Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absences were received on behalf of Councillors Ashley Taylor, Catherine Tite and Anne Clarke, Portfolio Holder for the Environment.

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 were no urgent items of business to be considered.

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, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

Councillors Emma Stevenson and Carol Wood declared they were Members of the Dragonfly Development Ltd. Shareholder Board.

To consider the minutes of the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21^st May 2024.

Moved by Councillor Cathy Jeffery and seconded by Councillor Carol Wood

RESOLVED that the minutes of a Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 21^st May 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.

In response to a Member’s query, the Director of Strategic Services explained the Executive had delegated powers to authorise the purchase of items like the refuse vehicle fleet replacements.  It was expected the new vehicles would be starting collections January-March 2026.

The Monitoring Officer informed Committee the proposed sale of land at Elmton Lane, Bolsover had been delayed and would not meet the Executive meeting on 29^th July 2024.

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

The Chair presented the Review of the Council’s Energy Policy (the ‘Policy’) for Local Housing to the Committee, praising the Scrutiny Officer for the fine work.

The Committee had agreed to review the Policy as part of the 2023/24 Work Programme to ensure the Council had a clear energy efficiency Policy and the District had long-term energy resilience across all housing stock.

The Policy would be presented to the Executive on 29th July 2024.

Key issues identified included the following:

·       Restrictions placed on energy related grants;

·       Current impact of energy costs on the cost-of-living crisis and long-term health impact of cold homes;

·       National changes in expected Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings; and,

·       Potential to generate income via Dragonfly Development Ltd. offering energy improvements to private sector.

The Chair stated most of the recommendations would likely be accepted and developed, though recommendation 4 was likely the Committee formulating Council policy more than fulfilling its role as Scrutiny; this recommendation would likely be developed by the recently recruited Climate Officer in the future.

The Chair noted the establishment of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for all new build property within 3 months was the main aim of the Committee’s work.

The Chair referred the Committee to Page 49 of the report and where stakeholders were listed.  Thanks were expressed for the Portfolio Holder for the Environment and the Scrutiny Officer in particular.  A Member added the Scrutiny Officer had done very well collating the Committee’s thoughts into one document.

A Member noted the report would prove highly useful in the future and help identify and support any/all opportunities moving forwards.  The work accomplished had been marvellous.

Moved by Councillor Mark Hinman and seconded by Councillor Carol Wood

RESOLVED that; 1) the Council establish a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for all new build property within 3 months.  Upon completion of the Housing Stock Condition Survey (estimated April 2025), the Council must establish a strategy for improving energy efficiency within Council Housing Stock;

2)     that the Council publishes information regarding grants and energy efficiency on the Council website;

3)     That the Council continues to feature educational articles in Intouch magazine and Bolsover TV on energy efficiency grants for homes;

4)     that following the Council’s appointment of the new Climate Officer, opportunities be investigated for realistic ways that the Council and Dragonfly Development Ltd. can work together to offer energy improvements to the owner-occupier sector and to assess whether a pragmatic package can be put together to achieve this; and,

5)     that the Council consolidates all existing policies, strategies and plans regarding EV charging stations for Bolsover District into one clear document/web page article dedicated to the topic of the Council’s approach to EV charging points.

The Chair presented the Work Programme 2024/25 to the Committee and listed the Terms of Reference of the Committee’s remit.

To a Member’s question on the Terms of Reference, the Scrutiny Officer explained small overlaps existed, such as the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee seeking to review the Council’s security; this could be covered with a joint session with the Committee through its Community Safety Partnership/Police remit.

The Monitoring Officer stated the Council was always looking to make improvements of Scrutiny, and the Scrutiny Officer added most local authorities had only two Scrutiny Committees – finance and thematic.  A Member noted they did not want to see the topic of Climate Change diluted; it was a key responsibility.  The Monitoring Officer added other local authorities had numerous thematic sub-committees to help address specific issues like Climate Change, and this could be a possibility if Scrutiny arrangements changed 2025/26.

The Scrutiny Officer agreed to share with Members the current Terms of Reference of the Committee, and the Council’s other Scrutiny Committees, after the meeting.

The Chair referred the Committee to Page 57 of the report, explaining there was substantial work to review for the coming year as well as 6 topics suggested by Members and Officers listed from Page 59 onwards.  There either could be one large item reviewed by the Committee over 2024/25, or invitations extended to officers outside the Committee to present multiple reports.

Topic 2.1 was a wide-ranging topic of District construction, but this was a substantial topic with overlap of previous work undertaken by the Committee.  The Local Growth Scrutiny Committee would also likely have greater responsibility on such a topic.

A Member noted the topic’s title, “Mitigating Environmental Impacts of District Construction”, needed clarifying; would it cover Dragonfly Development Ltd. construction or all constitution taking place in the District.  The Monitoring Officer suggested any topics chosen needed a clear scope; the last review had been a little ambiguous.  The Member added the topic would likely benefit from a clarified title.

RESOLVED that the suggested topic’s title is clarified before it is considered further.

The Chair explained topic 2.2 was for a presentation of Council governance and disclosure of interest arrangements in relation to Dragonfly Development Ltd.; members of the public had previously expressed concerns, and a short, public presentation could be made to explain/address the interest of Members.  The Monitoring Officer added a presentation could be brought to a future Committee meeting, limited to governance arrangements and set disclosure of interest in all Council business as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

A discussion was held on the merits of a public presentation focussed wholly on Dragonfly Development Ltd., given concerns raised were not broadcast throughout the District.  It was further discussed that the Director of Development of Dragonfly Development Ltd. be invited to comment in this matter and that Members discuss informally before a presentation took place.

A vote was held with four Members in favour and one, Councillor Emma Stevenson, abstaining.

Moved by Councillor Rob  ...  view the full minutes text for item CLI7-23/24

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