Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th March, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, gave a presentation in respect of the changing policy context for climate change.

Reference was made to:-

(i)  The Energy Security and Green Economy Bill:- one of 23 Bills announced by the new Coalition Government in Queen’s speech 25th May

Purpose of the Bill related to the mechanism to deliver wide spread renovation of homes and business to be based on a “pay as you save” approach, where individuals pay for the investment in energy efficiency interventions – such as small scale solar photovoltaic or wind turbines – through the savings in their energy bills.

The Bill may also contain measures to:-

–        regulate the carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations

–        deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition

–        guide the development of a smart grid

–        require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills

–        ensure that North Sea infrastructure is available to all companies 

–        create a Green Investment Bank

It was noted however that there was concern over fuel poverty definition change.

(ii)  Coalition Programme for Energy and Climate Change:-

•         push for the EU to demonstrate leadership in tackling international climate change

•         seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources

•         full system of feed-in tariffs in electricity and maintenance of banded ROCs

•         promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion

•         retain EPCs while scrapping HIPs

•         introduce measures to encourage marine energy

•         cancel the third runway at Heathrow

•         refuse permission for additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted

•         replace Air Passenger Duty with a per-flight duty

•         measures to improve energy efficiency in businesses and public sector buildings

•         reduce central government carbon emissions by 10% within 12 months

•         Annual Energy Statement to Parliament

•         deliver an offshore electricity grid

•         encourage community-owned renewable energy schemes

•         create green financial products

•         explore the creation of new international sources of funding

•         bring forward the National Planning Statement for ratification by Parliament

•         incentivising household recycling through rewards rather than penalties

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

Oliver Hutchinson, to report.

Oliver Hutchinson, Project Manager, gave a presentation detailing partnership projects:-

(i)                 Engaging the 3^rd Sector:- based on the national initiative “Every Action Counts”:  re: awareness raising, sustainable procurement, waste and recycling, energy efficiency, reducing emissions etc.

4 guides had been produced and one month trials were proposed whereby organisations use the advice and record progress re:  energy management, waste and recycling, and transport.

(ii)               South Yorkshire Climate Change Leadership Programme:-

·        To raise awareness and understanding amongst Councillors and Senior Officers

·        Explore opportunities for further collaboration between LSP’s and local authorities in South Yorkshire

·        Identify key opportunities and challenges

·        To promote confident and knowledgeable action

Reference was also made to:-

• recent workshops held in Barnsley and Doncaster
• sustainable communications
• outcomes of the programme
• ideas for an Action Plan to present to the South Yorkshire leaders
• proposal for a Joint Venture research programme with Sheffield University
• short and medium term actions
• funding
• longer terms actions aiming towards non-car infrastructure, including involvement of public transport providers
• website development

Agreed:  That the contents of the presentation be noted.

Alan Platt, Best Value Officer, to report.

Alan Platt, Best Value Officer, reported on NI 199 – Planning to adapt to climate change.

Reference was made to the need for local authorities to plan to adapt to climate change including flooding, hot weather, severe winters/mild winters.

To date in Rotherham this had meant dealing with flooding issues.

Forward Planning were now responsible for this indicator linked with the development of the Local Development Framework.

The indicator was onerous and required that local authorities report on the progress they have made against 5 levels of performance, graded 0 to 4. Embedding the improvement process to level 4 could take up to 4 to 5 years.

Level Zero looked at risk assessment and management, planning and delivery.

Level 1 – required the local authority to show to DEFRA how it complies with the requirements of this indicator.

Level 2 – this required the drawing up of a Risk Assessments and demonstrate climate change understanding across the local authority with partners

Work to date included:-

•         signing the Nottingham Agreement.

•         embedding the indicator into Directorates, including the establishment of Sustainable Development Officers’ group.

•         Achievement of Levels Zero and One (noting this was average compared with other local authorities).

•         Development of a Catchment Flood Management Plan lead by the Environment Agency.

•         Drafting a Water Management Policy, to feed into the Local Development Framework.

•         Production of a Surface Water Management Plan:-  noting spend on areas affected by flooding in 2009 and the need to find further funding.

•         Building Control documents:-  include requirements for developers to state energy efficiencies and how they would manage flooding.

Reference was made to the cost involved with each piece of work.

Alan Platt, Best Value Officer, to report.

Alan Platt, Best Value Officer, reported on NI 189 – Flood Risk Management and wider living with water work.

Reference was made to the definition of this indicator, noting that 100% of the agreed actions between Rotherham Council and the Environment Agency have been achieved up to year 2.

Currently the authority has entered the final year of a 3 year programme and will be agreeing a number of actions with the EA.

The Catchment Flood Management Plan outlined actions to commit to for Year 3.  A meeting was arranged with the EA in July to confirm these.  The Action Plan for Rotherham included appointing a Lead Officer, reducing the risk of flood and improving public awareness.

Emergency Planning had sent a questionnaire to local business in March and responses were being collated.

Jacobs had completed the Town Centre Phase 2 Flood Prevention Study, with indicative costings, and planners were looking at how to interface with the Local Development Framework.  However it was noted that there was no funding for Phase 2 works.

Reference was also made to:-

•         Improving flood resilience and civil protection

•         PPS25

•         Improving the drainage system

•         Biodiversity

•         Water management/storage

•         Green issues and green spaces

Steve Smith, Assistant Development Co-ordinator, reported on:-

-                      Living with Water – Flood Risk Policy:-  policy formulation exercise on-going with a view to drafting by the end of July 2010

-                      EA CFMP Consultation:-  Rotherham had made its comments and the issue had been discussed with the EA at the Don Catchment Alliance in May.  Further discussion would take place to determine how partners will inter-relate on the document in terms of actions in the immediate term.

-                      National Award for Rotherham FAS Phase 1:-  the scheme was the winner of the BURA National Waterways Renaissance Award for Flood Risk Management presented in March, 2010.  The scheme was also commended in the Natural Environment category.

-                      Grafton Bridge Removal:-  The scheme was completed on 7^th May, 2010.  a commemorative plaque about the bridge would be placed at the end of Effingham Street.

-                      Structure for New Act and Regulations:-  YHLGO/EA had proposed a structure for the sub-regional management in respect of the Floods and Water Management Act.  A South Yorkshire Board was proposed and a new appointment was currently promoting the protocol.

-                      Floods and Water Management Act:-  Royal Assent was granted for the Act and the Commencement Order and associated Regulation was expected in 2011.  Reference was made to the statutory responsibilities to be placed on Local Authorities.

-                      Surface Water Management Plan:- noting the involvement of the LGA and the issue of how to fund.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, referred to the recent “Operation Nimbus” and to the learning from the exercise.

Agreed:-  That Alan Platt speaks to the Emergency Planning Officer about feed back from “Operation Nimbus”.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer/ David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, reported on the Scrutiny Review on Climate Change which was reported to the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel on 22^nd April, 2010.

A programme of actions was being compiled to include e.g. sustainable schools, ECO vision management, energy and water, sustainable procurement, engaging communities etc.  These actions would be allocated to the various Scrutiny Panels and the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee would receive regular updates on Climate Change.

Other key areas included:-

-                      Public education

-                      Communicating climate change issues

-                      Sharing information across the Council and the LSP

-                      Member development workshops

David Wild, Local Agenda 21 Community Worker, to report.

David Wild, Local Agenda 21 Community Worker, reported on the following:-

·        Specific Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects continue, noting ongoing support for projects contributing to sustainable development in Rotherham, e.g climate change, biodiversity and with a food focus.

Highlights March to May 2010:-

• Rotherham Environment Forum meeting on energy efficiency and housing led regeneration funding (the ‘Single Conversation’)
• support to a developing food focused project using ‘Incredible, Edible Todmorden’ as inspiration
• Continued work on Green Check at several junior and secondary schools.
• Continued work in the Rotherham Dearne Valley Eco-Vision area, with schools undertaking Green Check
• Continued chairing of the Rotherham ESD (Delivery) Partnership and attendance at the newly formed Sustainable Schools Strategic Group
• Discussion on sustainable development awareness raising amongst country park ranger staff

Key issues for Rotherham/how this fits in with Corporate priorities:-

·        Continued focus specifically on climate change, biodiversity and more recently food, in line with Sustainability Partnership/LSP priorities

·        Continued implementation of sustainable development as a cross-cutting theme in the Sustainable Community Strategy, e.g. through attendance at the Rotherham Sustainability Partnership, Sustainable Development Officers Group and as co-ordinator of the ESD Partnership (RESDP) and Rotherham Environment Forum (REF)

Next Steps or action required:-

·        Continued support for new food project

·        Continued support for ESD Dearne Valley Eco-Vision, e.g. footprinting session at awareness-raising event

·        Rotherham Environment Forum meeting at Herringthorpe Valley Park on 22^nd June

·        Progress implementation of audits/action plans at EMAS/Green Check schools and enlist further new schools to Green Check, dependant on funding

·        Explore potential for Milton, St Pius, Swinton Fitzwilliam, Aston CofE etc to be included in councils’s EMAS accreditation

·        Attendance at South Yorkshire Climate Change workshop with communities focus

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, added a reference to the forward programme for LA21 fro 2010/11 in particular looking to community engagement and more awareness raising.

David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report.

David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, summarised key events in the period up to 11^th June, 2010:-

-                      Green Electricity:- noting the council would no longer purchase green electricity from 1^st November, 2010, and would instead purchase ‘Good quality Combined Heat and Power’.

-                      Display Energy Certificates:-  noting the transitional arrangements had now ended and the portfolio increase as multiple DEC are now required on one site e.g. schools buildings.  It was reported that another Assessor had been appointed for schools.

-                      Reference was made to the Building Schools for the Future programme and it was reported that Building Regulations “Standard” would cover this issue for new build.

-                      Carbon Reduction Commitment – Energy Efficiency Scheme:-  the Council was in the process of registering for the CRC – developing evidence packs, improving monitoring etc.  It was pointed out that purchase would not start until April 2011.  RMBC are not expected to perform well during the introduction phase primarily due to the method of measuring performance:-

(i)  50% against attaining the Carbon Trust Standard.  RMBC cannot achieve the standard due to the lack of transport data was for the last 4 years.

(ii)  50% against installing automatic metering (AMR), RMBC are in the process of fitting electric AMR through NPower and pursuing a programme with British Gas.

-                      Sustainable Procurement and Commissioning Code of Practice:-  it was reported that a working group had been set up with an initial draft framework document based on the Marrakech principle.

-                      Feed in Tariffs/School PV:-  it was noted that an alternative sourcing organisation was being sought.

-                      Next Steps:-  continuing the Carbon Reduction Commitment;  achieving NI 185;  evaluating and signing up to the EU programme re:  mobile working (noting EU funding).

There were no other items of business.

The following dates and times for future meetings were noted:-

FRIDAY, 30^TH JULY, 2010 at 10.30 a.m.

FRIDAY, 3^RD SEPTEMBER, 2010 at 10.30 a.m.

FRIDAY, 29^TH OCTOBER, 2010 at 10.30 a.m.

FRIDAY,7TH JANUARY, 2011 at 10.30 a.m.

FRIDAY, 4^TH MARCH, 2011 at 10.30 a.m.

FRIDAY, 3^RD JUNE, 2011 at 10.30 a.m.

Venue to be confirmed.