Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director of Property Services & Housing Repairs, as lead officer on the Carbon Reduction Plan, provided Members with a verbal progress report on activity following recent additional informal meetings with the Committee.

The lead officer noted that the planned recruitment to a dedicated officer had been placed on hold pending the report to Council in February 2023, in relation to Dragonfly Development Ltd, which would result in an alteration to Council structures. 

Following release of the proposed Business Case for Dragonfly Developments Ltd, it was clear that the lead for Climate Change would sit within the Council structure. Members agreed that this was the right course of action to ensure the Council kept control over planning and delivery.

The lead officer noted that pending the roll-out of Microsoft 365 across service areas, this may be the best option for improving file sharing and monitoring.  However, the roll-out of SharePoint was within phase 2 of the project, which could create further delays in effective monitoring.

Members were also mindful that there were now regular meetings between the Chief Executive and ICT on the roll-out of improved Microsoft systems, and that this was being done in a staged approach, taking account of implementation risks including cyber security. 

Members queried whether the Loop software was being used where possible to track ‘environmental’ social value outcomes from current delivery.  It was noted that this was an area that still required further development as the software became embedded across service areas.  The lead officer had access to the Loop software and further training was planned before projects could go live in the system for monitoring.

The officer noted that the Citizen’s Panel survey was now complete but that the results report was still pending.  Members agreed that this work was still necessary in order to shape future engagement by the Council.  It would also help the Council to develop local awareness campaigns and to influence any future funding bids by the Council in relation to energy efficiency in the District’s housing stock and to support local businesses.

The Committee noted that they would welcome sight of the survey results as part of a future report and hoped that the Council was able to take effective action as a result of the findings.

The lead officer noted that the Woodlands development in Langwith was likely to complete early with 19 properties completed in total.  This development included air source heat pumps and extra insulation with the properties being built to a high-spec ‘future homes’ standard.  Members noted they were keen to see the Council use such specification for other Bolsover Homes developments in future.

The lead officer offered the option of a site visit to see the completed properties and Members agreed this was something they would like to take place.

Members were also updated on work at Whaley Common where the Council had a number of ‘off-gas’ properties that had air source heat pumps fitted.  Whist this had been completed at a higher cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47