Issue - meetings

Recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board

Meeting: 09/02/2022 - Cabinet (Item 126)

Recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board

To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.

Decision:

Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on two items from their meeting held on 31 January 2022 not otherwise included on the Cabinet agenda for today’s meeting, the details for which are set out below.

The first recommendation was in relation to Agenda item 7 of the recent Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting – Climate Change Enquiry Round Up.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet setting out the recommendation as follows:

The Overview and Scrutiny Board resolved that Cabinet be recommended to note the Overview and Scrutiny Board’s:

  1. appreciation and acknowledgement of the work carried out by officers for the period of the Annual Report particularly with regard to the reduction in Co2.
  2. recognition that the Climate Team is not yet fully staffed, and that the resources available to date have limited the development of some aspects of the Climate Emergency Strategy, Plans and tasks.
  3. welcome of the additional investment to expand the Climate Emergency Team, and in particular, the appointment of a Head of Climate.
  4. recognition and understanding that it will take some time for the new Climate Team to be recruited and for it to become fully effective.
  5. expectation that a BCP Climate Emergency Strategic Policy and Risk Assessment will be developed, from which an Implementation Plan is produced, that clearly details how the strategic policy is to be achieved. The plan should provide SMART objectives and describe the organisation and organisational responsibilities for achieving these. The Strategy, Risk Assessment and the Implementation Plan should cover both the 2030 Council Targets and the 2050 National Targets and should apply to aspects that are directly under the Control of the Council, and those within the greater BCP area where the Council can lead, facilitate, and promote the Climate Emergency, through its relationships with organisations, businesses, industry, other partnerships and local residents. It is also requested that the Head of Climate start a programme of member seminars and climate literacy training for all staff.
  6. expectation that Climate actions are supported with local data where possible to ensure actions are not skewed by the use of misleading national data. Data should include an assessment of emissions of Council employees working from home and this should be included within the Council’s emissions footprint.
  7. expectation that the existing Climate Action Plan i.e. the task list is further developed to include all requirements of the Implementation Plan.
  8. intention to further consider the Council’s progress towards meeting its Climate Emergency aims at a meeting in September 2022

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport thanked the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and thanked the Board for the work they had done and the recommendations.

In relation to this the Portfolio Holder advised that the notes and recommendations had been useful and that they would be noted, with the exception of recommendation (f).

With regards to recommendation (f) the Portfolio Holder advised that the industry standards do not currently include the  ...  view the full decision text for item 126

Minutes:

Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on two items from their meeting held on 31 January 2022 not otherwise included on the Cabinet agenda for today’s meeting, the details for which are set out below.

The first recommendation was in relation to Agenda item 7 of the recent Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting – Climate Change Enquiry Round Up.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet setting out the recommendation as follows:

The Overview and Scrutiny Board resolved that Cabinet be recommended to note the Overview and Scrutiny Board’s:

  1. appreciation and acknowledgement of the work carried out by officers for the period of the Annual Report particularly with regard to the reduction in Co2.
  2. recognition that the Climate Team is not yet fully staffed, and that the resources available to date have limited the development of some aspects of the Climate Emergency Strategy, Plans and tasks.
  3. welcome of the additional investment to expand the Climate Emergency Team, and in particular, the appointment of a Head of Climate.
  4. recognition and understanding that it will take some time for the new Climate Team to be recruited and for it to become fully effective.
  5. expectation that a BCP Climate Emergency Strategic Policy and Risk Assessment will be developed, from which an Implementation Plan is produced, that clearly details how the strategic policy is to be achieved. The plan should provide SMART objectives and describe the organisation and organisational responsibilities for achieving these. The Strategy, Risk Assessment and the Implementation Plan should cover both the 2030 Council Targets and the 2050 National Targets and should apply to aspects that are directly under the Control of the Council, and those within the greater BCP area where the Council can lead, facilitate, and promote the Climate Emergency, through its relationships with organisations, businesses, industry, other partnerships and local residents. It is also requested that the Head of Climate start a programme of member seminars and climate literacy training for all staff.
  6. expectation that Climate actions are supported with local data where possible to ensure actions are not skewed by the use of misleading national data. Data should include an assessment of emissions of Council employees working from home and this should be included within the Council’s emissions footprint.
  7. expectation that the existing Climate Action Plan i.e. the task list is further developed to include all requirements of the Implementation Plan.
  8. intention to further consider the Council’s progress towards meeting its Climate Emergency aims at a meeting in September 2022

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport thanked the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and thanked the Board for the work they had done and the recommendations.

In relation to this the Portfolio Holder advised that the notes and recommendations had been useful and that they would be noted, with the exception of recommendation (f).

With regards to recommendation (f) the Portfolio Holder advised that the industry standards do not currently include the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126