Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Community, Environment and Partnerships Committee Meeting

The Vice-Chair Councillor Slimin chaired the meeting in the absence of the Chair Councillor Lee.

Councillor Slimin declared that she was an unpaid director of Calleva Community Energy.

There were no urgent matters considered.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2023 were approved by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the chair.

The Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency introduced the report that provided the Committee with the third full annual update on progress against the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy and associated Climate Emergency Action Plan, building on the informal update provided to the Committee in June.

The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:

·       Queried whether the Council’s emissions would decrease. The Head of Climate Change and Sustainability stated confidence in the decrease of the figures with implementation of the Climate Emergency Action Plan such as the rollout of electric vehicles, decarbonisation of buildings and continued management of open space. 

·       Questioned the Council’s trial of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as a fuel and its wider implications. The Head of Climate Change and Sustainability clarified HVO vehicles were being trialled with several vehicles. He stated that fuel storage had to be considered alongside manufacturers warranties.

·       The air quality benefits of HVO fuelled vehicles were highlighted.

·       The Cabinet Member highlighted that the Council had entered a contract with a major supplier to ensure security of HVO fuel supply.

·       The Climate Emergency Project Manager clarified that emissions from staff working from home only included data from 2022/23 due to the recent government publication of an official ‘emissions factor’ for homeworking.

·       The Head of Climate Change and Sustainability stated that the Council had been in discussions with housing associations, Vivid and Sovereign, regarding the need to retrofit homes and make houses more energy efficient.

·       Concerns were made about the ability of the Council to engage with residents who may struggle to take climate action.

·       Education of different groups such as schools and community centre managers and users on the relevant issues was discussed.

·       The work of external organisations was discussed, such as Citizens Advice, who had been giving energy advice to residents.

·       Expressed the importance of engagement with local landowners.

Resolved: The Committee:

·       Considers and makes recommendations to the Portfolio Holder for the Climate and Ecological Emergency on the content of this report and appendices, including the actions under way and those proposed.

The Biodiversity Officer gave a presentation on the emerging Biodiversity Strategy, which updated the Committee on the work completed to date and sought input on the next steps.

The Committee discussed the presentation and made the following comments:

·       Wanted to see specific recognition of the Bourne Rivulet and expressed its importance as a unique chalk stream.

·       Sought for the Council to improve strategic working alongside West Berkshire Council in regard to the River Enbourne.

·       Stated that the presentation was broad in scope and emphasised the need for prioritisation on specific actions. The Biodiversity Officer clarified that this was not finalised and that the draft strategy would be presented in January.

·       Stressed the need to protect species, with plans on which species would be protected.

Resolved: To note the contents of the presentation.

The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.

The Chair enquired if the Committee wanted the update on the Leisure Park and the Aquadrome to be presented in January or to present an item on sports strategies.

The Director of Resident Services sought input on how to feed back on the Leisure Park and Aquadrome in a useful way for Members.

It was stated that a shorter paper to set out information on the wider context of the Leisure Park and Aquadrome to present in January would be useful for Members.

The meeting ended at 7:49pm.

Chair