Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

There were no apologies received. Cllr J Bagwell did not attend the meeting.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

There we no substitute members

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

The Chair declared that he had already signed the Plant Based Treaty as an individual and would therefore withdraw from the meeting to the public gallery for consideration of item 6 – Plant-based and Reduced Meat and Dairy Diets: Discussion Paper.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 15 May 2024.

The minutes of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 May 2024 were approved as a correct record.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is mid-day Thursday 5 September (3 clear working days before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day Tuesday 10 September (the working day before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 27 August (10 working days before the meeting).

There were 7 public questions and 4 statements which are attached to these minutes along with the response provided to the questions.

Following questions to Council from several members of the public on the Council’s stance on plant-based diets in relation to climate change, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Environment & Place Overview & Scrutiny Panel requested a preliminary discussion paper on the issue in order to stimulate debate.

The Chair did not take part or vote on this item. The Vice-Chair took the Chair.

The Sustainability Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Committee was advised that following questions to Council from several members of the public on the Council’s stance on plant-based diets in relation to climate change, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Environment & Place Overview & Scrutiny Panel requested a preliminary discussion paper on the issue in order to stimulate debate.

The report set out key issues and reported that many organisations agreed that we needed to reduce meat eating by around 20 – 50 percent.  Food waste also needed to be reduced.

It was suggested that the Council were not being ambitious enough in setting out what had already been done.  Council concessions offer a vegan option on their menus. It was suggested there could be education around more plant-based eating.

During the report writing the Sustainability Manager consulted with Edinburgh Council which had an action plan which was more focussed on the line of awareness raising around plant-based eating.

It was stated that some meat free products can be quite processed and that the best route would be for people to cook from scratch.

It was discussed that the best option was choice and options to look at recording and reporting. The outcomes needed to measure where we were as a base line.

RESOLVED that

1. the Environment & Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered the information presented in the discussion paper and gave their views on possible approaches Cabinet may wish to take in relation to the promotion of plant-based and reduced meat and dairy diets. These proposals will then be subject to further evidence-gathering and consultation.
2. To support the treaty and do more work outside the committee on the position statement.
3. The draft position statement be brought back to the Committee for further consideration with information about how it can be measured against SMART objectives in order for the Council to be more ambitious and positive on this issue.

Voting: 8 for, 1 against

The meeting was adjourned at 7:24pm and resumed at 7:33pm

The Environment and Place Committee will receive a Budget Awareness presentation as part of the enhanced scrutiny engagement for the 2025/26 budget. The presentation will cover budget, pressures, assumed savings for those areas within the remit of the Committee. The Committee will have the opportunity to ask questions around the budget and is also asked to consider how it wishes to engage further with the development of the 2025/26 budget.

The Environment and Place Committee received a Budget Awareness presentation as part of the enhanced scrutiny engagement for the 2025/26 budget. The presentation covered budget, pressures and assumed savings for those areas within the remit of the Committee. The Committee had the opportunity to ask questions around the budget and was also asked to consider how it wished to engage further with the development of the 2025/26 budget.

The O&S Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

It was decided at the meeting that Cllr Jamie Martin, Cllr Lisa Northover and Cllr Felicity Rice would form the working group membership with a view to taking a deeper dive into the following areas:

Environment and budget to transition to Net Zero and B&B accommodation costs within housing.

It was agreed the members of the working group would scope out the topics further and a Key Lines of enquiry document would be sent to them.

RESOLVED that

a.     A budget working group be established and the membership be agreed as above.

b.    That the topics for consideration by the working group be agreed as outlined above and that Key Lines of Enquiry for the working group be completed for the above topics

Voting: Unanimous

This is the annual report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer on Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) activity within BCP Council.  There is a requirement to report on the work of O&S to Council, to ensure good visibility of the function and Council ownership of activity and any improvements required.

The annual report contains a summary and analysis of O&S activity during 2023-24, reflections on working practices and an action plan identifying strategic improvements to the O&S function.

All O&S committees will receive the annual report for consideration, providing opportunity for comment prior to the supply of the final report to Council.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was advised that it was the annual report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer on Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) activity within BCP Council.  There was a requirement to report on the work of O&S to Council, to ensure good visibility of the function and Council ownership of activity and any improvements required.

The annual report contained a summary and analysis of O&S activity during 2023-24, reflections on working practices and an action plan identifying strategic improvements to the O&S function.

All O&S committees would receive the annual report for consideration, providing opportunity for comment prior to the supply of the final report to Council.

The Committee would comment on the proposed minor revisions to the O&S committee structure, outlined at paragraphs 8-10 of this report, prior to Council approval of the structure in October.

The report would need to have any major changes go through Audit and Governance Committee.

RESOLVED that the annual report and associated action plan be considered and commented on.

Voting: Unanimous

The Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee is asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Work Plan.

The Chairman presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee was asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Work Plan.

There was a scrutiny request received from Cllr Herrett regarding printing and retention which the Committee were asked to consider if they wished to add it to their forward plan.

It was discussed that it was another stage of Transformation and was more suited to a discussion paper.  A briefing would be timetabled for the topic.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed, updated and confirmed its Work Plan.

Voting: Unanimous