Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and introductions were made.

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Councillor Austen

Councillor Pickering

Carolyn Barber                      Ecologist

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22^nd January, 2010.

Agreed:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22^nd January, 2010, be accepted as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

Gordon Smith, Quality and Design Co-ordinator, Neighbourhood Investment, to report.

Gordon Smith, Quality and Design Co-ordinator, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation on the Single Conversation and Draft Housing Strategy and highlighted the following:-

• Development of a suite of documents to support the process, including Investment Mapping;  Rotherham’s Digest and the Revised Draft Housing Strategy.

• The Digest:-  key facts relating to energy efficiencies, noting 27,000 private dwellings with no cavity wall insulation;  NI 187 - survey links low SAP ratings to single pensioner households and 6,900 private households found in fuel poverty.

• Ambitions of the Housing Strategy, noting adapting to climate change.

• Feedback from workshops held during January 2010.

• Biggest issues:-  existing housing stock;  private landlords.

• Influencing role of planning and design;  idea of ‘lifetime’ homes.

• Phase Two:  Consultation and communication.

• Target dates:  completion of Draft Strategy by end of April 2010; Workshop with the HCA 27^th April;  Single Conversation with the HCA – Autumn 2010.

A question and answer session ensued covering the following issues:-

-                      quality of current build

-                      current fuel costs and additional costs to home owners to introduce energy efficiency measures

-                      use of planning system and building regulations to encourage better standard of new build

-                      requirement for all new homes to be Zero Carbon by 2016

-                      the construction industry in Rotherham

-                      the role of the Council to influence home owners to up-grade their properties

Agreed:-  That the contents of the presentation be noted.

Greg Lindley, Partnership Implementation Manager, to report.

Greg Lindley, Partnership Implementation Officer, spoke to the submitted report highlighting the following:-

• Link to Climate change
• Changes in Policy and roles:  noting legislation coming in to effect late 2010 which would place new responsibilities on local authorities as lead flood authority for surface and ground water and to set up a SUDS approving body.  Currently no guidance had been issued and local authorities were worried about resourcing, skills gaps and costs 
• Requirements 2010 onwards on Rotherham
• Funding uncertainty;  links into the LGA re:  funding allocations
• Private sewer transfer;  noting the Government’s assumption that substantial cost savings will be made by local authorities with the transfer of private sewers to Water Companies, and that in fact most savings would be minimal and would not cover the total costs of the Lead Role duties
• Works required under Water/Flood Regulations 2009 and Flood and Water Management Bill 2010 with no additional funding
• Issuing by the Environment Agency of the Don Catchment Flood Management Plan and the Don Strategy
• Water Management and Flood Risk Policy:  noting intention to prepare a policy to tie in with the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Consultation work in mid 2010
• NI 189 – Flood and Coastal erosion risk management
• South Yorkshire Water Cycle study

Those present commented on:-

-                      possible scrutiny review of the EA Catchment Flood Management plans and the Don Strategy

-                      Elected Member involvement

-                      the need to tie in to the LDF work

-                      the EA definition of ‘flood’ vs. what it means to people in the community

-                      Environment Agency and Council responsibilities:-  Environment Agency = overview and rivers;  Council = surface water and drains

-                      how to ensure riparian land owners assume and fulfil their responsibilities

-                      scope of the consultation

Information was provided in respect of a forthcoming Flood Fair for Elected Members and officers being hosted by Barnsley Council.  Members requested that officers from Rotherham Council attend the event to see whether a similar event should be organised in Rotherham.

Agreed:-  That the contents of the submitted report be noted.

David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report.

David Rhodes, Environmental Property Manager, distributed a report to those present and highlighted the following:-

• EMAS energy awareness training
• 10:10 project
• Display Energy Certificates:-  noting additional staffing now having an impact and position improving.  Still no requests from the general public.
• Carbon Reduction Commitment – Energy Efficiency Scheme: noting the completion of a trial project with Carbon Trading Yorkshire/CO2 Sense, resulting in a final trading day on 3^rd March.  Work continued to prepare for registration on 1^st April 2010
• Engaging the 3^rd Sector:-  noting request for extension to October 2010 from RIEP
• Sustainable Procurement policy:- noting establishment of working group to develop and implement the policy
• Feed in Tariffs/School PV:-  noting a project was underway to fit PV panels on 80% of Rotherham’s Schools in partnership with a private renewable company

Those present commented on:-

-                      the impact on the Council’s budget and need for accurate projections for the first 2 years in respect of the Carbon Trading Scheme

-                      funding of the fitting of PV panels in schools

-                      the Council’s accommodation strategy

Agreed:-  That the contents of the submitted report be noted.

David Wilde, LA21 Community Worker, to report.

David Wilde, Local Action 21 Community Worker, spoke to the submitted report highlighting the following:-

• Continued work re:  Green Check at established primary schools and commencement at Rawmarsh Community School, Milton Special School and Swinton Fitzwilliam.

Use of the Area Assembly Devolved Budget to enable Rawmarsh Community School to sign up to EMAS Green Check;  Milton School had signed with money from the Sustainability Partnership;  Swinton Fitzwilliam had funding from the Sustainability Partnership and from the Dearne Valley Green Heart Project.

• Leadership Academy:-  presentation by Abbey School re:  NI 185 – their work to reduce CO2 emissions.

• Meeting re: Education for Sustainable Development Partnership – co-ordinating sustainable schools activity in all directorates.

• Attendance at an Open Day re:  possible re-opening of the Earth Centre as a centre for true sustainable development.

• Attendance at Brinsworth Comprehensive School’s Eco Challenge event organised by the School Travel Planning officer.

Future work:- 

·        to progress the implementation of audits/action plans at EMAS/Green Check schools in preparation for possible external audit in September.

• Continue work with the Education Co-ordinator for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Schools to enlist further schools to Green Check and to improve communication and integration of sustainable work.

• Further awareness raising and foot printing activity with the Dearne Valley Eco-vision Core Group.

• Potential Social Cohesion work in the context of LA21.

• Attendance at the Sustainable Schools regional conference and also Rotherham Environment Forum.

• Tree planting at Wath C of E school.

Those present commented on:-

-                      input from pupils in secondary schools and commitment of staff and Governors

-                      development of links between schools to share good practice

-                      involvement of the Youth Cabinet

Agreed:-  That the contents of the submitted report and continuing progress be noted.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, to report.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, reported on:-

• Recent national policy announcements including the publication of the Government’s strategy for household energy management over the next decade.

• South Yorkshire Leadership Academy – a workshop was taking place on 24th March in Doncaster to look at NI 188 Adapting to Climate Change

• Local activity around National Indicator 188, included:-

- a workshop in November 2009 for Council officers and partners to start to look at what adaptation activity is already being undertaken and what further action is needed.

- an extreme weather media trawl undertaken for Rotherham by Sheffield Council (funded through RIEP).  This information would be further built upon, possibly through interviews with Service Areas.

-    looking at including adaptation to climate change in the Council’s Service Planning guidance.

The work was being lead by the Area & Environmental Planning Team Leader and the Best Value Officer, in Environment and Development Services.

• Sustainability Partnership:-  confirmation of funding for 11 voluntary community projects.  Ideas for allocation of the remaining funding were invited.  Examples of funded projects included:-  Green Check;  Living Churchyards;  Urban parks; Aquaponics;  Swinton Lock Activity Centre.

The view was expressed that this funding and what the funding was helping to provide should be publicised in Rotherham News.

The Group noted the suggestion made by the Partnership Implementation Officer that, in view of the wide distribution of Council agendas, all future agendas should include a reference to the Climate Change target of 10% and asking what people were doing about it.

To consider Friday, 11^th June, 2010 at 10.30 a.m.

Agreed:  That the next meeting be held on Friday, 11^th June, 2010 at 10.30 a.m. – Bailey House.