Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

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.

Councillor Court declared that he was the Head of Public Affairs at the Renewable Energy Association.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Regeneration and Employment Review Committee meeting held on 20 March 2014 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

None.

RESOLVED:

That the arrangements and terms of reference be noted.

The Chair suggested that the committee undertake reviews as follows:

-        Community Energy – It was proposed that this be a substantive review which could include the models Islington could use to promote the use of community energy, switching schemes, purchasing schemes, energy reduction, energy generation, working with key partners, metering options, funding options and the Green Deal.

-        Fuel Poverty – It was proposed that this be a substantive review to consider how the council could do better and protect residents better and look at best practice.

-        Communal Heating – It was proposed that this be a shorter review lasting for 3-4 months and could look at various schemes across the borough. Concern was raised that some residents paid almost twice the national average for their heating. The review could look at how vulnerable and at risk residents could be helped.

Topics suggested by other members of the committee were:

-        Making the borough more cycling friendly, in particular at Highbury Corner.

-        Review of 20mph speed limit on main roads

-        Active travel to make the streets inclusive to all

-        Recycling, particularly of large electrical items

In the discussion the following points were made:

·        It was anticipated that evidence gathering would consist of presentations, visits and written submissions.

·        A number of proposals and plans regarding transport were due to be published within the next few months. Once these had been considered, it might be appropriate to consider conducting a transport based review.

·        The council was looking at recycling and a Recycling Waste Management Plan was being produced. Once this had been considered, it might be appropriate to consider conducting a review into this area.

·        Concern was raised about the speed of the traffic and pedestrian safety on Euston Road and Pentonville Road. It was suggested that if the review of the 20mph limit could be shown to have been a success, a recommendation could be made to the Mayor of London that a 20mph limit be set on the TfL roads in the borough.

·        It was suggested that co-optees could be appointed at future meetings.

·        A member requested information on expected disruption around Highbury Corner while works were taking place. The Corporate Director Environment and Regeneration stated that a briefing could be arranged for members outside of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

1)     That Community Energy, Communal Heating and Fuel Poverty reviews be undertaken subject to approval by the Policy and Performance Committee.

2)     That the 12 month report back on Air Quality takes place along with a further report back on the 20mph limit.

3)     That Active Travel and Recycling be considered for scrutiny reviews once relevant proposals and plans had been published by the council.

4)     That scrutiny initiation documents be drawn up and agreed in principle by the chair and vice-chair of the Committee and then formally agreed at the next meeting to enable. This would enable witnesses to be invited to attend the next meeting.

5)     That consideration be given to the process  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.