Environmental Sustainability Partnership Board (ESP) Board. Attendees

Transcription

1 Meeting Environmental Sustainability Partnership Board (ESP) Board Date 11 th October 2016 Time 14:00 start 16:00 finish Venue Mulberry Park Visitors Centre, Foxhill, Bath, BA2 5QN Attendees Board Members Chairman Cllr Martin Veal Cllr Mark Shelford Cllr Robin Moss Cllr June Player Peter Andrews Donna Baddeley Bruce Laurence Andrew Pate Louise Fradd Board Advisors Dave Crowson Peter Capener Guests Sophie Kirk Jonathan Poole Standing Officers Jane Wildblood Micaela Basford Sara Banks Apologies David Trethewey Cllr Jonathan Carr Cllr Paul Crossley Cabinet Member for Community Services, Bathavon North Ward Councillor, Conservative, B&NES Council, B&NES Council Cabinet Assistant for Economic Development, Lyncombe Ward Councillor, Conservative Westfield Ward Councillor, Labour Group Leader Westmoreland Ward Councillor, Independent Community Board Member, Transition Bath and other community initiatives. Executive Director, Transformation & Business Improvement, Curo Group Director of Public Health, B&NES Council Strategic Director, Resources, B&NES Council Strategic Director, Place, B&NES Council Environment Agency Independent Sustainable Energy Consultant Sustainability Officer, Food. B&NES Council Corporate Sustainability Manager, B&NES Council Corporate Sustainability Officer, B&NES Council Standards & Support Officer, B&NES Council Divisional Director, Strategy & Performance, B&NES Council Abbey Ward Councillor, Green Party Leader STEPPED DOWN Southdown Ward Councillor, Liberal Democrat Group, Member Advocate for The Sustainable Environment 1

2 Agenda 11 th October 2016 Subject Time Presenter 1 Welcome, introductions and declarations of interest 5m Cllr Martin Veal 2 Minutes & Actions from last Board Meeting (minutes below) 5m Cllr Martin Veal 3 B&NES Local Food Partnership Update Desired outcomes: To report progress made on the delivery of the B&NES Local Food Strategy ( ) To seek the Board s input into the Local Food Strategy refresh 50m Jane Wildblood & Sophie Kirk Break 10m 4 Devolution Desired outcomes: To update the Board on the thinking on low carbon economy and energy issues for the next Devolution Deal (2) To seek Board members thoughts to inform that thinking. 5. Mulberry Park development Jonathan Poole, Mulberry Park Project Director will provide an overview of the development and Board members will be invited to view the exhibition. 15m 25m Jane Wildblood Jonathan Poole 6. Review Actions and Next Steps 5m Cllr Martin Veal Next ESP Board meeting: Agenda theme: Planning and sustainability/climate change 31 st January 2017, 2pm 4pm. Aix en Provence, Guildhall, Bath. 2

3 Note of the meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Partnership Board Held on Tuesday 12 th July 2016 Kaposvar Room, Guildhall, Bath Present Board Members Chairman Cllr Martin Veal Cllr Mark Shelford Cllr Paul Crossley Cllr June Player Peter Andrews Cllr Jonathan Carr Donna Baddeley Paul Scott Andrew Pate Peter Dawson Martin Shields Board Advisors Dave Crowson Peter Capener Cabinet Member for Community Services, Bathavon North Ward Councillor, Conservative, B&NES Council, B&NES Council Cabinet Assistant for Economic Development, Lyncombe Ward Councillor, Conservative Southdown Ward Councillor, Liberal Democrat Group, Member Advocate for The Sustainable Environment West Moreland Independents. Member Advocate for Cleaner, greener streets Community Board Member, Transition Bath and other community initiatives Abbey Ward Councillor, Green Party Leader Executive Director, Transformation & Business Improvement, Curo Group Consultant in Public Health & Assistant Director of Public Health, B&NES Council Strategic Director, Resources, B&NES Council Group manager Planning Policy Divisional Director Environmental Services, B&NES Council Environment Agency Independent Sustainable Energy Consultant Guests Aled Williams Cathryn Brown Environmental Protection Manager Team Manager, Health & Environment, Environmental Protection Team 3

4 Robin Spalding Sara Grimes Standing Officers Jane Wildblood Micaela Basford Sara Banks Apologies Bruce Laurence David Trethewey Louise Fradd Cllr Robin Moss Senior Public Protection Officer, Environmental Protection Team Corporate Sustainability Officer, B&NES Council Corporate Sustainability Manager, B&NES Council Corporate Sustainability Officer, B&NES Council Standards & Support Officer, B&NES Council Director of Public Health, B&NES Council Divisional Director, Strategy & Performance, B&NES Council Strategic Director, Place, B&NES Council Westfield Ward Councillor, Labour Group Leader 1. Welcome, Introductions and Declarations of Interest 1.1 Introductions were made during which Cllr Veal announced that Cllr Walker had resigned from the Board and would be replaced by Cllr Player to represent the Independents. Cllr Veal thanked Cllr Walker for her commitment. 1.2 Peter Andrews and Pete Capener declared an interest in the Local Energy Tariff item as potential bidders 2. Minutes & Actions from the last Board Meeting 2.1 These were agreed. 2.2 With one amendment DB pointed out that the acronym SHORE on page 5 should read SHAW Safe, Healthy, Affordable, Warm. 2.3 JW confirmed to the Board that all the comments expressed at the last meeting relating the ESP Strategy have been taken in to account and it is being produced and should be available shortly. 3. Update to the Board on: Local Energy Tariff Development 3.1 Peter Andrews and Pete Capener left the meeting for this item. 3.2 Presented by Jane Wildblood. B&NES have completed a soft market testing exercise on the feasibility of introducing a local energy tariff. The results were positive. The Local Tariff was outlined, including aims, key characteristics and procurement process to find a suitable partner. It is hoped to have an agreed tariff ready for March/April Comments and questions Cllr Player implications for the Western Riverside development as customers are tied into energy supplier for a period of time. 4

5 3.3.2 Cllr Crossley wanted assurances that the chosen provider would not use fracking to create their energy. MV confirmed the Council does not support fracking Cllr Carr suggested there would be benefit in offering a green and nongreen tariff. Would we be using standard energy industry KPIs or making our own? JW explained that the tariff would need to balance fuel poverty and green credentials Standard industry KPIs will be used because without them we would receive no bids. Sustainable Building Standards for Council Projects 3.4 SG presented the draft sustainable construction standards for developers of Council funded buildings. The Council wants to ensure that buildings being built by the Authority are as sustainable as possible even where we are not occupying the building. 3.5 The Council has been successful in playing a leadership role by building the Keynsham Civic Centre with no uplift in the cost to deliver high energy performance. 3.6 The draft policy sets out that all projects will seek to meet the same standard as achieved in Keynsham CC. We hope this will inspire uptake from partners and non-council developers. 3.7 Research for drafting the standards has included looking at the feasibility of building to Passivhaus standards. And, ensuring that buildings are future proofed for future climate changes and enhance the health and wellbeing of occupants. 3.8 Comments and questions: AP raised the issue of business premises customers require Grade A office accommodation. Need to make sure that customer demand in this respect is met, as well as the sustainability aspects PA training of building users is essential in order that they understand how the building is designed to work so as not to compromise energy performance MV other aspects of changes to the future climate also need to be considered, not just overheating. Such as flooding and drainage. This is included DC Supports the strategy for new build. Will this also cover renovation of existing Council building stock, including heritage buildings? No, but work on this issue is underway The board felt the words where possible should be removed from the document. Action: SG to review the wording where possible in conjunction with key services. 5

6 4. Air Quality in Bath & North East Somerset 4.1 The Environmental Protection (EP) Team presented. Included were: The role of the air quality monitoring team in meeting statutory monitoring and the timetable for the Bath Air Quality Action Plan. 4.2 The team explained how air quality is measured, the current air quality management areas and the causes of bad air quality. 4.3 Monitors are placed in areas which are deemed to break the EU legislation most of these are heave trafficked areas such as the London Road. As there are a high proportion of HGV through-traffic discussions with neighbouring Authorities are taking place to try to reduce this. 4.4 Live air quality reports are published on the website here The EU directives on air quality have been enshrined in UK law so the current level of monitoring will remain in place. 4.6 The Bath Action Plan is due to be updated over the next 12months, ready to be adopted by the end of The Team are engaging with partners, stakeholders and the community at an early stage of the plan development to ensure that the plan is created collaboratively and includes actions from partners and the community, as well as the Council led actions. The team are presenting to local business and community groups and would be pleased to be invited to speak at local meetings with an interest in air quality issues. 4.7 Comments/Questions JP are train emissions taken into account in the monitoring? The team confirmed they were and how these would improve with the electrification of the line Would like to see more incentives for those driving into the city using electric cars, such as use of bus lanes. There will be a number of incentives to promote the use and uptake of the electric vehicles through he Go Ultra Low West of England scheme being launched in the next few months MS teaching our young people about this in school as it is a good way to encourage parents to try alternative travel options JC highlighted that in the devolution deal currently under consultation that Clean Air Zones are part of it. There is also a marker about future Devolution deals including this issue The Board made the request to be updated as the Action Plan develops and will invite the EP team to future meeting. Action All Board members: forward details of any meetings or groups who should be involved in the process. Details should be sent to the EP team. 5. Date of Next Meeting: 11 th October

7 Environmental Sustainability Partnership Agenda Item 3 B&NES Local Food Partnership Update Desired outcomes: Desired outcomes: To report progress made on the delivery of the B&NES Local Food Strategy ( ) To seek the Board s input into the Local Food Strategy refresh Link to document: Local Food Strategy 1. Background The first Local Food Strategy for Bath & North East Somerset was developed in The Vision Bath and North East Somerset is a place where everyone can access good quality, safe, affordable food and enjoy a healthy diet, with more locally produced food that sustains the environment and supports the local economy. 1.2 In particular we want to reduce diet-related ill health and inequality, reduce the local environmental impacts of food production and supply including its contribution to climate change, increase food security and support a strong and prosperous food economy. 1.3 We want Bath and North East Somerset to be a place where good quality food is widely provided, celebrated and promoted and where everyone has the opportunities to develop food related skills and to reconnect with food and where it comes from. 1.4 The key drivers The need for a B&NES Local Food Strategy arose from the synergy between the Environmental Sustainability Partnership objectives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental impacts from the food sector and the Health & Well-Being Board (HWBB) objectives to reduce diet-related ill health and inequality. In addition, the importance of a thriving local food economy to local economic well-being is included in the Economic Strategy. 1.5 Purpose of the B&NES Local Food Strategy 7

8 The B&NES Local Food Strategy provides a framework for action that encompasses social, economic and environmental sustainability in a coherent and coordinated manner. 1.6 The strategy has been designed to bring together the full range of current food activities and to identify future opportunities within a single strategic framework, enabling greater co-ordination, crossfertilisation and closer working between partners and stakeholders across the local authority. 1.7 It is the intention that this more integrated approach will increase the opportunities for our strategic ambitions to be realised, working in partnership with public sector organisations, food and farming businesses, the voluntary sector and local communities. 2. Update There will be a presentation about the progress made on the B&NES Local Food Strategy and the national/ local context to consider for the strategy refresh in The presentation will include: Viewing of the B&NES Local Food Film Key progress and initiatives ( ) National and local context to consider for strategy refresh in Questions for the Board: The strategy is structured around the delivery themes of: Food production and supply Food provision and access Healthy and sustainable food culture Is the broad focus of the strategy still relevant taking into consideration new developments or increasing significance of: Food Poverty Brexit and food security Pressure to reduce meat and dairy in our diets (i.e. reduction of higher carbon aspects of the diet.) Ends 8

9 Environmental Sustainability Partnership Agenda Item 4 Devolution Desired outcomes: To update the Board on the thinking on low carbon economy and energy issues for the next Devolution Deal (2) To seek Board members thoughts to inform that thinking Attachments: n/a Ends 1. The first West of England Devolution agreement makes only a small reference to energy issues, specifically on the potential for tidal power development in the Severn Estuary. Whilst development of this renewable energy resource is important, there are a range of other low carbon infrastructure actions that could be delivering more low carbon and renewable energy and driving down energy demand, whilst creating jobs and economic benefit faster than major tidal schemes can deliver. 2. The sustainability and energy officers from the three unitary authorities, who had previously worked on a West of England Low Carbon Economic Strategy to feed into the LEP s Strategic Economic Plan, have reconvened in order to develop a set of broader devolution asks that will be designed to hasten the transition to a low carbon economy locally. 3. This work will also feed into the strategic development work currently being undertaken by the LEP, in its review of the Strategic Economic Plan, which will inform the emerging Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA). 4. The work has the following key aspects; a. taking each of the authority s relevant strategies and plans, identify common themes and language b. identify which issues might be better addressed at WoE MCA level c. identify which of these might be appropriate for Devolution Deal 2 d. coordinate key data to support these potential asks and articulate WoE wide targets e. take into account low carbon economy and energy aspects of other devolution deals that we could learn from 5. The work will fall under the following headings: a. energy efficiency and retrofitting b. new build c. community energy d. transport e. business/commercial carbon emissions f. low carbon industries g. generation, distribution and innovation 9