Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Bellows and Glass.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 14 March and 20 May 2019 as correct records.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 1 and 20 May 2019 be agreed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by any member in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised in the public participation period.

To receive an oral update from the Portfolio Holders for Environment and Regulatory Services and for Planning and Infrastructure.

Cllr E Heron reported that the Local Plan Examination had commenced.  He thanked the Planning Department for all their hard work in developing the plan.  Challenges had been made at the examination, in particular, in relation to the number of new homes proposed in the District and the protection of the Green Belt.  It was anticipated that the results of the Local Plan Examination would be received in 2020.

To consider the annual performance of services under the purview of this Panel and the provisional budget outturn figures.

The Panel considered the Annual Performance and Provisional Budget Outturn report for 2018/19.  It was noted that this would be the last report aligned to the current Corporate Plan.  A new Corporate Plan would be developed during the next year for 2020-2024.

Members asked officers to confirm the 2% figure for waste being sent to landfill.  Members also questioned the reason for the increase in the number of abandoned vehicles removed by the Council and whether there were any particular hot spots for abandoned vehicles.  It was noted that the cost of scrap metal had decreased, although the demand fluctuates over time.  Some roads were more likely to attract abandoned vehicles.  Officers worked jointly with the DLVA and other agencies to remove all untaxed and abandoned vehicles.

RESOLVED:

(a)  To note the performance and achievements as set out in Appendix 1;

(b)  To note the key strategies in progress for 2019/20 set out in Appendix 2;

(c)  To note the provisional General Fund outturn position set out in Appendix 3;

(d)  To note the provisional outturn position of the Housing Revenue Account set out in Appendix 3;

(e)  To note the provisional outturn position of the Housing Revenue Account set out in Appendix 3; and

(f)   That the Annual Performance and Provisional Budget Outturn report 2018/19 be supported.

To consider the following motion from Cllr Malcolm Wade:

Council notes:

1.    Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2018 gave us 12 years to implement changes to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees in order to avoid widespread drought, food scarcity, heat related deaths and loss of biodiversity including insects and vital food crop pollinators.

2.    At present the world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050. In order to reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO₂eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

3.    Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, and infrastructure to make low carbon living easier and the new norm.

4.    Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption.

5.    New Forest District Council has already made some positive progress, but this is not enough.  More can and must be done. The Independent Panel on Climate Change in its Oct. 2018 report was very clear that action from all parts of society is necessary and local government has a responsibility to lead the way.

6.    Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and taking action to address this emergency.

Council believes that:

1.    All levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown. Local councils that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.

2.    The New Forest is a unique environment and this district council has a duty to protect it.  The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are potentially so severe that preventing this from happening must be a number one priority.

3.    Bold local climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new green jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as much improved well-being for New Forest residents – for example through reducing fuel poverty and energy bills, encouraging healthy, active travel and improving green spaces and access to nature.

This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to:

1.    Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.    Pledge to make the New Forest district carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.    Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and a plan to measure annual countywide progress towards meeting the 2030 target.

4.    Work with partners across the district and the region to deliver  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Fiona Rogers, representing New Forest Friends of the Earth, Transition Lymington and SAS Plastic Free Lymington addressed the Panel.  Fiona Rogers spoke in support of the motion for New Forest District Council to declare a Climate Emergency.  She reported that there was strong scientific evidence that the world was warming rapidly and that food, water, shelter and security was at risk.  She reported that there were huge challenges involved in declaring a climate emergency but that it would give the Council the opportunity to set a baseline from which the Council could embrace the move to a low carbon society.

Cllr M Wade spoke on the motion he had submitted to Council.  27 UK Council had already committed to declaring a climate emergency.  He reported that any rise in temperature would cause ice to melt.  Sea ice was melting at about 40% per decade.  The New Forest was an area of natural beauty and the Council should use its influence to support the motion to make a difference in the future.

Cllr Carpenter addressed the Panel and spoke in support of the motion.  She believed that the Council could do more to address climate change, for example through policy setting, ensuring that new homes were zero carbon.

Officers reported that much work was being done within the Council.  Climate change was driven through the planning system and embedded within planning policy.  It was suggested that a Task and Finish Group be established to consider the issue in more detail. 

Members discussed the motion and concern was expressed amongst some members regarding whether the target for the District Council to be carbon neutral by 2030 was achievable. 

RESOLVED:

(a)  That a Task and Finish Group be established to consider the climate change motion in more detail;

(b)  That a report of the Task and Finish Group would be presented to the next Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting in September; and

(c)  That the members of the Task and Finish Group would be:

·         Cllr Bennison

·         Cllr Blunden

·         Cllr Osborne

·         Cllr Rippon-Swaine

·         Cllr Tipp

·         Cllr M Wade

To receive a presentation on Ash Die Back.

The Panel received a presentation on Chalara Ash Dieback.  This disease had been in the UK since 1998.  The first confirmed case first in the District had been reported in May 2018 on Totton.  Cases had since been confirmed in Fordingbridge and Holbury.

The various stages of the disease were explained to the Panel.  Ash trees would first begin to show signs of the disease with blackened or withered leaves, followed by the branch tips dying back and diamond shaped lesions appearing.  Deadwood in the crown would present a hazard. The latest advice from the Forestry Commission was that trees could become unstable within two years of basal lesions appearing and therefore all diseased trees would require regular monitoring. 98% of ash trees might be lost within the next 5-10 years.  The Council had responsibility for assessing the ash trees against a risk matrix from low to very high risk and this needed to be carried out in the summer months when the trees were in leaf.   Any diseased tree should be kept in situ for as long as it was considered safe to do so. 

2,430 NFDC owned ash trees, with a further 2,940 ash trees were estimated to be within NFDC woodlands.  The current Council’s tree strategy required two trees planted for each one removed.  Officers reported they would like to set up a member Task and Finish Group to consider the review of the Council’s existing Tree Strategy, to include a Council-wide Tree Procurement and Specification Strategy, and an Ash Dieback Action Plan. 

It was noted that in limited circumstances the Council had discretionary powers under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 to investigate any reports of unstable trees on land not owned or managed by the District Council.

RESOLVED:

That a Tree Strategy Task and Finish Group be established consisting of up to six members.

To consider a report of the Task and Finish Group and the proposed NFDC Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Investment Strategy.

The Panel considered the Strategy for Coastal Funding report which introduced a proposed ‘Investment Strategy’, as part of the findings and recommendations of the Task and Finish Group.

Three Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Projects had been identified in the New Forest District area, Hurst Spit, Milford on Sea and Barton on sea.  These projects were not eligible for full government funding and therefore other funding sources needed to be explored.

The proposed Investment Strategy aimed to facilitate the Council with an agreed process to achieve the necessary ‘Partnership Funding’ investment for future NFDC FCERM projects.  The Strategy was the first step to begin discussions with stakeholders and the community.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the work of the Task and Finish Group be acknowledged; and

(b)  That the Task and Finish Group report and proposed Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Investment Strategy (NFDC FCERM Investment Strategy) be recommended to Cabinet.

To agree the work programme to guide the Panel’s activities over the coming months.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes be approved.

To agree to change the date of the next meeting from 12 to 19 September 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the date of the next meeting be changed to 19 September 2019.