Agenda for Environment & Climate Action Scrutiny Panel on Tuesday, 11th October, 2022, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA. View directions

Contact: Email: Democracy@enfield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME & APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Due to the late arrival of the Chair, Cllr Bektas Ozer, the Vice Chair, Cllr Chris James, started the meeting.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Stephanos Ioannou, who was substituted by Cllr Tom O’Halloran.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Committee are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest registered in respect of any items on the agenda.

3.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 249 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022.

 

Minutes:

AGREED the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2022.

4.

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REVIEW pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To receive the report of Rafe Bertram, Joint Interim Head of Climate Action & Sustainability, and Tilly Ford, Sustainability Advisor.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Rafe Bertram, Joint Interim Head of Climate Action & Sustainability, and Tilly Ford, Sustainability Advisor, introduced the report highlighting the key points and updates on progress during 2021/22.

 

In response, members thanked officers for the report and commented as follows:

 

1.    Cllr Laban asked about the option of bringing back meat to the council menu, which could support small local business such as farms.  Officers took these comments on board.

2.    Recycling rates were below target and members were concerned about the ability to meet future targets. Cllr Jewell said there were projects in place, including talks with North London Waste.

3.    Concerns were raised about the cost of living crisis and fuel poverty.  Officers were trialling options however it was not a quick fix.  Work was taking place with Energetics and prices would be lower and give greater personal control of energy.

4.    Questions were asked about the location of electric roadside charging points, to which Cllr Jewell advised that ones on lampposts would need to be on the curb.  Some would be rapid charging.  The Manifesto pledge of 1000 more charging points was to provide an adequate supply, not an oversupply.  Work was being carried out with communities and energy suppliers.

5.    A discussion took place around domestic gas and social housing which had been slightly delayed.  ACTION Tilly Ford to check on this.

There was a workstream to look at this and various models were being considered.

6.    Members agreed there should be more promotion around food habits and the environmental impact.  Cllr Erbil advised there was focussed engagement taking place with businesses, as well as work in libraries and town centres to engage the public.

7.    Cllr Fallart asked about the potential use of green hydrogen.  Officers were unsure and would take this away to discuss with Fleet Services ACTION for David Taylor.

Cllr Jewell highlighted the success of electric refuse vehicles in the borough.

8.    It was noted that the target of planting 100,000 trees had been achieved.

9.    Cllr Laban asked when the Council’s fleet would be zero emissions.  Officers stated the requirement was by 2030.  ACTION for David Taylor to check on progress to date.

10. Cllr Laban would like the support of farming to be added to the action plan.  Cllr Erbil understood the importance of agricultural land and would pass this to the relevant team.  ACTION for Cllr Erbil.

 

 

 

5.

PROPOSED ULEZ EXPANSION FOR 2023 pdf icon PDF 387 KB

To receive the report of David Taylor, Head of Traffic & Transportation.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Bektas Ozer took back the role of Chair from this item onwards.

 

Ned Johnson, Principal Officer Pollution, was in attendance for this item.

 

The Council’s response to the ULEZ proposal was supportive in principal however there were some concerns over the scrappage scheme, the timescales and costs, and operational issues.  The Mayor was due to respond to the consultation towards the end of the year.

 

In response members commented as follows:

 

1.    Cllr Laban queried the level of benefits to air quality for outer London which were not as high as for inner London.  Cllr Jewell believed this was being considered by the Greater London Authority (GLA).

2.    Cllr Stevens expressed support for the expansion however felt the impact was not significant and questioned if there were other ways to help improve air quality.  Officers said they were promoting active travel and engaging with Transport for London (TFL) regarding public transport.  More detail could be found in the Air Quality Action Plan.

3.    There were queries as to why Bullsmoor Lane was not included in the ULEZ expansion.  Officers had looked into this and the reasoning was that vehicles would already come in or go out of a ULEZ zone on their journey, plus there had to be an “exit route” to allow vehicles to avoid the ULEZ.

4.    Cllr Laban asked about zero emission buses.  Cllr Erbil would be raising this with TFL.

 

Cabinet members and officers were thanked for their work and input on this item.

 

6.

WORK PROGRAMME 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

To note the Environment & Climate Action Work Programme for 2022/23.

Minutes:

NOTED the work programme for 2022/23.

 

Members agreed to add an item on “Air Quality Action Plan” to the March meeting.  ACTION Officers to include a map detailing the air quality variations across the borough.

7.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note the dates of the future meetings as follows:

 

Tuesday 17 January 2023

Tuesday 14 March 2023

Minutes:

NOTED the dates of future meetings as follows:

 

Tuesday 17 January 2023

Tuesday 14 March 2023

 

All meetings commence at 7pm.