Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee meeting held on 25 April 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 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 consider the existing task groups, working group, and spending board composition and terms of reference.

The Group Head – Place, Protection and Prosperity presented the report on the strategic planning task groups.

The Committee queried what work would be done by the Staines Development Task Group (SDTG) and the Local Plan Task Group (LPTG). Officers advised that there were currently two options with regard to the Local Plan; to continue with the examinations, or to make changes to the plan. The matter would be reported back to an ECM on 14 September 2023.

The Committee asked if those nominated to outside bodies could report back to the committee and were advised by the Chair that it was for the Committee to decided what it wanted on the Forward Plan.

Committee resolved to:

1. Re-confirm the composition of the Local Plan Task Group and Terms of Reference
2. To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee to agree the names of those ware members on the Local Plan Task Group
3. Re-confirm the composition of the Staines-upon-Thames Development Task Group and the suggested Terms of Reference
4. Re-confirm the composition of the Community Infrastructure Levy Working Group and the suggested Terms of Reference

5.    Re-confirm the composition of the Local CIL Spending Boards and governance arrangements

To consider the continuation of the Climate Change Working Group and its proposed terms of reference, and to appoint a member representative to participate in the Greener Futures Partnership Board.

The Group Head – Commissioning and Transformation presented the report on the continuation of the Climate Change Working Group.

The Committee were asked to nominate a member representative to the Greener Futures Partnership meetings. The Committee were advised that meetings would be held during the day, with the next meeting on Wednesday 28 June 2023 at 11:30am.

It was proposed by Councillor Nichols that Councillor Beecher be the member representative to the Greener Futures Partnership meetings, the nomination was not seconded.

It was proposed by Councillor Nichols and seconded by Councillor Sexton and resolved that Councillor Nichols be the member representative to the Greener Futures Partnership meetings.

The Committee were advised that the Climate Change Working Group would be open to all members and meet once a month on a Tuesday at 5:30pm. Councillors Brennan, Burrell, Clarke and Rutherford all expressed interest in joining the working group.

Committee resolved to agree to:

1. the continuation of a climate change working group to focus on monitoring of actions towards carbon neutrality and to assess initial ideas on measures to address climate change before submission to the Environment and Sustainability Committee.
2. the Terms of Reference

3.    Councillor Nichols to be the member representative at the Greener Futures Partnership meetings.

To consider the appointment of a member representative for the River Thames Scheme for the 2023-24 municipal year.

The Group Head – Commissioning and Transformation presented the report on the member representative to the River Thames Scheme

The Committee queried if the representative would need to make any decisions and were advised that the member would be there to receive updates on the scheme.

It was proposed by Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Howkins and resolved that Councillor Clarke serve as the member representative to the River Thames Scheme for municipal year 2023-24.

To note the allocations to date of the Green Initiatives Fund.

The Group Head – Commissioning and Transformation, and the Climate Change Officer presented an update on the Green Initiatives Fund.

The Committee asked if the amount in the fund was for the year and were advised that the fund represented a total ringfenced amount and was not a yearly figure.

The Committee queried if the Association for Public Spending Excellence (APSE) Membership held by the Council enabled Councillors to also access support offered by APSE. The Committee were advised that they could access support by using their Spelthorne e-mail address.

The Committee noted the update.

To receive an update on the Heathrow Noise Action Plan Consultation.

The Environmental Health Regulatory Officer, Strategic Planning Manager, and The Group Head – Place, Protection and Prosperity presented an update on the response to the Heathrow Noise Action Plan Consultation.

The Committee queried whether there would be any penalty for Heathrow missing any targets in the Action Plan and were advised that there would not be any penalty imposed.

The Committee asked for clarification between Chapter 4 aircraft and Chapter 14 aircraft. The Committee were informed that Chapter 14 planes would be 7 Db quieter than Chapter 4 ones.

The Committee noted the update.

To receive a presentation on Biodiversity Net Gain.

The Climate Change Officer, the Senior Planning Officer, and the Biodiversity Officer provided a presentation on Biodiversity Net Gain.

The Committee were advised that areas within Haliford Park, Laleham Park, Long Lane, Short Lane and Shortwood South, had been identified as areas within Spelthorne where off-site Biodiversity Net Gain could be delivered.

The Committee queried whether the need to follow the Biodiversity Net Gain policy would apply to all developments and were advised that it applied to all major and minor applications. Household applications would be exempt.

The Committee asked whether it mattered what would be developed on a site or whether it would only look at the footprint of the development. The Committee were advised that it would be the footprint that mattered.

The Committed asked whether the Council developments would also follow this policy and were informed that they would. Committee were further advised that talks would take place with the Assets team in the near future.

The Committee noted the presentation.

To receive a presentation on the Net Zero Innovation Programme.

The Climate Change Officer provided a presentation on the Net Zero Innovation programme.

The Committee queried how best to engage with more residents, it was suggested that resident associations could be contacted.

The Committee discussed use of Councillors’ Better Neighbourhood Grants to support local schemes, and the prospect of the Council buying plots of land that were being auctioned.

The Committee noted the presentation.

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

The Committee requested that an update on Biodiversity Net Gain be presented at the November meeting subject to further information being received from central Government.

The Committee resolved to note the forward plan.