Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Claymore, D Foster, R Pritchard and J Oates.

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 May 2012 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor E Rowe)

The minutes of the meetings held on 17 May 2012 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor L Bates)

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (personal and/or personal and   prejudicial) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

When Members are declaring a personal interest or personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Announcement by Councillor D Cook

Councillor D Cook sent his congratulations to Councillor Jeremy Oates and Nicola Oates on the birth of their daughter.

Councillor D Cook announced that Ian Gibbons is currently ill and in hospital and sent regards to Ian and his family.

Announcement by Councillor R McDermid

Councillor R McDermid has spoken to Ian Gibbons and his wife and announced that Ian is currently in the George Bryan Hospital. Any Councillor wanting to visit him can do. He does not want to be excluded and would welcome a visit, whichever side of the Chamber you are from.

(i)                 To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 10.

(ii)               To answer questions from members of the Council pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 11

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL                NO.1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor C Cooke will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Waste Management, the following question:-

"Early last year Tamworth Council finalised and produced it's Climate Change Strategy. It contained a One Year Action Plan, from April 2011 until March 2012.  Could you please tell me what progress has been made on this Climate Change action plan during that time and to date?"

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Waste Management gave the following reply:

I would like to thank Councillor Cooke for his question, the Strategy to which he refers to was never formally adopted by Cabinet and as a result the actions set out in the document have not been fully realised.

The draft Strategy however has provided the basis for other key strategic documents providing the framework for the many positive actions to be undertaken across the Council and various partnerships.

There are however examples of progress towards reducing the impact on Global Climate Change, these can be seen on a local level further illustrating the Council’s approach towards a sensible and realistic ‘Environmental Management Strategy’.

1. Initiatives within Housing Assets through Energy Efficiency Activities
   
   
2. Reducing energy usage where possible be it electrical or fossil fuels, encouraging car sharing and encouraging the reduction mileage travelled while on Council Business – directly targeting CO2 emissions.
   
   
3. An active Environmental Management Policy, such as reminding staff to turn off computer equipment when leaving work, also recycling waste where ever possible – again addressing the level of CO2 emissions.
   
   
4. Also exploring alternative methods of work such as ‘Agile’ working identifying patterns of work and the benefits to be gained such as staff working form home etc. this is intended to present new opportunities for the Council and its employees while also benefiting the environment through lower CO2 emissions.

These cover just a few of the initiatives been taken to reduce our impact on the environment.

Councillor Cooke’s question has prompted a review of actions and timelines which will be undertaken by a Task & Finish Group reporting to the Tamworth Strategic Partnership.

In the meantime, I have asked officers to compile a more specific list of all activities undertaken by Council services that relate to addressing Climate Change.  This will be forwarded to Cllr. Cooke in writing and copied to all members.

Supplementary Question

As this whole Climate Change document has been based on the premise of Global Warming and, for the last 14 years at least, since 1998, there has been Global Cooling - would you agree that it would be much more sensible for Tamworth Council to direct it's money and activities to the pollution reduction and energy and materials conservation parts of this policy rather than promoting and acting on highly doubtful theories about Global Warming per se?

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Waste Management gave the following reply:

No.

Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer

The Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer describing the changes and recommending the actions required for the Council to implement under the Localism Act 2011 which makes fundamental changes to the system of regulation of Standards of Conduct for elected and co-opted Councillors was considered.