Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

County Councillor Hasina Khan replaced County Councillor Gillian Oliver for this meeting only.

 

County Councillor Andrea Kay attended the meeting under Standing Order D13 (1).

 

D Stephen, Member of Youth Parliament for the North and Garstang's Youth Mayor attended the meeting regarding item5 – Decarbonisation pathway for Lancashire.

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

None were received.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

Minutes:

None were disclosed.

3.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 31 July 2020 pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes from the meeting held on 31 July 2020, be confirmed as an accurate record.

 

4.

Chair's update

Verbal update

Minutes:

The Chair, County Councillor Ed Nash, pointed out that Covid had a major influence on everything the External Scrutiny Committee did as it was reliant on external bodies to form its agenda.

 

Flood Risk Management was an ongoing subject. It was noted that the Flood Risk Management Team and appointed another Flood Risk Manager who the committee would look forward to meeting at a future meeting. Members had been sent copies of the letters sent to Government following the Cabinet Member's comments on the recommendations of the Strengthening Flood Risk Management and Preparedness Task and Finish Group. Members had also been sent some of the responses received from Government.

 

The committee was informed that the pandemic had affected Universal Credit significantly. The committee was waiting for a response from the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on the committee's recommendations on Universal Credit.

 

Resolved: That the Chair's update be noted.

5.

Decarbonisation pathway for Lancashire pdf icon PDF 21 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed to the meeting from Electricity North West, Cara Blockley, Central Services Manager, Steve Cox, Engineering and Technical Director and Helen Norris, Stakeholder Engagement and Responsibility Framework Manager. From Cadent Gas the Chair welcomed Helen Boyle, Regional Development Manager.

 

The committee was provided with a presentation on the decarbonisation pathway for Lancashire. Lancashire was currently set to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The pathway provided a view on how its energy system could be decarbonised through a balanced use of renewable electricity and low carbon gas. The presentation aimed to show which technologies would emerge as commercially viable first and were therefore likely to be adopted by customers.

 

The following points were highlighted:

 

  • By 2050 Lancashire would rely on electricity imports from the National Grid and would be a net-importer of hydrogen. The majority of energy consumed in 2050 would be from electricity and hydrogen. Due to Lancashire's onshore and offshore wind potential, more than half of the electricity demand could be met with local distribution level generation. Abundant wind resources could also be used to generate significant amounts of green hydrogen by 2050.

·  On the installation of charging points for electric vehicles and the difficulties for people who lived in terraced houses or apartment blocks it was noted that from national trials people charged their vehicles in different places not just at home. Electricity North West had provided charging points (13 amp plugs) at its offices for staff to charge their vehicles at no additional cost to help incentivise the take up of electric vehicles. Whilst it would cost approx. 4 pence per mile to charge each vehicle, it was highlighted that it would cost more to meter such provision. Vehicles could be charged at around ten miles per hour on a 13 Amp plug. Electricity North West was encouraging employers in Lancashire to provide slow low trickle charging facilities for employees in their car parks. All major supermarkets were installing fast charging facilities. Large fuel stations were also providing ultra-fast chargers which would fully charge an average vehicle in around 15 minutes. It was explained that people were anxious about electric vehicle charging and running out of power however it was highlighted that most people used their vehicles for short distances and the way to solve this problem would be to install as many chargers at places of work, supermarkets, fuel stations and surface/multi-storey car parks as possible. Home charging was not an essential part of owning an electric vehicle.

·  Further detail was sought on the storage of hydrogen in salt caverns. It was explained that there were lots of trials happening around the country regarding this to answer a number of questions on hydrogen and the safety of storage. One such trial was being undertaken at Keele University[1] where they were now looking to implement 100% hydrogen supply for commercial and residential settings. Cadent Gas and other companies were looking at networked hydrogen and the supply chain. It was highlighted that Cadent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Universal Credit: Citizens Advice in Lancashire - the impact of Covid 19 pdf icon PDF 22 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed to the meeting from Citizens Advice Rossendale and Hyndburn, Rachel Whippy, Chief Officer and Jenny Duthie, Universal Credit Help and Claim Best Practice Lead.

 

The committee was presented with an update on the impact of Covid 19 on the people of Lancashire and the issues they faced.

 

The following points were clarified:

 

·  On whether there had been an increase in domestic abuse issues during the pandemic, it was reported that there had been 179 reported issues in 2019 and this had increased to 239 in 2020. Anecdotally Citizens Advice advisors were reporting an increase in the number of referrals for relationship issues and this was echoed nationally.

·  Concerns were raised about loan shark activity. Members were informed that there was a government funded organisation for stopping loan sharks. Members were provided with a link to the 'Stop Loan Sharks' website: www.stoploansharks.co.uk . Stop Loan Sharks worked closely with Trading Standards. Credit Unions were also proactive in helping people get out of the grip of loan sharks. Solutions were available for people with debts under £20k were they could obtain a Debt Relief Order. It was stated that people should contact Citizens Advice for help in dealing with their debts and setting up dent management plans.

·  On how the county council might help support residents, it was felt the community hubs established during the pandemic were a good example of local authorities, health and the voluntary sector working together in partnership and it was hoped this would continue. In terms of service delivery for Citizens Advice it was noted that whilst capacity was reserved for the most vulnerable in society and those with complex issues, their approach was to help enable people to support themselves by providing a wealth of information and resources through its website and training on how to use it.

·  It was noted that the Citizens Advice did not work with trade unions but this could be an option.

·  It was suggested that Lancashire County council could advertise for volunteers for the Citizens Advice.

·  The Chair reminded the committee that a formal written response to its recommendations made in February 2020 was awaited from the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing. It was felt that the committee should wait for the Cabinet Member's response before making recommendations.

 

Resolved: That;

 

1.  The report be noted.

2.  The External Scrutiny Committee awaits receipt of the formal written responses by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing before formulating any further recommendations.

 

7.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 38 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The External Scrutiny Committee was presented with a single combined work programme for all of the Lancashire County Council scrutiny committees.

 

It was suggested that the committee continue to review the three themes of:

 

·  Universal Credit.

·  Strengthening Flood Risk Management and Preparedness.

·  Decarbonisation.

 

Resolved: That the External Scrutiny Committee continue to review Universal Credit, strengthening flood risk management and preparedness and decarbonisation at forthcoming meetings.

 

8.

Urgent Business

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

Minutes:

There were no items of Urgent Business.

9.

Date of Next Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of the External Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 10am.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the External Scrutiny Committee would take place on Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 10.00am by means of a virtual meeting.