Agenda item

Low Carbon Rapporteur Report and Chair's update

Verbal update.

Minutes:

The Chair, County Councillor Ed Nash psc, updated the committee on rapporteur activities he undertook on the subject of Low Carbon. This included:

 

·  Reviewing Lancashire policy from 2009.

·  Attending a workshop held by Electricity North West in Preston.

·  Visiting Lancaster City Council and Fylde Borough Council. He discovered that district councils were looking for guidance and leadership from Lancashire County Council on carbon reduction. They were also looking for a practical way of providing advice, guidance and incentives to house building.

·  Meeting with Angie Ridgwell, the Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council.

·  Visiting two local building firms, and one local heating and lighting company.

·  Attending Lancaster City Council's Climate Action Day.

 

The Chair had concluded that district councils in Lancashire were looking for guidance and leadership from the county council on carbon reduction.

 

During this item County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning was invited to the table to answer any questions in connection with his written response to recommendations made by the External Scrutiny Committee meeting of 16 July 2019 when it considered a report from Electricity North West on Leading the North West to Zero Carbon. A copy of the written response which was received on 11 October 2019, is set out in the minutes.

 

The Cabinet Member reassured the committee he was committed to holding a Green Summit during 2020. 

 

Regarding the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on carbon reduction it was felt that the programme should be overseen by the leaders of councils in Lancashire to provide the necessary municipal leadership and to ensure consistency with the Climate Emergency declarations of councils in the county, rather than being overseen by a committee of Lancashire County Council. It was reported that this work would be undertaken via one of the work streams as part of the Greater Lancashire Plan being prepared by Lancashire Leaders. It was suggested that the Committee could scrutinise the Plan.

 

It was noted that district councils and the unitary authorities in Lancashire were already required to make carbon reduction a consistent factor in all planning applications and local plans. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) set out the obligation to plan for new development that reduced greenhouse gas emissions and adapted to climate change. The NPPF went beyond the committee's recommendation by promoting development that reduced the need to travel or promoted sustainable travel. It also promoted site layout to reduce carbon emissions.

 

On Universal Credit the committee was informed that contact had been made with the Department for Work and Pensions and discussions were ongoing with a view to inviting them to attend a future meeting of the External Scrutiny Committee. The Chair had recently attended a Veterans Agency briefing which included a presentation by Professor Lisa Scullion of Salford University on the effects of Universal Credit. Professor Scullion would be invited to attend a future meeting of the committee to present her research findings.

 

It was hoped that the Strengthening Flood Risk Management and Preparedness in Lancashire Task and Finish Group would present its final report at the November meeting of the External Scrutiny Committee.

 

Resolved: That the Low Carbon Rapporteur Report, Chair's Update and the written response from the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning be noted.

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