Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Graham and Hamitouche.

There were no declarations of substitute members.

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

*(a)   Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b)     Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)  Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between  
 you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial
 interest) and the council.

(d)   Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)   Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month
   or longer.

(f)    Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body
   in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g)   Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Poyser welcomed everyone to the meeting and that the meeting should be considered as an opportunity for Islington residents and organisations to contribute towards the Council’s aim in achieving its target of carbon zero target by 2030.
 
Councillors Watts, the Leader of Islington Council and Champion, Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration reiterated the essence of the meeting, welcoming suggestions, views and ideas about the draft strategy. The meeting was reminded that despite the council’s own carbon footprint being less than 5% of the overall borough’s, the Council through its range of techniques, measures and powers aims to influence carbon reduction in the borough.

The meeting was reminded to consider the Council’s Commitment and the actions it has taken as highlighted in the strategy; what the Council presently identifies as potential commitments but would require further investigations before it can committing to doing and what the Council would require from others in order for the borough to achieve its net zero target which includes funding, extra powers and legislation.

The Council’s collaboration with borough partners, the Mayor of London, the GLA and Transport is positive and welcomed, however it is important to be reminded that the government still has to take decisive actions by providing local authorities with powers and resources, whilst putting in place legislation and funding to ensure that businesses, landlords, the education, health, energy and waste sectors, transport providers and the motor and haulage industries all play their part in achieving net zero carbon by 2030.

Keith Townsend, Director Environment and Regeneration informed the meeting that attendees should discuss around each of the themes in the strategy, after which the officers would take away their feedback and  suggestions, all of which will be taken on board not necessarily with the present draft document being considered but as it is subsequently revised by officers.

Meeting was informed of plans for the ‘listening and consulting’  forum to be held annually.

The order of business would be as per the agenda.

For members of the public to ask questions relating to any subject on the meeting agenda under Procedure Rule 70.5. Alternatively, the Chair may opt to accept questions from the public during the discussion on each agenda item.

None

Members of the public in their discussions of the 6 themes within the Draft Strategy, made the following comments and suggestions listed below:


Residential buildings, Commercial & Industrial buildings and Infrastructure

·         It is essential that fire safety issues and insulation be linked especially during the building phase of any future developments.

·         The 2025 target set by the Council to raise the standard for future homes is not ambitious and should be brought closer.

·         With regards to private housing and conservation concerns about windows/insulation has not been thoroughly addressed.

·         Further consultation on issues regarding HMO’s will be required as questions still exist on how ‘green’ are the homes in the borough. Council homes still have in place outdated heating systems and needs to be considered.

·         With regards to repairs, Council should consider Repair hubs/cafes. Need to encourage intergenerational and inter community opportunities.

·         The idea of delivery hubs centralised and distribute goods via e- assist bikes is welcomed.  

Transport and Travel

·         Council needs to reduce parking within the borough and this will deter car ownership and encourage more cycling or walking.

·         Concerns still exist with vehicle idling around schools which has health implications for the children.

·         Council needs to consider addressing vehicles driving through the borough especially as it is a smaller borough relatively to its neighbouring boroughs.

·         Council needs to put in place measures which will result in behaviour changes of drivers. Council has to make it inconvenient to drive.

·         Studies show that 40% of vehicles in the borough are commercial type of vehicles and TFL has a fair share of vehicle movement.

·         Enforcement has to be enhanced all over the borough as present measures still result in displacement into neighbouring streets

·         Low car ownership has to be encouraged.

·         Although school streets are welcomed, it still does not make Islington roads safe

Sustainable Energy Generation and Supply

·         Although it has taken the Council quite a long time to have a coordinated policy in this area, this is welcomed.

·         More details on this issue in the strategy will need to be spelt out, for example its impact, its costs and the timeline so that the Council would be able to achieve its Carbon Zero target.

·         More communication will be required for residents especially as most residents are not familiar with the issues relating to carbon zero and the urgency around climate emergency.

·         Council would need to allocate adequate resources in order to achieve its zero carbon target and importantly must be willing to learn from other boroughs.

·         Questions were asked about if Council had undertaken an audit of its  commercial buildings and whether the council has considered ways of compelling businesses to address their building energy performance

·         Carbon footprint for individuals, homes and businesses should be recorded and monitored if Council intends to meet its target.

Affordable Energy and Fuel Poverty

·         The Council will need to expand its SHINE service around the borough and beyond as it addresses energy concerns of residents and poverty.

·         The Council needs to encourage its residents to install  ...  view the full minutes text for item 351.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be noted.