To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
Under Standing Order 9 the Mayor invited the following public questioners to post their questions to Council.
1 Question from Brenda Kent read by Alistair Kent
“This last November the University of Manchester and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research jointly issued a document with the title "Setting Climate Commitments for King's Lynn and West Norfolk."
This document outlines the fair contribution that the authors of the report calculate we in this area should make towards meeting the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Is making a fair contribution in this way a criteria being considered in forming the Council's policy on climate change mitigation?”
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“We have taken a phased approached towards setting targets, taking into account all relevant information sources. The first task agreed was to complete a carbon audit of the Council’s estate. Once this has been completed we can then assess what measures are required for the Council to become carbon neutral and over what timeline.
Further work reviewing the district emissions detailed in the Tyndall Report is being considered and an assessment will be made on which of those areas identified by the Authors, which the Borough Council can influence. This work is also part of the Norfolk Local Authority County Group which has recently been formed with a key role being taken by our Chief Executive.”
By way of supplementary Mr Kent on behalf of Brenda Kent asked whether the Council would set more ambitious targets to exceed those set in the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Councillor Devereux responded that the Council would focus on the emissions reduction in the Council’s estate, he and stated that the Council would consider the report and take into account the Council’s ability to control the emissions, and would use its best endeavours in setting any targets.
2 Question from Alastair Kent
“In the Climate Change Update paper dated 3/12/2019 for the Environment and Community Panel the following timetable of actions is proposed:-
March 2020: Consider best Practices and develop the strategy
April 2020: Adopt strategy
April 2020 Onwards: Consult Stakeholders and Interested Parties
Clearly there is a need for policies and practices to be put in place urgently, and I do not wish to delay this in any way, but if, as proposed, the strategy is adopted in April and the consultation follows this, what meaningful opportunity will there be for stakeholders and other interested parties to contribute to the development of the strategy and ensure that it is adequate to address the challenges the Borough will face in the foreseeable future?”
Councillor Devereux gave the following response.
“The Strategy will embody the scope, scale and direction of travel of this Council’s commitment to addressing the necessary action and responsiveness for dealing with the challenges we face with Climate Change. This is the natural extension of a journey to which we are already committed; building on the energy & emission control work started a decade ago and through our long-established programme of work dealing with coastal erosion, tidal flooding and surface-water flooding, in partnership with the Internal Drainage Boards and the Environment Agency. As we have seen over recent years and in the report from the IPCC in November, the characterisation and magnitude of the Climate Change threat is rapidly changing. It is axiomatic therefore that a regular review process to recognize and deal with such change is embodied into our strategic planning process. So, the Strategy will inevitably change over time to meet changing factors. That process will be co-ordinated with County and National requirements and overseen through our Governance arrangements, including the Environment and Community Panel, supported and informed by public consultation. This will underpin our long-term Climate Change actions for decades to come.”
By way of supplementary, Mr Kent asked what opportunities there would for public consultation on the policy, and why not before the initial adoption.
Councillor Devereux responded that the Council were facing a complex set of requirements, with the effect on the Council ill defined. The Strategy would attempt to define those requirements and would be open to consultation.
3 Question from Trudy Clark read by Bernadette Barclay
“Firstly, I acknowledge the work the Borough Council has done to help promote biodiversity in West Norfolk, but given the complex nature of the amount of work needed to help the Natural World, which is struggling in so many ways at present, and bearing in mind that the ‘State of Nature Report 2019’ has said most ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ targets won’t be met, will the Borough Council acknowledge the work done by the diverse groups of volunteers that are freely giving their time and energy to help Nature in our Borough, and will the Borough Council pledge to help and support those groups in whatever ways possible so that they can move forward in 2020, for example, by allowing them to remove litter from hedgerows, which are under Borough jurisdiction; and by encouraging parishes to give their permission to volunteer groups to carry out projects that will benefit Nature, such as erecting nest boxes, sowing wild flower patches, removing rubbish, and planting trees?”
Councillor Devereux gave the following response:
“Thank you for acknowledging the good work this Council does on its own land and by working in partnership with other organisations in their stewardship of our SSSI’s, Ramsar Sites, AONB’s and Marine Conservation Zones.
We too are pleased to acknowledge the good work done by many statutory and voluntary bodies in delivering a whole range of activities which promote and protect biodiversity in the area of the Borough. Recognizing of course that our work involves much greater remit than just operating within our boundaries, and includes the Wash Marine and Norfolk Coast Partnerships and their many supporting groups as well as the County-wide Environment Group headed by our Chief Executive.
Our local role is very much part of the evolving National scene such that we are aware of the far-reaching changes being proposed. For example, the recent review of National Parks; the way in which agriculture is to be supported post Brexit; and the extended producer responsibility on packaging and other products which will mean that the producer must pay for the costs of the harm done by their release in to the environment including as litter. Our Officers are very much involved in preparing for the next set of more detailed Government proposals expected this year.
In the meantime, we will continue to help voluntary groups, as we have done for many years, with practical help through the provision of equipment, including safety equipment, to enable community litter picks from land for which we are responsible and for the collection and safe disposal of the litter which is collected. We support many such events each year; and in 2019 we increased significantly the number of litter picking kits available to Parishes and community groups.
We have committed to working with our communities to plant more trees following the adoption of the motion at the last Council meeting showing the broad range of support from across the council for tree planting, which will be co-ordinated with the County. On issues of wild flower patches the council has a very good record and work is well in hand to identify management plans for grassed areas which can better reflect the needs of wildlife.
We are encouraging all of our Councillors as representatives of their communities, to attend local meetings and to promote these policies and make use of the available funding – including the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy – to clean, green and enhance their local environments. It should also be noted that the Environment and Community Panel in its deliberations on the Financial Assistance Scheme - Themed Fund, supported grants for litter picking and a reduction in single use plastics over the past year.
I believe that this demonstrates that this Council remains committed to taking local actions to promote Bio Diversity and to protect the Environment in a considered, supportive and meaningful manner.”
By way of supplementary Ms Barclay asked whether, as the council only had limited resources the Portfolio holder would meet with the Volunteers to discuss ideas and things they could assist in implementing.
Councillor Devereux responded that there was strong community engagement in this area and he suggested working with the portfolio holder with responsibility for things such as In Bloom building on the current relationships with groups and to continue working together.