Gosport Borough Council Climate Change Board Meeting

An apology for non attendance was received from Councillor Raffaelli.

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Consideration was given to a report by Councillors Jessop and Mitchell requesting in accordance with Standing Order 3.7.2 for this issue to be considered at the Climate Change Board and that the Board approves the establishment of a task and finish group.

The Chairman asked that the wording in item 2.4 should be amended to read “not more than six months”.

Members wished to recognize the work that had gone into producing the report.

Members stressed the need for the work and actions of the task and finish group to be linked into the strategy of the Climate Change Board, and its output to be monitored and measured with KPIs.

Members hoped that the new Climate Change Officer would forge relationships with the appropriate external agencies to define accountability and ensure the work of the task and finish group is sustained in the long term.

RESOLVED:

That the Board approves the establishment of a task and finish group to consider:

i.              external agencies and organisations that the Council should directly consult and engage on this matter

ii.             actions that the Council is able to procure or carry out itself or with partners in relation to the issue

and to report back to the Climate Change Board in no more than six months on the outcomes of the task and finish group’s work.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Corporate Policy and Community safety which provided Members an update on progress on the Climate Change Action Plan.

Members thanked the Officer for a clear report with a targeted and precise Action Plan, and congratulated her on the achievements to date which included the Green Travel Strategy and the Summer Passport where young people of the Borough were able to learn about climate change.

Members were advised that a Climate Change Officer had been recruited and would be starting at the beginning of October and would be introduced to Members.

Members were pleased to see that the report included the opportunity to embed climate change into a ‘green recovery’ and suggested that a link was formed with Action Hampshire’s Build Back Better strategy.

Members asked if data had been produced to monitor any reduction in the energy usage of the Town Hall during the lockdown period, and if there were any plans to install a plumbed in water supply to reduce plastic usage.

Members were pleased to see that supporting habitat gain featured on the action plan, and hoped for more in house control on planting.

RESOLVED:

That the Board note this report.

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By reason of special circumstances, the Chairman determined that the following item be considered at this meeting notwithstanding the fact that the item had not been available for public inspection in accordance with the provisions of Section 100B(4)(a) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

Members viewed a presentation by Clare Dowling of Sustrans South and welcomed the news that Gosport Borough Council would join the project during September with the staff travel survey being distributed around month end.