Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF. View directions

Contact: Jemma Durkan 

Media

Webcast: View the webcast

Items
No. Item

1.

Chairman's Welcome

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed members and officers to the meeting.  He noted that the select committee would be working as a team with cross party working to consider issues.  

2.

Appointment of Vice-Chairman

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Chapple appointed Councillor Robert Carington as the Vice-Chairman of the Transport, Environment & Climate Change Select Committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Robert Carington be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Transport Environment & Climate Change Select Committee for the ensuing year.

 

3.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E Culverhouse, A Poland-Goodyer and A Wood.

 

Apologies had been noted for Councillor L Sullivan incorrectly.

4.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Warren Whyte declared a personal interest as a member of the Conservative Environmental Network.

 

Councillor Ed Gemmell declared personal interests as managing director of Scientists Warning Europe, Chairman of the Hazelmere Climate Emergency Working Party, founder of No Disposable Cup Day, founder of Believers Action Against Climate Change, member of the Conservative Environmental Network and adviser on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

5.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 456 KB

That the previous meetings on 11 March and 25 May 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that none of the current membership of the Transport, Environment and Climate Change Select Committee had been committee members at the time of the meeting on the 11 March.  He requested that the previous Chairman, Councillor Broadbent, confirm that the minutes were a correct record and these were confirmed as agreed.

 

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meetings held on 11 March and 26 May be agreed as a correct record.

6.

Cabinet Member Key Priorities for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 369 KB

The Committee will receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Transport and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment on priorities for the year ahead.

 

Contributors:

Cllr Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Cllr Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mr Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport highlighted the following priorities:

 

·         This was a large portfolio that effected the lives of residents on a daily basis.

·         The contract with Ringway Jacobs would cease in March 2023 and a large amount of work was currently being undertaken to procure a new contract.

·         Additional £4m investment had been included in the council’s budget to improve gully cleaning and drain repairs and the programme was currently being undertaken.

·         A capital programme of £442k was in place to improve the condition of the Rights of Way network.

·         The change in parking behaviours during the COVID pandemic had created a deficit in the parking revenue budget of £1m.  This would be monitored and considered during the budget determination process for the following year.

·         Members were informed of a government initiative ‘Bus, Back, Better’ a new National Bus Strategy.  As part of the strategy a Bus Service Improvement Plan would be required to be delivered by the end of October. There would be a requirement to adopt the ‘Enhanced Partnership’ model with bus operators.  This would be considered by Cabinet on 29 June.

·         S106 funds would support transport schemes including a Council Wide Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan, area transport strategies and e-scooter trails.

·         Major Projects would include managing the impact of HS2 and East West Rail and impact on residents. Two HS2/EWR marshals were being recruited to help monitor projects and would be in post later in the year.

 

In response to questions the following points were noted:

 

·         Electric vehicle charging (EVC) points would be doubled within the year, there were currently 40 places; this was all subject to funding.  The main expense was providing the electricity supply to the charging points.  The maximum funding from government had been accessed to deliver as many as possible for the scheme. 

·         The EVC Strategy would be developed and all options to increase the number of points available to residents would be considered.

·         Parish councils had been encouraged to apply for funding for EVC points, which some had undertaken, however the costs to provide the electricity to the areas outweighed the funds available to deliver the charging points.

·         The electrical supply cost was as high as £10,000 for the charging points and the government had raised the funding to meet this cost.   Each site/location would need to be considered; the challenge was getting the appropriate supply to the location.

·         Experimental work was being undertaken with solar EVC points and contact charging points.

·         It was suggested that investment from the private sector for charging points and hubs be considered as part of the EVC strategy.

·         There would be opportunity in the bus strategy to help reduce emissions in the bus fleet.  The current memo of understanding with the operators for home to school transport includes the legal standard for emissions.  There was also currently a pilot for two on demand transport schemes to reduce private vehicle usage.

·         There were two off street electric parking points on Olympic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Work Programme

An opportunity for Members to discuss possible topics for the future committee work programme.

 

Contributors:

All Members

Mrs Jemma Durkan, Senior Scrutiny Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were offered the opportunity to provide ideas for the work programme and were informed that the draft work programme would be circulated to the committee ahead of the next meeting for approval.  The Chairman confirmed that specific reviews could be undertaken but resources would need to be considered. Jemma suggested that the committee would consider two main items per meeting with one main review over the year.  

 

It was suggested that joint community and working groups could be created to help support better finance and communication to help with policy at the council.  However, it was suggested that this could be a project for Community Boards.

 

The Chairman noted that team working and communication were important and that the TECC should scrutinise and enhance work but not set new policy.

 

It was suggested that deliverables and timescales in the Climate Change Strategy should be considered.

 

Jemma would circulate a list of ideas for the work programme to the members for consideration.

8.

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 16th September 2021 at 2pm in The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Aylesbury.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The next meeting would take place at 10am on Thursday 16 September.