Agenda and minutes

The Former Members Sustainable Development Advisory Group (expired October, 2010) (See Sustainability Partnership) - Friday 31 July 2009 10.30 a.m.

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham. S60 2TH

Items
No.	Item
1.	Minutes of the previous meeting held on 6th March, 2009 PDF 122 KB Minutes: Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6^th March, 2009, be accepted as a correct record. Arising from Minute No. 102 (World Environment Day), it was noted that the Adsetts Canal Project involving adults with learning difficulties had not gone ahead. The only local events had been in Canklow, Rawmarsh and Thurcroft but disappointingly no members of the public had attended. Events had been publicised in two editions of the Rotherham news, information sent to the local press and information on Rother FM. Publicity was one of the learning points for next year. Arising from Minute No. 103 (Environmental Management System), it was noted that currently there was no charging system in place for schools at present. However, that would soon change with prices reflecting the size of the school, heating system etc.
2.	Sustainable Development - update PDF 852 KB PowerPoint presentation by Emma Bridge, Policy Officer. Minutes: Emma Bridge gave a powerpoint presentation as follows:- UK Government Five Point Plan - Protecting the public from immediate risk - Preparing for the future - Limiting the severity of future climate change through a new international agreement - Building a low carbon UK - Supporting individuals, communities and businesses to play their part Key Government Announcements UK Low Carbon Transition Plan White Paper - UK’s first ever comprehensive low carbon transition plan to 2020 - Key steps include:- o All major UK Government departments allocated own carbon budget o 40% of electricity from low carbon sources by 2020 by 2020 with policies:- § Produce around 30% of our electricity from renewables by 2020 § Fund up to four demonstrations of CCS § Facilitate the building of new nuclear power stations o Clarifying that Ofgem should help tackle climate change and ensure security of supply UK Low Carbon Transition Plan - Making homes greener by:- o £3.2 billion to help households become more energy efficient o Rolling out smart meters in every home by the end of 2020 o Piloting “pay as you save” o Introducing clean energy cash-back schemes o Competition for 15 towns, cities and villages - Helping the most vulnerable by:- o Creating mandated social price support o Piloting a community-based approach to delivering green homes in low income areas o Increasing the level of Warm Front grants - Up to £120 million investment in offshore wind - £60 million for marine energy - Cutting average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars across the EU by 40% on 2007 levels - Largest demonstration project for new electric cars - Sourcing 10% of UK transport energy from sustainable renewable sources by 2020 - Tackling emissions from farming - Producing a longer term roadmap by next spring - Vision for a smart grid - Setting out the Government’s assessment of the outlook for energy security Renewable Energy Strategy - 15% of UK energy from renewable sources by 2020 - Greater financial support - Swifter delivery and removing barriers - New resources and technologies Low Carbon Industrial Strategy - Builds on Building Britain’s Future: New Industry, New Jobs - Global market for LCEGS - £3 trillion. £4.3 trillion by 2015 - UK - £106 billion, 880,000 people employed - Removing barriers - Developing economic activity - Growing innovative businesses - A low carbon transition Implications for Local Authorities - Identify the best potential for low carbon community-scale solutions in their area - Greater adoption of renewables in the public sector - Strategic decisions about skill need - Some additional funding Dearne Valley Eco-vision - Making a transition from carbon production to carbon reduction in 3 big steps:- o Nurturing ecological awareness and know how o Growing a low carbon infrastructure o Natural regeneration of the landscape - What this means for the Dearne Valley o More energy efficient homes – cutting fuel bills and helping the planet o Improved public transport – less reliance on the car o ... view the full minutes text for item 2.
3.	LA 21 report PDF 104 KB David Wilde, Local Agenda 21 Community Worker, to report. Minutes: David Wilde (LA21’s), presented a progress report highlighting the following issues:- - Ecological footprinting at Brinsworth, Central Library, Maltby and Thrybergh Stepping Stones - World Environment Day and RCAT Fairtrade event - Successful bid to ABC Fund by Friends of Austen Park - Austen Park litter pick and hedge laying - Continuation of Green check with Abbey School - Opening of St. Ann’s Dream Playgrounds - Celebration of Dalton Listerdale Supergrounds project - Successful Sustainable Schools INSET - Promotion of Green Check to School Governors, progress with Aston C. of E. School and signing up of Rawmarsh Ashwood Primary, Thorpe Hesley Juniors and Rawmarsh Rosehill - Support for High Greave and Thorpe Hesley Infants on Sustainable Schools - Global Footprints Food Trail projects at Wath C. of E. Primary and Sitwell Juniors Agreed:- That the report be noted.
4.	Rotherham Waterways Strategy Carolyn Barber, Ecologist, to report. Minutes: Carolyn Barber reported that the Strategy had been funded by the Council and the Environment Agency. Rotherham was a water based town with lots of opportunity for regeneration and for improving people’s quality of life, to enhance and promote and get people more involved in their waterways. A number of the Town Centre Strategies all had objectives for the waterways or activities that linked to the waterways so this Strategy was a way of bringing them altogether. The objectives of the Strategy were:- To improve the quality of lives Enhance Biodiversity Provide key assets for regeneration and economic redevelopment Regenerate community ownership and stewardship of the waterways Development of the Strategy had arrived at a number of projects, under various priority themes to take forward the above objectives:- River Restoration Looks at flood management plan, the natural processes of the waterways, wetlands, removal of endangered species, pollution and watercourses Regeneration projects Look at a number of the large scale projects already underway and how they would be able to achieve part of the objectives e.g. Manvers, YES project, Waverley, Dearne Valley Eco Vision Chesterfield and Other Canals Something more to highlight rather than increase involvement as there were already Trusts and partnerships looking at how Canals could be improved Riverside Nature Reserves There was a very good cross section of nature reserves in Rotherham many of which were linked to waterways Access Networks Looking at how to identify where there was access and where there were gaps Community and Stakeholder Engagement Looking at not just local communities but businesses that fronted or backed onto the waterways and had the potential for incidences of pollution or people that may want to redevelop/move their business where they may be at flood risk The Waterways Strategy had been a priority of the LSP’s Sustainability Partnership of the LSP and would continue to be following the recent consultation with them. An action plan would now be compiled which the Partnership would use to monitor progress and the current level of activity and ascertain where the gaps were in achieving the priority themes. The Strategy had been prepared along the same lines as Sheffield and it was hoped to build upon a lot of the work they had started. They had a Waterways Partnership and, as the Catchment Flood Management Plan covered both Rotherham and Sheffield, it was hoped to make it a Sheffield and Rotherham Partnership. Agreed:- That the report be noted.
5.	Draft Environment and Climate Change Strategy Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, and David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report. Minutes: Emma Bridge circulated the above draft document which had been considered by the Cabinet on 29^th July, 2009, and was now out to consultation. The Council and Rotherham Partnership had jointly developed the draft Strategy and action plan. As the largest employer in the Borough, the author of key strategies and a major service deliverer, the Council would take responsibility for delivering large elements of the Plan. The purposes of the Strategy were: to- - Set out how the Council and its partners would reduce Rotherham’s contribution to climate change - Set out how the Council and its partners would prepared for climate change, improving Rotherham’s resilience to current and future climate change - Act as an overarching document, signposting to the various strategies required or already in place that relate to climate change - Provide a proactive framework for action across the Local Strategic Partnership Draft Aims and Objectives:- - Reduce Rotherham’s contribution to climate change through the reduction of CO₂ equivalent emissions (mitigation) - Prepare Rotherham for a changing climate (adaptation) - Reduce Rotherham’s Ecological Footprint - Promote sustainable development across the Borough - Enhance Rotherham’s local environment Discussions were taking place at the moment as to what level it should be signed off at and it had been agreed that it should be Borough-wide action plan and not just focus on Council activity. The document would be sent by e-mail for consultation followed by presentations and meetings. Discussions had already commenced with some of the Boards to ensure there were actions for each of the LSP Boards. Agreed:- (1) That the report be noted. (2) That any comments be forwarded to Emma Bridge or David Rhodes.
6.	Environmental Management Systems PDF 80 KB David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report Minutes: David Rhodes, Corporate Environmental Officer, circulated copies of the draft environmental Statement and presented an update report as follows:- - An external EMAS was currently taking place by ISOQAR - Of the 124 buildings surveyed for Display Energy Certificates, 78 had been lodged with energy ratings - Using the DEFRA spreadsheet CO₂ , NOX and PM10 emissions were reported in compliance with NI185 and NI194. Arrangements were in place to improve data collection. Discussion ensued with the following highlighted:- - There was a massive problem with Japenese Knotwood. It was classed as controlled waste - Trials had taken place in the past on the use of solar lights in street lights with consideration being given to the implementation in outlaying areas Agreed:- (1) That the report be noted. (2) That a report be submitted to the next meeting on the use of solar lighting in street lights.
7.	Neighbourhood Investment's contribution to Sustainable Development PDF 3 MB Chris Brown, Place Shaping Co-ordinator, and Gordon Smith, Quality and Design Co-ordinator, to report. Minutes: Gordon Smith, Quality and Design Co-ordinator, and Chris Brown, Place Shaping Co-ordinator, gave the following powerpoint presentation:- Sustainable Communities – Place Making - Contribution to the Comprehensive Area Assessment and Local Area Agreement - Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) underpinned by the place making and sustainable community principles - Current and future external capital funding linked to the sustainable community principles - Government strategies, policies and target – World Class Places, code for sustainable homes, affordable housing and employment linkages Linking together the Sustainable Communities and Sustainable Development Agendas - Look at the unique characteristics of places in Rotherham - Listening to the needs of people in different places - Making neighbourhoods stronger and more popular for those who live in them - Raising the quality of life in particular for vulnerable or the disadvantages Improving Current Homes – Baseline Assessment - SAP 60 average per property - CO₂ 5t per property - £800 to £1,000 running costs per property - CERT Funding 2008/09 o £247,000 o Loft top ups to 250 mm x 2084 o Cavity wall installations x 50 o Low energy light bulbs x 4000 o Power downs x 125 o Carbon monoxide x 500 sold at cost - Warm Front 2008/09 o £671 k o Full central heating 196 o Boiler replacement 1 Ground Thermal - Ground sources heat pumps - Retrofit projects What’s next for existing homes? - Carbon Emissions Reduction Target - NEA/C&G 6176 - Real Time Displays and Home Energy Advice - Awareness raising, ongoing coaching and monitoring Raising the design quality of new homes - 105 inspirational eco excellent homes 2008/09 - Expertise and emerging expertise in delivering Code for Sustainable Homes level 3, 4 and 5 - Design excellence Affordable and Market housing - Building for life standards - Contribution to South Yorkshire Design Code/Sub-Regional guidance - Raising aspirations Discussion ensued with the following issues highlighted:- - The cost of sustainable development - Life Time Homes was an element in the consideration of whether a development reached the Building for Life Standard Agreed:- That the presentation be noted.
8.	Date and time of next meeting Friday, 30^th October, 2009 at 10.30 a.m. at the Town Hall. Minutes: Agreed:- That a further meeting be held on Friday, 30^th October, 2009, commencing at 10.30 a.m.