Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall
Contact: Ola Adeoye 020 7527 3044
Media
No. | Item |
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Apologies for Absence Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Clarke welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members of the Committee and officers introduced themselves. |
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Declarations of Substitute Members Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of substitute members. |
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Declarations of Interest 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 (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
(f) Corporate tenancies -
Any tenancy
between the council and a body (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.
Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 90 KB Additional documents: Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2021 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them. |
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Chair's Report Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair informed the meeting that Cathy Cook of Re London will be attending the informal working group meeting on Thursday 16 September which will be considering how the Council handles and manages waste and recycling. |
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Order of Business Additional documents: Minutes: The order of business would be as per the agenda. |
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Public Questions 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.
Additional documents: Minutes: None |
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Scrutiny Review: Net Zero Carbon Programme - Buildings ( Commercial and infrastructure) PDF 342 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Matt West, Director of Housing
Services and James Wilson, Energy Sustainability and Consulting
Manager gave a presentation, with the following points
highlighted: 124,080tonnes from gas (42%), 9,892tonnes from ‘other’ fuels (3%) 166tonnes from large industrial installations and agriculture (0.06%)
Presently 33% of borough emissions emanate from
commercial buildings, 7% from public sector buildings and 6% from
industrial buildings. It was noted that emissions from gas in commercial buildings is one of the few areas where there has been no emission reduction since 2005, in fact it has noticeably increased by 4%.
With regards to Council owned buildings, reduction in carbon emissions will be achieved by replacing gas heating with zero carbon alternatives, maximise energy efficiency of buildings through insulation and retrofit, maximise on-site renewables and purchase where possible any remaining electricity needs from renewable sources
In the case of reducing carbon emissions from other commercial/industrial/public sector buildings, the Council will not only continue to raise awareness of the need for businesses to make changes as climate change is a big issue, but encourage local organisations to act and provide support for local organisations to act.
The Council have identified
buildings in scope for feasibility studies–all
non-Housing and non-school sites, developed a specification for feasibility studies to assess
buildings. The Council will be identifying the most cost-effective
zero carbon heating system to replace gas boilers, including
possible connection to or creation of new district heating
networks. Members were advised of Council’s unsuccessful application for a grant from the Low Carbon Skills Fund which would have enabled the Council carry out the feasibility studies to produce a Heat Decarbonisation Plan for 57 corporate buildings with gas heating.
Over the next 12 months, meeting was advised that the Council will procure and complete the feasibility studies, prioritise buildings for work and create a retrofit programme. It will also identify and try and secure funding to start delivery
With regards schools, the officer advised that so far the Council has successfully applied to the Low Carbon Skills Fund (Nov 2020) for project development funding for pilot feasibility studies at three schools (Beacon High, Drayton Park Primary, New River College), this will provide funding to decarbonise buildings as it becomes available.
In terms of commercial and industrial buildings, the Council has launched the Energising Small Business Fund, offering grants to small ... view the full minutes text for item 488. |
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Update - Informal Working Group ( North London Heat Power) PDF 69 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair informed the meeting of the outcome of the first informal meeting in July,that it was informative, noting the contributions of the guests Dr Rembrandt and Jeremy Corbyn MP. The Chair welcomed the news that Islington Environment and Regeneration officers have agreed to work with Dr Rembrandt going forward.
Members were reminded that the next meeting of the informal working group is meeting virtually on Thursday September to consider how the council handles its waste and recycling. Members were advised that Cathy Cook of the North London Waste Authority has been invited and that members will be receiving presentations from officers. |
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Q1 Performance Report (2021/22) - Place and Environment PDF 179 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member Environment and Transport was present for consideration of this item
During consideration of the
report the following main points were raised –
On the issue of weeds on pavements, the Executive acknowledged that although it might have some positive contribution in terms of biodiversity, but they represent a trip hazard to pedestrians and damage to pavement. The Council is looking at the use of herbicides in addressing weed on pavements.
A member suggested that posters produced by the Council’s communication team in parks to discourage littering should be clearer.
On the request for more secure bicycle hangers and electric vehicle charging points, the officer advised that the Council is committed by spring 2022 to provide 400 bicycle hangers and 400 electric charging points.
In response to concerns about a
possible future lockdown on GLL’s business model and the
Council’s finances, the Corporate Director informed the
meeting that surprisingly with lots of people were working from
home GLL’s customer’s base has shifted to residents
especially in the south of borough. The Chair reminded the meeting
that GLL will be attending the meeting in November.
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Executive Member for Environment and Transport - Annual Performance Report PDF 334 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Champion, Executive Member Environment and Transport, and Keith Townsend Corporate Director of Environment and Regeneration were present for discussion of this item
During consideration of the
item the following main points were made - Meeting were informed of the 7
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods which covers about 23% of the borough,
35 school streets, majority of which were introduced during the
Covid period and Pop up cycle lanes
which were introduced in conjunction with neighbouring authorities
such as Camden and Hackney Executive Member acknowledged
that lot of lessons were learnt during the implementation period
and as the Council proceeds into the Consultation period most of
which will be fed into any of the scheme that becomes
permanent. Meeting was informed that
Bunhill 2 has now been commissioned
which is good news in light of council aims of addressing fuel
poverty Council has proceeded with its
Net Zero carbon programme and it is progressing well and although
its planned engagement with stakeholders was hindered with the
pandemic it is good to acknowledge the cross working partnership of
all the council services Members were informed that
figures have been put together regarding the retrofitting of homes,
acknowledging that although it will be an expensive exercise, the
Council recognises its long term impact if not addressed soon Islington Council acknowledges
Cop26, and it will be hosting a climate festival which will be an
opportunity to address climate change and its challenges Executive Member reiterated a recent survey which states that 45 % of young people were experiencing anxiety regarding climate change and was hoping that the governments of all parties will address the young people concerns
Chair welcomed the Council’s focus on retrofitting especially in light of the recent news of expected high energy bills and it’s cost on its residents
Member was concerned that despite Islington Council’s efforts in addressing climate change, it is not being reimbursed by central government but being subjected to more cuts
In response to Air quality monitoring and lack of data, the Director for Climate Change informed members that monitoring takes place 6 months prior to the scheme being introduced and 12 months after it is implemented.
With regards the People friendly streets and its impact on boundary roads, the meeting was advised that in terms of traffic displacement, monitoring has not shown so far that there has been any noticeable impact on boundary roads either in terms of traffic volume or emissions.
In response to concerns about too many short journey’s still be being carried out by cars, Executive Member acknowledged that some people will still need to use cars even for short journeys, however the Council will keep encouraging residents the benefits of using public transport and walking, introduce traffic reduction measures and putting ... view the full minutes text for item 491. |
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Net Zero Carbon Strategy Progress Report (Quarter 1) PDF 873 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Timi Ashaye,
Interim
Head of Net Zero Carbon Programme gave a
presentation, with the following points highlighted Meeting was advised that progress against the delivery of commitments in the Net Zero Carbon 2030 strategy will be reported on a quarterly basis not only for members of the Committee to scrutinise but it serves as an opportunity to report progress in a transparent manner and easily accessible to the community and ensures accountability to residents.
In terms of engagement and
communications, meeting was advised that there is good progress in
developing the requirements for the delivery of the Islington
climate change festival which is due to take place
in October 2021. In addition, the Council has
secured c.£3m of additional programme funding through the
carbon offset fund and other external funding to support priority
activity, including Green Home Grants Two funding to upgrade
homes across the borough (approx £750k) Council has also implemented
the switch to renewable sources for 100% of electricity being used
across its corporate buildings and that University of London has completed a first phase
report which will assist the Council develop a road
map on how to achieve Net Zero Carbon with its
existing housing stock, noting that stage 2 phase is now being
developed on this issue. Members were informed of the
good progress on the new local plan with several key
milestones achieved as part of the work to draft
and adopt the new plan and importantly members were
advised that the Council has developed its social value
guidance in draft form to include integrating net zero
objectives into the awarding of all contracts On the issue of Transport,
officer reminded meeting of the completed trials of seven Low
Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) , the Enable Vehicle 2
Grid1 (V2G) - Honda supply chain which although
severely disrupted by COVD and bi-directional chargers
will not be installed until July 2021 before the
full 12 month trial is to commence. The project is now
expected to be completed by July 2022 Member welcomed the layout of
the report, as it is easy to keep track of what is happening and
importantly identify the ownership of the different workstreams. In response to a question on
whether officers are taking into consideration going forward the
issue with regards to solar panels and conservation areas, the
Corporate director acknowledged that in the short term that
additional information is being provided via FAQ and new web
content, however in the long run possibly next year with the Net
Zero Carbon programme, supplementary planning documents will be
addressing those issues. On the issue of Citizens Assembly ... view the full minutes text for item 492. |
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Work Programme 2021/22 PDF 31 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair reminded the meeting
that GLL is scheduled for consideration at the next meeting in
October. RESOLVED: That the report be noted
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