Agenda item

Areas to consider:

·         Feedback on initial structure

·         Themes (discussion on level of detail and key points)

·         Call for Action

Witnesses:

Rachel Crossley, Director of Strategic Commissioning

Katie Sargent, Environment Commissioning Group Manager

Key points raised:

Feedback on initial structure

1.    In response to AM’s concern over the generic nature of the recommendations in the draft select committee report, the Director of Strategic Commissioning stated that there was room for greater specificity as the project developed.

2.    AM- it would be useful if there were appendices summarising the evidence form the witness sessions within the draft select committee report.

3.    JOR – questioned whether there were common strands from the witness sessions which would inform the updated recommendations. Real initiatives would provide guidance to the Council – such as Bristol City Council advice against in-house electricity generation.

4.    The Environment Commissioning Group Manager noted that the witness sessions on sustainable school transport was useful and highlighted the need for funding and investment for such projects.

5.    Members were happy with the initial structure.

Themes (discussion on level of detail and key points)

6.    In response to JE’s query on public sector partnerships, the Director of Strategic Commissioning noted that finance and procurement were central to the Surrey County Council theme, public sector partnerships would follow on.

7.    The Director of Strategic Commissioning agreed to NB and JOR’s call for best practice and distilled evidence from witness sessions to inform emerging themes.

Call for Action

8.    The Director of Strategic Commissioning informed Members that the draft Call for Action required more long-term and clearer phasing and had been shown to Cabinet.

9.    JE – that point 13: ‘plant 1.2M trees by 2030’, would have minimal effect on alleviating climate change as it does not affect the extraction or use of fossil fuels. A more tangible action would be to focus on increasing woodland coverage in the county, protecting ancient woodland, tackling Ash dieback and that developers should commit to a net planting of trees.

10.  PD – planting more trees is beneficial as it does increase air quality and the maintenance of planted trees must be assured.

11.  In response the Director of Strategic Commissioning would not remove point 13, but would develop it by adding more proposals.

12.  NB – that housing and insulation were important and should be considered within the ‘As Residents’ column.

13.  Members stated that the table was a good engagement tool to lay the foundations of the developing strategy and sustainability was crucial.

14.  JE – language in the table should be strong and consistent, that ‘consider’ climate change in point 2 should be replaced with ‘embed’.

15.  In response to Member’s suggestions, the Director of Strategic Commissioning stated that a standalone ‘Communications Plan’ was not necessary as work was being done with the Surrey Environment Partnership to create a Surrey-wide approach.

16.  That schools and young people came under the ‘As Residents’ column.

17.  JE – it was important that there should be a continuous campaign for a greener Surrey after completion of the Task and Finish Group and it could consider its own draft vision for the future.

18.  In response to JE’s query, the Environment Commissioning Group Manager explained that the ‘officer delivery group’ - in the second recommendation -was essential as it would be a cohesive body.

19.  JE – within the second recommendation, the ‘zero carbon board’ and ‘officer delivery group’ should be specified as cross-party/cross-department; and a resources plan should be included in their Terms of Reference.

20.  In response to JE’s question, the Environment Commissioning Group Manager stated that ‘adaptation’ was covered within the existing themes, but an explanatory paragraph on adaptation would be included in the draft select committee report.

21.  JE – the fourth recommendation should be wider than its Surrey focus, including the Thames Flood Alleviation Scheme and the Strategic Transport Board for example.

22.  Members thought it useful if the ‘increased powers’ from the Government - in the sixth recommendation - sought by the Council were specified and the Director of Strategic Commissioning stated that this would include locally devolved powers.