Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee meeting held on 5 September 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 05 September 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 no questions from members of the public.

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 no ward issues.

To note the advice from Defra regarding updating the Air Quality Action Plan and the Air Quality Management Area, and the work required to complete the Air Quality Action Plan.

The Committee considered a report from the Principal Pollution Control Officer on the advice from Defra regarding the Air Quality Action Plan and the Air Quality Management Area. Defra had advised the Council that a new plan would need to be in place by May 2024. The Group Head – Place, Protection and Prosperity had written to Defra to explain that a consultation process needed to be followed and to request an extension to the deadline.

The Committee queried how many air quality monitors there were in the Borough and were informed that there were 48 non-automatic monitors, one automatic one (located at Sunbury Cross), and a continuous analyser in Stanwell which is funded by Heathrow Airport.

The Committee asked why the May 2024 deadline set by Defra would not be met. The Principal Pollution Control officer advised that work had begun on a new plan in 2022 but had paused due to uncertainty relating to the ULEZ expansion. There was also a requirement to complete statutory reporting to Defra during the same time period.

The Committee resolved to:

1. Note the advice from Defra regarding updating the Air Quality Action Plan and the Air Quality Management Area.

2.    Note the work required to complete the Air Quality Action Plan.

To receive a verbal update on the Local Plan.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Service Lead for Strategic Planning and Enterprise, and the Group Head – Place Protection and Prosperity, on the Local Plan.

A summary of the update is included with these minutes.

The Committee queried whether the Environment Agency (EA) would be able to attend a future Committee meeting to discuss the flood risk issues. Councillor Beecher informed the Committee that he had spoken to the EA and been advised that they would be unable to attend any committee meetings due to volume of work and staffing issues.

The Committee asked whether the design codes, once established, would apply to developers looking to build within the borough and were advised that was the purpose of the codes.

The Committee resolved to note the update.

To receive written or verbal updates on the following Task and Finish/Working Groups:

Community Infrastructure Levy Task Group – written update

Climate Change Working Group – verbal update from Chair

The Committee received an update from the Infrastructure Delivery Coordinator on Local CIL funding decisions.

There were no questions from the Committee on Local CIL decision.

The Committee received an update from the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee on the Climate Change Working Group. Councillor Beecher advised that the working group had discussed Sweeps Ditch, EV Hubs, and the use of the shared prosperity fund to assist small and medium enterprises to reduce their carbon emissions.

The Group Head – Commissioning and Transformation advised the Committee that there had been instances of flooding along the River Ash. The EA had been contacted and had modified the flow of the river which had resolved the issue.

The Committee resolved to note the updates.

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

The Committee considered the forward plan for future Committee business.

The Committee resolved to note the forward plan.

To move the exclusion of the public and press in order to discuss the next item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was proposed by Councillor Sexton, seconded by Councillor Grant and resolved to exclude the public and press be excluded for the following agenda items, in accordance with paragraph 4 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

To receive the draft service plans for the following services:

·       Planning Development Management

·       Strategic Planning

The Project Accountant advised that the service plans were the first step in the budget process and that there would be further opportunities to scrutinise service requirements when the draft budget was presented to committees in January 2024.

The Committee considered the Planning Development Service Plan, presented by the Planning Development Manager.

The Committee considered the Strategic Planning Service Plan, presented by the Service Lead for Strategic Planning and Enterprise.

The Committee resolved to note the service plans.

Meeting ended at 20:10