Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Emma Stevenson.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business to be considered at the meeting.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda;

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered;

c)  any matters arising out of those items; and if appropriate,

d)  withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26^th March 2024.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Catherine Tite

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Special Climate Change and Communities             Scrutiny Committee held on 26^th March 2024 be approved as a true and             correct record.

Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List of Key Decisions for any further information). NB: If Members wish to discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the meeting only.

A Member noted while it was a confidential matter, they asked at what point would the Committee be able to ask questions of the Executive on the project progress of the Roseland Park and Crematorium.  The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee an update on Dragonfly Development Ltd. matters, including the Roseland Park and Crematorium, would be provided to the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee which would usually handle such scrutiny.  However, if the Committee had any questions, then Members could ask these to the relevant officers or pass them along to the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee.

Moved by Councillor Catherine Tite and seconded by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and Items to be considered in the private document be noted.

The Monitoring Officer presented the final report on the Review of the Council’s Approach to Carbon Reduction for the 2023-24 municipal year and explained that the recommendations had been proposed back in January 2023.  A number of these recommendations had been dependant on the appointment of a Climate Change Officer, who would start their role 8^th July 2024; outstanding items would then be progressed.

It was recommended to the Committee that the recommendations within the report be extended to the new proposed dates.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Catherine Tite

RESOLVED that the review be noted.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the final Committee Work Programme for the 2023-24 municipal year.  An email had been sent to all Members of the Council, including the Executive and Senior Leadership Team, for the 2024-25 review.  However, the response had been limited and a second email would be sent.

A Member noted with the new municipal year, the Chair of the Committee would change after the Annual Council meeting and the Work Programme for 2024-25 would be discussed.  If other Members had any views, these could also be submitted.  The Scrutiny Officer agreed, insisting that all Members could submit their own proposals for review, including for Committees they were not seated on; all ideas were welcomed.

Councillor Cathy Jeffery entered the meeting.

The Chair stressed that Climate Change was important, but the Committee had other duties to address and scrutinise.  The Monitoring Officer stated that the Scrutiny Officer’s email had outlined all Committees’ scrutiny opportunities, and Members’ proposals were incredibly important.  A Member noted that the scope in the Council’s Constitution for the Committee to scrutinise was vast.

A Member noted the Committees’ work involved crossover on many matters, using the example of transport as this infringed on community safety and policing; scrutinising one topic could result in scrutinising others.

The Scrutiny Officer agreed to resend their email and document pack that helped explain how to approach the Committee’s work.  Once a few more responses were collected, an informal meeting could be arranged to brainstorm ideas in June-July 2024.

The Chair highlighted with the new elected Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, it would be interesting to know what crossover work would be taking place and whether it was possible for the new Mayor to be invited to a future meeting.  The Monitoring Officer agreed that an invitation could be sent.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Catherine Tite

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The formal part of the meeting concluded at 10:14 hours and Members then met as a working party to continue their review work.  The informal meeting closed at 10:45 hours.