reach this. She highlighted a number areas of climate change around the world and welcomed council declaration of a climate emergency. She welcomed the supplementary budget proposals to address this and asked for the involvement of different groups, citing the work of the Leeds Climate Commission. 

Chloe Wilcox spoke on behalf of York Youth Strikes for Climate.  She asked for a council Member to explain in an official capacity what progress had been made since declaring the climate emergency.

Cllr Craghill, Guildhall Ward Councillor welcomed the committee’s ways of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

This report asks Members to note the agreed remit for the newly created Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee at City of York Council.

Members considered a report that set out the remit for committee. The Scrutiny Officer outlined the report noting that at Annual Council in May 2019, delegated authority was given to the Monitoring Officer to agree Terms of Reference in conjunction with the Leader and the Chair of the Committee. The Terms of Reference were outlined in the report and would be added to the Council’s Constitution.

During discussion it was suggested that the membership of the committee be expanded to include representation from all political parties. The Chair noted the ambition of the committee to expand its membership.

Resolved: That the Committee Terms of Reference be noted.

Reason:     To be updated on the Committee Terms of Reference.

This report outlines the methods by which this committee will approach its work and highlights ways of working that have been suggested by the Chair and Vice-Chair for the committee’s consideration.

Members considered a report that outlined a number of methods by which the committee would approach its work. The report also highlighted ways of working that had been suggested by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Following an overview of the report, the Chair invited Members to offer suggestions. These included:

·        Large projects on the council Forward Plan being used to inform the committee Work Plan. The York Central development was cited as an example of this. The Chair and Scrutiny Officer agreed to discuss this suggestion.

·        Whether there could be working parties to look at climate change aspects of planning applications. The Scrutiny Officer explained the process of task groups for this.

·        The use of data to inform the committee.

·        As part of the co-option of different experts and representatives to the committee, there could be an email inbox for members of the public to submit their ideas to the committee. The Chair explained that this option was being investigated. He further explained how the system of co-opting could be best utilised to ensure there was representation on the committee to inform discussion.

Resolved: That the different approaches to ways of working be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the committee is approaching this topic with the most appropriate methods and tools at its disposal.

This report is the update that was presented to the Executive in August 2019 on the Council’s response to the declaration of a Climate Emergency, highlighting work underway and a set of activities to move this work forward.

Members considered a report that introduced the Climate Change Update that was presented to Executive in August 2019 (Annex A of the report). The work of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy was highlighted. It was explained that the covenant formally brought together the European Union’s Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors to advance city-level transition to a low emission and climate resilient economy, and to demonstrate the global impact of local action. Members welcomed the addition of the council’s engagement with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy onto the work plan.

In addition to the areas listed in the report, Members were asked to suggest any areas that they would like to assign to the work plan for future meetings. Additional work plan suggestions were made as follows:

·        A report on One Planet York for the next meeting. The Scrutiny Officer agreed to check if this was feasible.

·        A report on mitigation measures for the climate emergency

·        Training on the climate emergency

Resolved: That the Climate Change Update presented to Executive in August 2019 and suggestions for the work plan listed above be noted.  

Reason:     To aid the committee’s work planning and ensure that the committee are up to date with Council activity in this area.

This report introduces some ideas for initial discussion, put forward by the Chair and Vice-Chair, that will help form the basis of the work plan.

Members considered a report that introduced a number of ideas for initial discussion, put forward by the Chair and Vice-Chair that will help form the basis of the work plan. It was reported that a Sustainability Officer had been appointed in the last week, with the possibility of a second Sustainability Officer to be recruited. The Chair circulated the Council’s Social Value Policy at 2009 explaining that the policy had involved a detailed piece of work to enable all staff to understand the procurement process and the sustainability of what was purchased.  

It was suggested that once the Committee had established a baseline that the Committee might want to consider:

·        Fossil fuels to include radical and responsible investment programmes of investment in low carbon.

·        Low carbon agriculture and how we can could support progression of low carbon agriculture.

·         Social value in terms of investment and also in terms of de-investment.

·         Mitigation as a key priority as this related to points 8,12 and 16 of the Executive report at Annex A of the Climate Change report at Agenda item 5.

·        Consideration of agriculture, to include food production, consumption and waste.

·        The council’s continued energy efficiency in terms of insulating and refitting homes and public buildings to be a key area particularly as this was something the Council had achieved recognition for.

Resolved: That the above suggestions for priorities be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that Members agree on proposed topics for this committee.

During this item, Members will be asked to decide on topics to add to the draft work plan.

Members considered the work plan for the 2019-20 municipal year. Members were invited to decide which items they wished to add to the draft work plan.  Suggestions for items included:

·        identifying the areas that would address the largest carbon users as well as pieces of work that would enable quick results.

·        a project on Transport would need to be a priority and suggested that the Committee receive a report on having subsidised bus services. 

·        once particular challenges within the Wards was resolved, a priority was to understand baseline data. When the baseline data had been understood and relevant information gathered, relevant experts would be invited to future committee meetings.

·        A report from the Leadership Team of One Planet York which could  be a two way discussion on  their programme and objectives and the councils objectives.

The Committee reiterated the need for there to be a place for people to deposit research documents and data.

Resolved: That the work plan be updated to include:

(i)           That the next Committee meeting would be focused on identifying baseline data. 

(ii)         Thereafter, future meetings would focus on information gathering from key experts who would be invited to address the Committee.

Reason:     In order to keep the work plan updated.