Agenda item

Recommendation - That the Executive considers the two motions on climate change that have been referred by County Council and makes recommendations to be considered at the meeting of the County Council on 16 November 2022, in particular regarding:

·                a new and dedicated overview and scrutiny committee

·                a new Executive Member role

·                a climate change and biodiversity working party

·                the development of detailed policies and actions

Considered:  A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) presenting information to support members in their consideration of the two motions relating to climate change that were referred by County Council at their meeting on 20 July 2022.

County Councillor Greg White introduced the report and provided a summary of the Transport, Economy & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s findings and options. 

In regard to the proposal to introduce a new Overview & Scrutiny Committee with the sole remit of Climate Change, he confirmed his view that their were greater benefits from having all Overview & Scrutiny Committees continuing to consider climate change implications as part of all their work, as they would be able to bring to bear their expertise in their Committee’s remit and its relationship to climate change.

He was also not minded to recommend the creation of a climate change and biodiversity working party to support officers in the development and creation of an ambitious carbon reduction plan.  Again, he was of the view that it would be more efficient and effective to go through the existing Overview & Scrutiny Committees that were already holding the Directorates to account.

County Councillor Yvonne Peacock gave an example of a special Committee previously introduced by Richmond District Council to address similar issues, which proved unsuccessful and was eventually abandoned.

County Councillor Steve Mason acknowledged the County Council already had a good plan in place but suggested there were gaps that could benefit from greater scrutiny.  He therefore was in favour of the option of introducing a new dedicated Overview & Scrutiny Committee, as it would help drive forward the associated County Council ambition.  County Councillor David Noland also expressed a preference for that approach suggesting the County Council would benefit financially from progressing the work on addressing climate change.

County Councillor Paul Haslam did not support the introduction of a dedicated Overview & Scrutiny Committee but suggested the related work of the existing Overview & Scrutiny Committees would benefit from greater member engagement.  County Councillors David Chance and Simon Myers were also not in favour of a new Overview & Scrutiny Committee being introduced, suggesting the timing was not appropriate given the ongoing additional workload associated with LGR.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd drew attention to the required resources and costs associated with introducing a new Overview & Scrutiny Committee and suggested the monies could be better spent of delivery rather than debating.

County Councillor Carl Les confirmed the Executive already had the maximum number of Executive members allowed, and as the remits of the existing Executive Members already covered more than one key activity of the County Council, it would not be ideal to limit one of those to a remit solely for addressing Climate Change.

Having considered the options within the report in full, all Executive Member present voted in favour of the existing arrangements for the overview and scrutiny of Climate Change issues and it was

Resolved – Not to introduce:

·          a new and dedicated overview and scrutiny committee

·          a new Executive Member role

·          a climate change and biodiversity working party