Meeting documents

Members are reminded of the need to consider whether they have a disclosable pecuniary, prejudicial or other (personal) interest to declare in any items on this agenda.  Details of any interest must be declared at the start of the meeting or as soon as any interest becomes apparent during the meeting.  The attached form must also be completed. Any advice required should ideally be sought before the day of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Public questions of which due notice has been given and which are relevant to the business of the committee.

There were no public questions.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on

the 20^th April, 2022. (Attached)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meetings held on 20^th April, 2022 be approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report of the Director (PT), (Reference 22/139).

The Chair introduced the report, then invited the Climate Change Programme Manager, Mr Baross, to present.

As a background to the report, Mr Baross reminded Members of the work undertaken by the scrutiny appointed Task and Finish Group on Climate Change, the findings and recommendations from which were subsequently adopted by Council.  In addition, Mr Baross provided a more detailed update   and overview of progress against each strategic objective within the Climate Change Strategy. 

Members were also updated that an in progress application for 51 on-street residential charge-point scheme had been submitted, providing 102 EV bays in the Council’s car parks across the borough. 

The Committee received a detailed PowerPoint Presentation, summarised as follows:-

Borough Carbon Footprint

Ø  483.9tCO2 (4.4per capita) *correction to report stating national per capita as 5.9 rather than 5.2

Ø  Lowest on record

Ø  Lowest per capita in NY

Ø  All sectors declining 

Ø  Land use net carbon sink

Ø  Large electricity decline o Due to the supply side of the national and local grids decarbonising and demand side seeing greater efficiency from business and domestic sectors. o Decline in gas and other fuels for heating but slower as 1.

supply of electrified or hydrogen heating not taken off yet and 2.

Demand for insulation is stunted by costs.

Ø  Trends similar to national picture but faster o SBC moving faster than Uk

§ UK total footprint from 05-15 saw reduction of 36% and SBC 43%

The Officer explained that the large electricity decline was due to several factors such as decarbonised electricity from the national and local grids, and greater efficiencies from business and domestic sector. There was also a decline in gas due to a reduction in gas and other fuels for heating. This was however slower due to cleaner sources like electric and hydrogen not yet being widely available, and higher costs in insulation leading to less demand. Council Carbon Footprint

Ø  20/21 down from 19/20 covid

Ø  21/22 up from 20/21 due to post-covid and addition of the Whitby Pavilion & Scarborough Spa to the council’s assets

Ø  In red shows the figure without the additional assets

Ø  Virtual meetings

Ø  Net emission negated some CO2 due to 100%green energy tariff

Ø  Gas heating reduction due to efficiency, notably window upgrades at Scarborough Town Hall  

HVO Fuel Rollout

Ø  Almost two thirds of the fleet using HVO

Ø  Fuel from waste cooking oils

Ø  90% emission reduction over diesel

Ø  No vehicle retrofit needed

Ø  Seen as a transition fuel

Ø  Sharing experience with others

Community Renewal Fund

Ø  North Yorkshire wide programme

Ø  Expected to be complete in autumn

Ø  Local Area Energy Plan to spatially assess future energy supply and demand

Ø  Hitting Hard project to develop an action plan for hard-to-decarbonise homes

Ø  Local E-motion project developing plans for small sustainable transport hubs

He explained that the Local Energy Plan would calculate the electricity needed and areas of high demand, and identify sites for the development of renewables;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the attached Work Programme and the most recent version of

the Cabinet Forward Plan (reference 22/140).

The Assistant Democratic Services Officer presented the Committee’s current work programme (reference 22/140) for Members’ consideration, along with the most recent copy of the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Following a suggestion from the Chair of the Lives and Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee to expand on a recent member support session that brought to light challenges on the current cost of living crisis, Members agreed in principle that it would be prudent to hold a joint session of the Lives and Homes & Places and Futures O&S Committees that focused on addressing the crisis. The Officer confirmed that a ‘scrutiny in a day’ session featuring a panel of 6 O&S Members could be organised to take place from September. Jo Ireland would also be contacted as an Officer who had relevant experience in preparing the groundwork for such a project.

The Chair raised the matter of the Corporate Performance Report. After discussing with Officers its continued value ahead of LGR, Members agreed to remove the item from the Work Programme but refer any noteworthy issues back to the Committee.

It was also agreed that updates on the Ecological Emergency be received through a report instead of bringing to a formal Committee.

Members requested that Officers invite the YCBID Company to the Committee’s meeting on the 31^st August, 2022.

The Chair shared to Members he was aware of interest from non-committee Members regarding changes to the Esk Valley Railway, an item seen previously at the 1^st September, 2021 meeting. He acknowledged the concern and reassured Members that the issue had been addressed through background correspondence.

An item on the Peasholm Park tree walk would had also been agreed by Members to be dropped from the Work Programme, provided Members received an update outside of committee.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Officers begin preparing a ‘scrutiny in a day’ session on the cost of living crisis with the assistance of relevant Officers

2.    That periodic items on the Corporate Performance Report be removed from the work programme

3.    That The Ecological Emergency – update be removed from the work programme

4.    That Officers invite the YCBID Company to attend the 31^st August, 2022 Committee