To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Bowden. Councillor Hunt acted as a substitute.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 17 January 2022.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: that the minutes of the last meeting on 17 January 2022 were a true and accurate record.

To confirm the actions from the minutes of the previous meeting.

To receive the above.

Ian Brazier-Dubber, Managing Director of RBWM Property Company, updated the Panel on the Community Facilities in Holmanleaze. Since the Panel had produced the Scoping Document, two developments had occurred. First, the Council had adopted the Borough Local Plan which resulted in the existing sites being confirmed as sites for community use. Additionally, the Property Company had met with existing tenants of the properties involved to understand the full scope of tenancies and how they operated. The tenants were secure in their tenancies and still had significant time remaining on their leases. As a result, following further review, it was decided that no further action needed to be taken and the sites would remain as they were. Focus would be placed upon sustaining and improving those sites for community usage.

The Chairman thanked Ian Brazier-Dubber for his update.

Councillor Del Campo asked if this had been discussed by Cabinet and whether the buildings were fit for purpose for the duration of the contracts.

Ian Brazier-Dubber stated that a formal note regarding the withdrawal of the proposals would be made to Cabinet in due course, and work was ongoing to ascertain the quality of the buildings on the site to determine the quality of the buildings. Initial findings had shown that the buildings had a short life of around 10-years, and work was being undertaken to help tenants sustain the use of properties moving forward.

The Chairman asked Ian Brazier-Dubber if he knew when work would be started on the Magnet Leisure Centre.

Ian Brazier-Dubber stated that planning consent needed to be granted and a formal process to draw down a development agreement would be needed in order to commence work. The hope was that development would commence in late May or early June.

The Chairman asked if Ian Brazier-Dubber was aware of developments on Queen Street.

Ian Brazier-Dubber stated that he was aware that there was one remaining site which was subject to a compulsory purchase order. The process to transfer the property to the developer would be concluded in June 2022.

Councillor Price asked if local residents would be made aware of the reversal of the proposal as there had been a high level of community interest. Councillor Price also asked if the green space on the land was still under threat.

Ian Brazier-Dubber stated that residents would be communicated with in order to make them aware of the plans. In addition, the green space was no longer under threat as there was no further intention to develop on the space.

The Chairman thanked Ian Brazier-Dubber for his time.

To receive a report on the above based on the scoping document produced by the panel.

The Panel considered the written report regarding climate change and sustainability strategy.

The Chairman introduced James Thorpe, Service Lead for Sustainability and Climate, who talked through the report which had been presented to the panel.

Three public speakers addressed the Panel, each speaker was given three minutes to speak.

Dave Scarborough, member of the Climate Emergency Coalition (CEC), asked for clarification regarding measurements of carbon reductions and asked the scrutiny panel how it planned to address potential shortcomings in the end of year report.

Councillor Davies thanked James Thorpe for the update. Councillor Davies stated that there was the need for in-house governance of the Council’s climate and sustainability work and asked whether a structure for this governance could be integrated into the forward plan for the panel. Councillor Davies also asked if work had been commenced on an air quality improvement plan.

Thomas Wigley, local resident, stated that he was encouraged by the Borough’s declaration that action on climate change was a clear priority. Thomas Wigley asked for clarification on the date that the Borough aimed to achieve the National Air Quality Objective (NAQO) in all air quality management areas (AQMAs). Thomas Wigley also asked whether the Council could provide more prominent ‘no-idling’ signage within the AQMAs.

James Thorpe stated that air quality sat within the Environmental Protection team rather than the Climate and Sustainability team, and this could be raised with the team.

ACTION: James Thorpe to discuss the above with the Environmental Protection team.

Councillor Price asked whether the cross-party climate change steering group had been meeting bi-monthly as stated in the end of year report.

James Thorpe stated that a paper had gone to Cabinet in September which resulted in the disbandment of the steering group as it had achieved its aim of establishing the Environment and Climate Strategy.

Councillor Price expressed concern about whether the Council would achieve their goals as a great deal of importance had been placed upon the Climate Strategy. Councillor Price also asked how the Council would be measuring its progress and success when some targets had not been given set deadlines.

James Thorpe explained that the End of Year Report contained a number of tables which were directly linked to the strategy itself which contained a number of measurements and targets that the Council and Borough were working towards. Additionally, a great deal of work had gone into the Citizens’ Portal which would detail the Council’s performance and progress against its goals. James Thorpe explained that all the actions within the strategy had a five-year time frame and a plan of how this would be achieved. James Thorpe noted it had been a difficult year but the Council had made progress, and cited recent successes such as the planting of 8,000 trees and upcoming plans to provide five schools within the Borough with new low-carbon heating systems. Extensive work had been ongoing of 45 Council buildings to understand where carbon emissions were coming from and which technology could be put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To approve the final version of the Annual Scrutiny Report.

The Panel approved the draft Annual Scrutiny Report.

To consider the Panel’s work programme for the remainder of the Municipal year.

To include consideration of items scheduled on the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Panel noted that the work programme would be discussed offline.