Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Bailey, L Clarke N Statham and B Price

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th November 2024 were approved as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor L Wood and seconded by Councillor M Clarke)

There were no declarations of interest

To receive an update from the Chair

None

Update on responses received to Reports of the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Committee:

·          

The following recommendation agreed by Infrastructure Safety and Growth on 12^th November is now included in the Heritage Asset Strategy

When disposal of assets was being discussed all ward Councillors are consulted before a decision is made 

(Discussion item)

None

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Sustainability Recycling and Waste)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Sustainability, Recycling and Waste to update the Committee on the authority’s work around climate change and agree to adopt the proposed climate mitigation action plan and climate adaptation strategy. Secondly, to endorse the climate change communication plan and the Staffordshire County Council (SCC) net zero by 2050 planning policy.

Member sought clarity on the following:

Do we have council properties that don’t have double glazing?  Officers will check and respond back to the committee

Going forward can we see more orchard’s/tree planting?  We have to recognise that climate change is inevitable.  Trees are important in terms of the Climate Action Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan. They provide shade to people when we may have extreme weather and take out carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  Through the Nature Recovery Declaration there will be a Tree Policy that looks at Right Tree - Right Place which will look at which type of trees will be planted to enable them grow in certain spaces. 

Can we look at working with community groups who could work with us with planting etc.  - The Climate Emergency Declaration 2019 focusses on our own operations and Estates to start to get to net zero.  There is a communications plan attached to this report where we will be engaging with the rest of Tamworth to influence to support and guide and engage with residents, community groups allotment holders so we can give support where we can. 

A discussion took place around solar panels on council buildings, officers confirmed that the declaration looks at operational buildings, there is a road map for each operational building to be net zero by 2050 some may look a solar panel as an option. Need to consider cost, availability and longevity of a particular technology.  More to do on the wider stock. 

One of the biggest user of Carbon dioxide is Marmion house, is there a facility where we stop heating floors that are not is use?  The building audit did include Marmion House but they can’t stop heating individual floors but radiators can be turned off.  

Have, we started to or think about using hydrogen in the main buildings? There are ongoing discussions around Marmion house and a building audit, looking at a more electrified system.  One of the recommendations in the report is to that the action plan is reviewed quicker because tech is constantly changing and hydrogen maybe something to consider in a couple of years’ time

A recommendation was moved to ask Cabinet to look at the feasibility of including solar panels on council properties. 

(Moved by Councillor M Couchman and seconded by Councillor C Adams)

To receive updates from any Working Groups

There were no updates

(Discussion item – link to Forward Plan is attached)

Browse plans - Cabinet, 2024 :: Tamworth Borough Council

Officers have requested that the Committee look at the Housing Strategy 2025 – 2030.   The Chair to confirm the reason  I S & G have been asked to look at this strategy.   

Chair to bring forward a request to invite Staffordshire County Council’s Highways to explain the Highways Strategy. 

(Discussion item – to review the Infrastructure Safety & Growth Scrutiny Work Plan)

There was no change to the Committee’s workplan