A question session with the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change. Councillor George Potter’s areas of responsibility: Climate Change; Bereavement; Green Spaces; Parks; Countryside; Trees; Fleet Operations; Street Cleaning; and Waste and Recycling.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor George Potter, and invited him to make an introductory statement.
The Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change thanked those Councillors who had provided notice of the question areas and he asked if questions of a technical nature might be shared sooner. He suggested that some questions on Climate Change were better directed to other portfolio holders rather than himself, but indicated he would try to answer all questions put to him.
A Committee member asked the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change for an update on progress in supporting businesses in the community to lower emissions and ensure sustainable ways of working. In reply, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change referred to the A3 sustainable travel project with Surrey County Council which offered grants to local van delivery drivers to convert to an electric vehicle, the relaunch of the Sustainable Business Network in Guildford, the forthcoming publication of the Guildford Business Guide which had a section on moving towards a low carbon economy, the promotion of a number of green business courses, collaboration with Surrey County Council to use funding for a decarbonisation loan scheme, and promotion of the easit travel scheme.
In response to a question on progress to achieving net zero by 2030, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change noted the establishment of the Climate Change Board, the development of Borough-wide partnerships to decrease carbon emissions, the establishment of a 2019 carbon emission baseline, the identification of Council activities where carbon emissions can be reduced, the development of an action plan to achieve net zero across Council activities by 2030, and the adoption of the action plan by the Council. In addition, the meeting was advised of decreases in the Council’s emissions and plans for the Council’s website to have a dedicated Climate Change section.
IN response to a question, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change confirmed that an update on the Climate Change Action Plan would be presented annually to full Council.
In answer to a question about the installation of solar panels on Council land and the installation of electric vehicle charging points, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change advised that officers were looking to identify feasible sites for the installation of solar panels on Council assets and that detailed questions on the EV charging points were perhaps better directed to the officers involved in air quality or the portfolio holder responsible for air quality.
When asked about the funding of projects identified by the Climate Change Board, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change indicated that the non-committed Climate Change budget was cut for the current year only and the budget would be reinstated from April 2024 onwards. He stated that Climate Change actions were taking place across the Council using existing budgets and resources.
In reply to the suggestion that air quality should perhaps be within the Environment and Climate Change portfolio, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change advised that a decision had been made to mainstream climate change across the Council and to align the portfolios of Lead Councillors as closely as possible with the remits of the executive heads of service. The Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change suggested the Committee ask individual Lead Councillors about climate change within their portfolio when they appeared before the Committee and indicated he did not consider himself responsible for driving climate change across the Council. The Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Housing indicated that the members of the Executive would discuss the issues raised and update Committee members.
In reply to a question about working with partners to achieve progress on reducing the reliance on petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change advised the meeting of the limited influence of the Council on the provision of bus services, including Park and Ride. He suggested that opposition to the London Road, Burpham to Guildford Active Travel Scheme was largely due to how the scheme was developed and introduced by Surrey County Council. The Committee was advised of the e-bike scheme and the setup funding it would receive from the Council, the University of Surrey, and Surrey County Council.
A Councillor asked the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change to identify the top three achievements since the Council’s declaration of a Climate Change Emergency in 2019. In response, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change noted that communication of the Council’s achievements had been poor. He then referred to the creation of a dedicated climate change officer post at the Council, the installation of solar panels at multi-storey car parks, the re-procurement of the Council’s energy contract, and planning policies relating to EV charging points, cycling, and walking. The Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Housing reminded the meeting of the electrification of the Council’s community meals and community transport fleets and sustainable initiatives involving the community wellbeing team based at The Hive.
In reply to a question from a Councillor, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change suggested the advantages of merging officer teams with Waverley Borough Council and noted the productive relationship with Surrey County Council. He reminded the Committee that the Council had a net zero carbon emissions goal of 2030, whereas the county council was aiming for 2050.
In response to a question on his support for the London Road, Burpham to Guildford Active Travel Scheme, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change indicated that his support for the scheme was not unequivocal as the design was not finalised and consultation results had not yet been taken into account.
In reply to a query from a Committee member, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change referred to the creation of jobs and development of skills within the local economy from initiatives such as the e-bike scheme.
A Committee member stated that fly-tipping in Ash had increased since residents had been prevented from using their closest recycling centre (in Hampshire) and a further increase in fly-tipping was expected following the closure of the recycling Bring Site in Ash Wharf. In response, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change indicated that an increase in fly-tipping was expected after the closure of the Bring Sites but that it would remain within the capacity of the Council to deal with.
In reply to a question about fly-tipping blocking drainage ditches and culverts and causing flooding, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change advised that all the services of the Bring Sites could be dealt with through household collections. He requested that any issues be reported to himself or the Interim Executive Head of Environmental Services.
In response to questions from a Committee member, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change confirmed the recent policy change affecting the provision of refuse sacks for town centre residents. With reference to the supply of refuse and recycling bins to residents and local developments, the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change stated that there were no immediate outstanding deliveries to new developments, officers were continuing to work through the delivery backlog on refuse and recycling bins, and every type of container was in stock.
The Chairman thanked the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change for attending and answering questions.