Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 5 June 2007 and their comments will be reported.

In view of the size of the document, the Strategy is not attached to the agenda but can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.exeter.gov.uk/supportingdocuments

If you wish to view a paper copy, please contact Member Services.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted seeking approval for the Draft Climate Change Strategy.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 5 June 2007 and the support and comments of members were noted. Executive endorsed the view of Scrutiny members that the ten year period proposed for the review of the strategy was too long and agreed that it should be reviewed in five years time. They were pleased to note that progress towards meeting the aims of the Strategy would also be monitored and reported to Scrutiny Committee – Community on an annual basis.

Executive noted the views of Scrutiny Committee – Community members in relation to the Notice of Motion submitted to Council by Councillor David Morrish proposing the appointment of a Climate Change Officer. A number of Executive members supported the view that at present it was more effective for existing officers, who could already provide a range of expertise, to share responsibility for the Strategy on the basis that this arrangement would be reviewed over time.  Executive had no objection to the proposal of Scrutiny Committee – Community to set up a Working Party to give further consideration to the appointment of a dedicated post, however, and requested that, should they choose to do so, consideration be given to a partnership approach.

RECOMMENDED that:-

(1)        the draft Climate Change Strategy, including the target for carbon reduction be approved; 

(2)        a supplementary budget of £25,000 for the work detailed in the report be agreed;

(3)            following consultation on the approved draft strategy, that the final strategy and action plan be presented to the Executive in January 2008;

(4)        general progress towards meeting the aims of the Strategy be monitored on an annual basis and reported to Scrutiny Committee – Community;

(5)        a commitment be made to undertaking a full review of the Strategy in five year’s time;

(6)        the Council signs up to Fair Shares Fair Choice; and

(7)        should the Scrutiny Committee – Community choose to establish a Working Group to consider the appointment of a Climate Change Officer, they be requested to consider the possibility of a partnership approach.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services – report circulated. 

The Director Community and Environment presented the report setting out a draft Climate Change Strategy for Exeter.

Councillor D.J. Morrish attended the meeting and spoke on this item having given notice under Standing Order No. 44. He had submitted the following Notice of Motion to Council on 20 February 2007 which had been referred to this Committee:-

"That this Council accepts its responsibilities for meeting the challenge posed to our society by the impact of Climate Change and therefore resolves that:-

        (1)  the Executive and Scrutiny Committees give urgent consideration to the appointment of a Climate Change officer who will occupy a senior position and have overall responsibility for Climate Change Policy; and

(2)   the Climate Change officer will:-

(a)            in co-operation with other Council officers be responsible for advising Members on the policies, both international and national, which are already in place and this Council's expected and necessary response;

(b)            advise Members on the targets we need to achieve and monitor our  performance; and

                     (c)            report to each regular meeting of the Executive and submit an annual report to Members.”

He felt that climate change presented serious and urgent challenges and expressed regret that the problems now being faced had not been taken more seriously in the past which he felt had been due to the lack of public appreciation of the scale and nature of the developing problems and the absence of any single responsible body.

He believed that the steps set out in the report did not offer sufficient urgency. For example, the proposal to undertake a review of the strategy should be undertaken much sooner than the ten years proposed. He felt that allocating duties relating to climate change to a range of officers rather than appointing a Climate Change Officer was the wrong approach and he asked that consideration of appointing a dedicated officer should be revisited in 12 months time. He also felt that an item on climate change should be included on the agenda for every meeting of Executive. These views would be reported to the next meeting of Executive.

Another Member also thought that the proposal to review the strategy in 10 years time was too long and questioned the proposal to spread the work on this issue amongst a number of officers. Another Member felt than an individual champion on climate change issues was an appropriate way forward. A further Member felt that employing a dedicated climate change officer might be an inappropriate use of resources at this stage.

The Director reported that she would be undertaking the co-ordination of work of the various officers who would be working on Climate Change matters and that a spread between different individuals was appropriate at this stage particularly given the different areas of expertise available across the Council. For example, some climate change issues could be related to the planning function where appropriate controls were available. The Strategy Action Plan would be reviewed annually. The allocated sum of £25,000 would be utilised to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35