Venue: THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARY'S STREET, HUNTINGDON PE29 3TN
Contact: Mr A Roberts Democratic Services Officer, Tel 01480 388009 / email Anthony.Roberts@huntsdc.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th February 2007.
2 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th February 2007 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
|
MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.
2 Minutes. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
|
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 - FORWARD PLAN A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 12th February 2007, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.
15 Minutes. Contact: R Reeves 388003 Minutes: The Panel considered the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Leader for the period 1st March to 30th June 2007. Following a request the Central Services Manager undertook to forward to Councillor K J Churchill a copy of a report on the Use of Compulsory Purchase Orders to Acquire a Residential Property. |
|
HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY To give preliminary consideration to the precise nature of issues the Panel wish to discuss under the subject of Home Energy Efficiency. By way of background, Members will receive a presentation on the subject to assist their deliberations.
30 Minutes. Contact: C Jablonski 388368 J Thackray 388277 Minutes: Pursuant to Minute No. 52 (a) the Panel received a presentation by Mr C Jablonski, Environment Team Leader, and Mrs J Thackray, Home Energy Efficiency Officer, on energy efficiency. Mr Jablonski referred to global climate change, the energy consumed by individuals, the references in the Local Government White Paper to sustainability and the Council’s leadership role in relation to the environment. With regard to the latter, the draft Environment Strategy contained three challenges and the Council had devised an internal structure to address them. Mr Jablonski went on to discuss the steps individuals could take to reduce their impact on the environment. The most important of these was the installation of home energy efficiency measures, which included loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double glazing and energy saving lighting and appliances. Other measures designed to generate renewable energy also were discussed. A breakdown was provided of the associated costs and potential savings from solar panels and wind turbines. Members were also informed that information on energy efficiency and renewable energy would be available at an event on 18th April 2007 in the Burgess Hall, St Ives. The presentation was concluded with details of grant schemes that currently were available for measures to reduce household impact on the environment.
In response to a question by the Chairman, Mrs Thackray confirmed that the Council actively promoted various grant schemes that were available and provided advice on the schemes of other organisations. Members also discussed eligibility for a number of grants and it was concluded that the current system of grant funding for measures to improve energy efficiency was excessively complicated and inconsistent.
In discussing the role of the Development Control service, the Panel referred to the need to require developers to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in new developments of a certain size. This would have the knock-on effect of creating demand amongst the building trade for their installation, thereby reducing the cost of such works. Reference was made to a pilot initiative at the London Borough of Merton Council whereby there was a requirement to install a percentage of renewable energy measures in housing developments over a certain size. Similar policies had been rolled out to approximately 300 other local authorities and Members expressed the view that a similar policy should be implemented in Huntingdonshire. The delay in the adoption of the Core Strategy presented an opportunity to develop this idea.
The Panel discussed the possibilities for local renewable energy generation by creating a system involving farmers who could grow crops with a view to producing bio-ethanol. Councillor E R Butler alerted Members to the fact that this was a widespread practice in some other countries but that before it could happen in this country the tax system needed to be changed to make it feasible.
Having been reminded that the Environment Strategy would be submitted to the next meeting for consideration, it was agreed to raise the matters discussed and any other issues that arose for submission as part ... view the full minutes text for item 71. |
|
CORPORATE EQUALITY POLICY AND ACTION PLAN To consider and comment on the attached Corporate Equality Policy and Action Plan.
30 Minutes. Contact: L Sboui 388032 Additional documents: Minutes: (Councillor A Hansard, Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, was in attendance for this item).
With the aid of a report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to a draft Corporate Equality Policy and Action Plan. In introducing the draft Policy, Councillor A Hansard informed the Panel that the Action Plan had links to the Council’s Corporate Plan “Growing Success”, which would allow the Council’s performance to be measured against its objectives. The Policy contained a number of actions, which the Council needed to achieve to reach Level 2 on the Equality Standard. Having referred to a forthcoming briefing for Members on the Equality Standard, Councillor Hansard requested Members’ views on the documents presented.
Mr I Leatherbarrow, Head of Policy, informed the Panel that the existing Policy had been reviewed and that most of the actions had been completed. New actions would now be identified which would assist the Council in obtaining Level 3 on the Equality Standard.
Councillor R W D Bailey commented that the Policy should contain details on service specific measures; however, it was pointed out that this level of detail would be addressed in the Level 3 Action Plan. The Panel also commented on the need for equal benefits for employees, the lack of travellers’ sites in the District and accommodation for migrant workers. Having noted that Equality Impact Assessments of services now would be carried out, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the Corporate Equality Policy and Action Plan be endorsed for submission to the Cabinet. |
|
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL (SERVICE DELIVERY) - PROGRESS To consider a report by the Head of Administration on the Panel’s programme of studies.
15 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), which contained details of actions taken in response to recent discussions and decisions and reviewing the programme of studies. Members noted that Officers from the County Council would be available to attend the meeting of the Panel in June to assist the discussions on the Disability Access Study and that details of the Council’s grant schemes would be submitted to the next meeting. |
|
SCRUTINY To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest (TO FOLLOW) and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.
15 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: In scrutinising the 71st Edition of the Decision Digest and in response to an enquiry, Councillor J S Watt was advised to pursue matters concerning ambient noise from service trenches and light pollution with the County Council and the District Council’s Planning Department respectively. |