Agenda item

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Community Services concerning the County Council’s current and planned response to the Environment agenda. A copy of the report marked ‘A’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Committee was advised that since the report had been written additional funding had been agreed in the County Council’s budget which would contribute further to improving the environment. This funding provide for:-

 

Ø                  a feasibility study to develop a Community Wood in Enderby;

 

Ø                  matched funding to support working with LeicesterShire Economic Partnership to develop an anaerobic digestion plant;

 

Ø                  Capital and Revenue resources to implement the findings of the Energy Review Panel.

 

In the ensuing discussion the following points were made:-

 

i)                                climate change could not be addressed under the normal economic rules and it was necessary to recognise that in seeking to address climate change the Authority might be faced with additional costs e.g. paying a premium for green energy;

 

ii)                              the aim to become carbon neutral was laudable but should be accompanied by a clear time frame for its achievement;

 

iii)                            in considering the County Council’s own activities there should be a corporate commitment to environmental cost and benefit considerations being embedded in the service planning process;

 

iv)                            consideration should be given to reviewing, if possible, the current arrangements for travelling expenses which did not encourage the use of vehicles with a smaller engine size or those deemed to be more environmentally friendly;

 

v)                              given the influence and spending power of the Authority there was a clear leadership role to be exercised not only in promoting good practice but also in terms of encouraging, through direct support and purchasing/contracting strategies, the development of green technologies and processes.

 

RESOLVED

 

a)         That it be noted:-

 

i)                    that a number of strategies are currently in place which seek, within their overall broad objectives, to address environmental issues;

 

ii)                  that the next review of the County Council’s Environment Strategy to be undertaken in the coming year will focus on three key areas related to energy, waste and procurement, with the view to developing a core plan;

 

iii)                that the recently agreed energy and water strategy provides a key set of actions and investment for the authority for coming years;

 

iv)                that ENABLE has been commissioned by the Leicestershire Together Board (which is chaired by the Leader of the County Council)  to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan to which the Board partners will be asked to sign up to.

 

b)         That the Cabinet be advised that it is the view of the Scrutiny Commission      that:-

 

i)                    within the Environment Strategy and other relevant strategies greater emphasis needs to be given to the County Council’s leadership and advocacy role in respect of the wider community;

 

ii)                  whilst the proposed production of a food and drink directory was a welcome development aimed at reducing food miles, the actions of Leicester City Council in enforcing the ancient market charter and thereby preventing neighbouring District Councils from setting up local markets adversely impacts on the ability of local farmers to sell their products;

 

iii)                in order to further embed environmental considerations within the policies of the Council and to allow elected members and the public to assess the Council’s resolve,  for a period of one year, all reports to County Council bodies should include a section ‘Environmental Implications’;

 

iv)                in order to progress this important issue those members who served on the Scrutiny Panel on Energy and Water Management be asked to convene as a Panel to consider the Council’s current and planned response to the Environment Agenda with a view to identifying the key areas of County Council activity that could be investigated further so as to deliver the Council’s commitments to the environment and climate change.