Gosport Borough Council Climate Change Board Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillor Meenaghan who was substituted by Councillor Blackman, and Councillor Mitchell who was substituted by Councillor Hammond.

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RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on the16^th September 2021 be signed as a true and correct record.

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A presentation was given on the Climate Change Partnership by the Partnership Chairman Tom Morgan

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community Safety regarding the provision of costed options for a large and small Citizens Assembly.

Members felt that the costs were extremely high and requested a breakdown of the figures, however Officers advised that this level of detail was not provided by the consultants.

Members wondered if some of the costs could be shared with other local authorities. It was also felt that the consultancy fees were high.

Members asked if it was possible to go down the route of the Climate Change Partnership as there is no set template for an Assembly although it was not clear how a Partnership could inform policy.

Officers advised that the report reflected the work they had been asked to do by the Board and that other authorities have spent thousands on setting up Assemblies by teams much bigger than that at GBC. Members acknowledged the work that had been involved in producing the report.

Members felt that a Citizens Assembly would take a considerable period of time to bring about action and carried the risk of currently engaged enthusiastic people drifting away.

Members noted that when the motion was passed 18 months ago there was no Partnership in place.

Members felt that there were other methods of engaging with the public, business, youth organisations and other volunteer groups already doing things at low cost to inform the Council of the best way forward to drive policies in regard to recycling etc.

Members felt that the Council had been engaging with the public and the Assembly would be duplicating the work being done by the Partnership.   

A Member was concerned that Council had approved the setting up of an Assembly and wondered if the Partnership could form 50% of the Assembly.

Members were advised that the timeframe from budget allocation through the procurement system etc could take up to 10 months.

It was agreed to take each recommendation individually and ask members to choose their preferred option.

RESOLVED: That the Board decided not to implement a Citizens Assembly.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy & Community Safety in regard to the proposed framework that will be used to update the Climate Change Strategy.

A Member supported the idea of the framework but was keen that it produced action on electric vehicle points, public transport, reduction in paper use and re-wilding not just talking as opportunities were being missed and the public would expect action.

Members wished to acknowledge the progress that has been made despite many projects being affected and impeded by Covid and reminded the Board that 6 of the 10 points in the Motion had been achieved whilst 3 were naturally ongoing and the final one had been discussed at this meeting. Whilst of the 25 points in the Action Plan, 5 had been achieved, 10 delayed by Covid 6 ongoing and 2 with future completion dates. They reminded the Board of the work that Boards have achieved in the reports on re-wilding, flood defenses, conservation and the Elmore Lake Task & Finish Group.

A Member wished to remind the Board that the strategy was not necessarily operational, but to provide the direction in which the Board was headed. It must be robust, achievable and proportionate, written to be accessible. There should be collaboration with HCC.

RESOLVED: That the Board approved the framework set out in this report, which will then guide an extensive update to the Climate Change Strategy.