Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee meeting held on 13 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

The Chair, or their nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

There were none.

To consider any issues raised by ward councillors in accordance with Standing Order 34.2

At the time of publication of this agenda no ward issues were received.

There were none.

To receive a presentation from Heathrow Airport Limited.

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Local Strategic Engagement, the Director of Communications and Sustainability and the Head of Carbon Strategy at Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) on Heathrow Airport’s Sustainability Plan: “Heathrow 2.0 Connecting People and Planet”.

HAL explained that the Heathrow 2.0 Sustainability Plan was embedded in the business strategy for the airport.  They stressed that the benefits of aviation should not come at a cost to the planet or society.  The focus of the 2.0 Plan was “net zero aviation” and “a great place to live and work”, with 10 key sustainability objectives which HAL wished to achieve by 2030.

HAL gave examples of net zero target highlights from 2022 and set out targets for 2030, such as cutting emissions in the air by 15% and on the ground by 45%, compared with a baseline of 2019.  

A sustainable travel zone had been created focussing on bus routes and incentives to staff to use public transport to get to work.  There were increased early and late bus and coach services to accommodate shift workers.  There was work on noise management with a new action plan due for 2024-28.  In relation to biodiversity, HAL was working with partners to support a nature network around Heathrow.

Funding was available from the Heathrow Community Trust and Heathrow Community Take Off Fund for initiatives which would benefit the environment or local community groups.  HAL welcomed input from councillors as to how they could do more for the benefit of local residents and were already engaging with local councils.  The Committee noted work with communities in the north of the borough as part of Heathrow’s Giving Back Programme.

The Committee raised a number of areas of concern, including the lack of public transport south of the airport, the need for increased bus, coach and rail routes through the borough, a light rail access link to Heathrow, the lack of tree planting by HAL, local air quality, the small amount of grant funding received by the borough, increased employment at the airport and the potential pressures on local housing.  HAL stressed that geography was not a factor for grant applications and that grants were awarded purely on the quality of the applications received.  They also expressed the wish that jobs would go to local people who already lived in the vicinity of Heathrow.

In accordance with Standing order 32.3 the Chair briefly suspended discussion of this item to allow consideration of the item on Proposed Strategic Community Infrastructure Terms of Reference due to time constraints.  The Committee agreed.

The Committee and HAL discussed the anticipated growth in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which was waste-based, primarily cooking oils, and noted that a 50% blend could be used in existing aircraft.  The life expectancy of aircraft was around 25 years, but hydrogen fuelled second generation aircraft were expected to enter UK regional services by 2030.  Despite challenges in green hydrogen production it was expected that it would ultimately replace bio fuels.

Questions were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28/23

To consider agreement of the proposed strategic Community Infrastructure Levy Terms of Reference following the dissolution of the Spelthorne Joint Committee.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Terms of Reference for the Working Group following the dissolution of the Spelthorne Joint Committee.

The Spelthorne Joint Committee had previously been the final decision maker with regard to CIL funding.  Following its dissolution a new final decision maker was required.  The proposal was for the Environment and Sustainability Committee to become the new final decision maker.  The Committee was asked to agree the proposed changes to the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the CIL Working Group to enable this.

The Committee noted that the ToR had been amended to move from accepting applications for CIL on an ad-hoc basis, to a structured annual spending round, in agreement with the CIL Working Group.

The Committee resolved to agree the proposed Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Terms of Reference (ToR) following the dissolution of the Spelthorne Joint Committee.

To receive an update on the following task and finish and/or working groups:

Climate Change Working Group – verbal update from Councillor Noble

The Committee received a verbal update on the work of the Climate Change Working Group.

The Chair of the Climate Change Working Group provided a summary of progress in relation to the climate strategy and action plan.  These included knowledge of the carbon footprint for Spelthorne, the purchase and use of electric cars and mopeds, increased use of solar panels, the establishment of the Climate Change Officer role, a carbon literacy training programme for staff, workshops for local residents and strategies for the future.  The Chair thanked officers of the Council for their work and his Co-Chair for his help and support.

The committee resolved to note the update from the Climate Change Working Group.

A copy of the Environment & Sustainability Committee Forward Plan is attached.

The Committee considered the forward plan for future Committee business.

A member requested that discussion of working groups be added to the forward plan for the next meeting.

The Committee resolved to note the forward plan with the addition of the item referred to above.