To receive any apologies for absence.

The Chairman informed the Panel that the Vice-Chair was running approximately 30 minutes late and that Councillor Sharp was currently stuck in traffic.

To receive declarations of interests from Members of the Panel in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

None received.

The Chairman informed everyone present that the meeting was being recorded and that the audio would be made available on the RBWM website.

The Chairman informed everyone present of the fire evacuation procedures and asked that all mobile phones were switched off during the meeting.

To note the Part I minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on the 31 January 2017.

RESOLVED Unanimously; That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on the 31 January 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Opening remarks by the Chairman on the Panel’s role.

The Chairman thanked the Panel for their enthusiasm and Martin Fry for regularly attending the meetings and linking up with the Energy Reduction Manager on various projects / varied topics. 

Members were asked for any ideas or residents ideas on sustainability to be fed into the Chairman.   

By Ian Featherstone (Energy Saving Trust).

The Chairman welcomed Ian Featherstone (Energy Saving Trust) and the Principal Transport Policy Officer, Gordon Oliver, to the meeting and invited them to address the Panel. 

Members were given a brief presentation on Electric vehicle charging in residential streets.  The presentation covered the following:

• Introduction to Energy Saving Trust.
• Vehicle technology & charging.
• Charging in residential areas & case study.
• Funding available.
• Wider opportunities for ULEV adoption.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

Ø  That from the 01 January 2018 there would be ultra low emissions in London.

Ø  That by 2020 all small vehicles working on Heathrow Airport would be electric. 

Ø  That the electric vehicles available ranged from £13k - £100k.

Ø  That the tested charged range was 109 miles in 2011 compared to 250 miles in 2017.

Ø  That about 1.5% of new car registrations were plug in vehicles.

Ø  That the aim of new car registrations being plug in vehicles by 2040 was 20,000,000. 

Ø  That the tow main options for residential parking was a charge point or a lamppost with a charge point.  It was noted that a charge point could be placed in a wall if there were no safety issues. 

Ø  That the Energy Saving Trust could provide the RBWM with consultancy help, could look at grey fleet use and could help with the implementation.

Ø  Martin Fry stated that he felt this to be a very good presentation re: vision for the future. 

Ø  That the technology would be relatively cheap to upgrade in the future (to remove charging points and move to underground charging).

Ø  That vehicles could be charged via credit card payments or memberships.

Ø  That the charging plugs locked in once charging had started which meant you could not be charged for energy not used.

Ø  That the standard charge for a Nissan Leaf was four hours.

Ø  That it was no longer believed that using a fast charge point was detrimental to an electric cars battery.

Ø  That you could identify the locations of charge points by going to ‘National Charge Point Registry’. 

Ø  Councillor Werner questioned whether it would be better to put the charging points in Local Authority car parks, workplaces and leisure centres rather than on residential roads.  It was noted that whilst this was possible it would not be part of the scheme being put before the Panel today.

Ø  Councillor Werner raised his concern over the space available / needed on on-street parking roads in the Royal Borough.

Ø  That the concern was that the Royal Borough might be left with charge points that were out of warranty.

The Principal Transport Policy Officer informed Members that he had talked to Pod Point, who were one of the largest suppliers of charging infrastructure in the UK.  It was noted that their offer was summarised below:

• If the Council was to get a grant to fund 75% of the purchase / installation cost, then Pod Point would provide the match funding, so there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

By the Energy Reduction Manager (Michael Potter) with support from Rob McKinnon (Local Partnerships).

The Energy Reduction Manager, Michael Potter, informed the Panel that the report provided information relating to a potential schools retrofit energy efficiency project. It was noted that the project would be run under the RE:FIT framework and potentially in partnership with Slough Borough Council. It was estimated that a programme including all the borough’s schools would attract an investment of around £2m. The Energy Reduction Manager explained that the scheme would be financed using government funding called Salix Finance and that this funding offered 0% loans to schools for energy efficiency works. The programme would be multi-phased with potentially a first round of surveys commencing in late 2017.  

It was noted that the Energy Reduction Manager had spoken to Slough Borough Council who seemed happy for the Council to link up with them.  The Energy Reduction Manager explained that Slough Borough Council would do the procurement and form a contract with one supplier that the Royal Borough could also use.  It was noted that if the Royal Borough linked up with Slough it would be via a phased approach (5-10 schools per phase). 

The Chairman requested that a verbal update be given at the meeting in July.  It was noted that this date could be pushed back if necessary. 

RESOLVED Unanimously: That the Sustainability Panelnoted the report and:

i)       Approved progression of the schools RE:FIT programme proposal in principal (subject to school interest and further internal approvals) and the working up of a full delivery model in partnership with Slough Borough Council and Local Partnerships.

ii)     Approved the writing up of an information document for schools regarding the scheme. The document, once agreed, will be sent out to schools to gauge initial interest.

A written report submitted by the Waste Strategy Manager (Naomi Markham).

The Chairman referred the Panel to the written update from the Waste Strategy Manager, Naomi Markham, which could be found on pages 29-30 of the agenda.

Councillor Yong stated her disappointment that guidelines as to what could and could not be recycled were not being stuck on the bins.  The Chairman agreed to email the Waste Strategy Manager to ask if a smaller version of the stickers used on apartment / flat bins could be produced.

The Chairman also agreed to email the Waste Strategy Manager to ask if the recycling of textiles had picked up and for clarification on the below two points. 

Councillor Sharp stated that he was amazed that whilst the Council could record the amount of food waste collected and provide information packs they were unable to provide residents with food recycling bags.  It was felt that if residents were provided with recycling bags to their door it would encourage them to recycle more, increasing tonnage. 

Councillor Yong added that she felt that pink bags should be provided for recycling textiles and should be attached the top of the bin and distributed across the Royal Borough.    

By the Energy Reduction Manager (Michael Potter).

The Energy Reduction Manager, Michael Potter, referred Members to pages 31-42 of the agenda and explained that the report provided an update and gave the Panel an overview of the progress being made to deliver the Panel’s energy and water reduction strategy. 

The key areas covered were noted as follows:

• European Regional Development Low Carbon Funding
• Annual Plan 2016/17
• Close the door campaign
• Energy Switch to Save Scheme
• Building Management System, LED lighting tenders and Town Hall water reduction project
• Work planned over the next period until the next Sustainability Panel

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were noted:  

Ø  That the water reduction project at the Town Hall had completed.

Ø  Councillor Sharp stated that he felt the BMS programme was excellent.

Ø  The Chairman informed the Panel that she was in discussions with the Managing Director, Alison Alexander, and that the Strategy & Performance Manager, Anna Trott, was now looking into how best to display the Councils energy savings to the public. 

Ø  That 153 people had signed up to the Energy Switch to Save Scheme. 

Ø  Councillor Yong stated that she felt that energy companies should give existing customers better rates automatically. 

Ø  That a lot of the LED lighting project work would be done out of hours.

Ø  The Panel felt that with regard to the close the door campaign not much could be done if stores were being dictated to by their Head Offices so better use of the Energy Reduction Manager time would be spent undertaking re-fit projects. 

That work planned over the next period included:

o   LED lighting upgrade programming

o   Building Management System upgrade programming

o   Contacting Reading Borough Council about the ERDF funding

o   Managing water reduction project installations

o   Working up an action plan for 2017/18

RESOLVED Unanimously: That the Sustainability Panelnotes the report, the progress made and comments on the proposed work plan over the next period as detailed in paragraph 11.18.

RESOLVED Unanimously: That the Sustainability Panel approves contacting Reading Borough Council to discuss the possibility of ERDF funding for the schools RE:FIT programme.

The dates of future meetings are as follows (7.00pm start):

·         Tuesday 9 May 2017.

·         Monday 3 July 2017.

·         Monday 18 September 2017.

·         Monday 27 November 2017.

·         Tuesday 30 January 2018.

·         Thursday 8 March 2018.

·         Thursday 10 May 2018.

Future meeting dates were noted to be as follows:

·         Tuesday 9 May 2017.

·         Monday 3 July 2017.

·         Monday 18 September 2017.

·         Monday 27 November 2017.

·         Tuesday 30 January 2018.

·         Thursday 8 March 2018.

·         Thursday 10 May 2018.