Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
22
Meetings (2025):
67
Meetings (2024):
72
Meeting
Environment and Infrastructure Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 5th December 2024
6:30 PM
Thursday, 5th December 2024
6:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 5th December 2024
10:30 PM
Thursday, 5th December 2024
10:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
05 Dec 2024
05 Dec 2024
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Secretary
Ellie Cole
Expected
Officer
Communications
Expected
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee
Committee Member
Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
Councillor Slimin declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was an unpaid director of Calleva Community Energy and the Chair of Barlow’s Park management association.
3
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2024
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2024 27 Nov 2024
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
4
Biodiversity Strategy Annual Report
Contact Officer: Rebecca Aziz
This report provides the Committee with an annual update on the progress of the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy.
This report provides the Committee with an annual update on the progress of the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy.
Attachments:
- Document Report 27 Nov 2024
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency introduced the report which provided the Committee with an annual update on the progress of the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Requested that the priority list of Local Nature Reserves be circulated to the Committee.
Sought clarification on the designation process for a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and requested that the local communities be kept informed.
Questioned the enforcement process for cases of Biodiversity net gain.
Requested that guidance be added to the website to direct residents who wished to report species sightings.
Expressed concern in relation to the River Loddon.
Thanked officers and the volunteers for their hard work.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and provides its comments to the Cabinet Member.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Requested that the priority list of Local Nature Reserves be circulated to the Committee.
Sought clarification on the designation process for a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and requested that the local communities be kept informed.
Questioned the enforcement process for cases of Biodiversity net gain.
Requested that guidance be added to the website to direct residents who wished to report species sightings.
Expressed concern in relation to the River Loddon.
Thanked officers and the volunteers for their hard work.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and provides its comments to the Cabinet Member.
5
Progress on implementing the adopted Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy
Contact Officer: Sam Taylor
This report sets out the latest carbon emissions figures for both the council’s operations including those for 2023/24 and the wider borough to 2022. It sets out progress on key actions associated with climate change as well as providing a summary of local air quality issues.
This report sets out the latest carbon emissions figures for both the council’s operations including those for 2023/24 and the wider borough to 2022. It sets out progress on key actions associated with climate change as well as providing a summary of local air quality issues.
Attachments:
- Document Report 27 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 1 27 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 2 27 Nov 2024
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency introduced the report which set out the latest carbon emissions figures for both the council’s operations for 2023/24 and the wider borough to 2022.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Would like to see the Councils property assets upgraded where possible instead of being disposed of.
Requested that financial support, e.g. loans and grants, be further promoted alongside the ‘Solar Together’ scheme to help with affordability and stated that the boroughs Sports facilities should also have solar panels.
Expressed concern that Electric vehicles could restrict the work of taxi drivers due to range.
Suggested that wind turbines be explored in line with planning legislation.
Expressed concern that there are challenges installing heat pumps in a number of houses and that there had been no mention of the restrictions in the report.
The Committee agreed to appoint Councillors Dillow, Slimin, Harper and Howard-Sorrell to a task and finish group to support the review of the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and provides its comments to the Cabinet Member.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Would like to see the Councils property assets upgraded where possible instead of being disposed of.
Requested that financial support, e.g. loans and grants, be further promoted alongside the ‘Solar Together’ scheme to help with affordability and stated that the boroughs Sports facilities should also have solar panels.
Expressed concern that Electric vehicles could restrict the work of taxi drivers due to range.
Suggested that wind turbines be explored in line with planning legislation.
Expressed concern that there are challenges installing heat pumps in a number of houses and that there had been no mention of the restrictions in the report.
The Committee agreed to appoint Councillors Dillow, Slimin, Harper and Howard-Sorrell to a task and finish group to support the review of the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and provides its comments to the Cabinet Member.
6
Review of work programme
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme and to receive updates from the Lead Members of Task and Finish Groups.
Attachments:
- Document Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme May v2 27 Nov 2024
- Document Review of the overall strategy for the installation of EV Charging Points across BDBC - Miller 27 Nov 2024
Minutes
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 confirmed that Sovereign Network Group would attend the February meeting to provide an update on the consultation work and future plans.
In relation to the work programme request form, the Chair advised that the EV charging strategy would come back to the Committee at the appropriate time.
The Chair confirmed that Sovereign Network Group would attend the February meeting to provide an update on the consultation work and future plans.
In relation to the work programme request form, the Chair advised that the EV charging strategy would come back to the Committee at the appropriate time.
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