Agenda item

The purpose of the report was to share further information in the form of an update on activity around the Environment and Sustainability Strategy.  A presentation was provided at the meeting, which covered the headlines from the last 12 months and challenges for 2023.

A discussion took place that included the following areas;

111 Actions – It was clarified that the 111 Actions were developed in 2020 following the creation of the Doncaster Climate and Biodiversity commission (Chaired by Ed Miliband MP).  It was explained that these actions had been proposed, as they were deemed essential for the delivery and progress of mitigating and adapting to climate change events.

It was outlined that the strategy and actions could be found on the Team Doncaster website under the Environment and Climate section.  It was explained that many actions were difficult to monitor and activity was reported against those actions through the Council’s performance monitoring system ‘Pentana’, which produced a quarterly report.  Members heard that of the 111 actions, 54 were assigned to Heads of Service, 23 by existing and planned delivery and 39 actions to 4 thematic groups and involved Team Doncaster stakeholders.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points – Members were informed that on the 15^th March 2023, a recommendation would be presented to Cabinet to approve external funding for the installation of 100 charge points around 10/11 locations across the Borough.  It was commented that the funding would complement the work being done around charging in public car parks.  It was understood that 32-33,000 homes did not have access to off-street parking and presented a pressure in taking this forward.  Members were told how other Local Authorities were trialling alternative options so that more residents could have access to EV charging.

1 Million Tree Target – In reference to the 1 Million Tree target by 2031, it was clarified that this would mean planting 100,000 trees per year.  It was explained that it had not been agreed where contributions would come from and it was therefore considered that a Doncaster wide approach was needed.  It was explained that efforts would be made to work with as many stakeholders as possible, and by submitting a ‘call to action’ to businesses, residents and community groups to contribute where possible.

It was outlined that the Council had been successful bidding for funding and looking at building staff capacity to maintain new trees.  It was clarified that the funding was only for new trees and not the existing tree canopy, which presented challenges in its own right.  Members were assured that opportunities would be taken wherever possible.

It was explained that it was important when trees were planted that they were the right species and planted in the right places (to be as mindful as possible to reduce future maintenance requirements).  It was therefore hoped that as part of the ‘call to action’, that contributors were able to plant on their own land, where they could manage the trees themselves.  It was added that large-scale opportunities were being sought rather than smaller scale activity in urban areas, which would increase more pressure on Street Scene services.

It was continued that with regards to new developments, these were subject to biodiversity net gain improvements, an approach where a development needed to leave a natural environment measurably better than it was before the development.  It was noted that whilst this could not always be achieved on site, there were mechanisms in place to ensure that developers financed improvements that could be achieved elsewhere.  Members were informed that funding had been secured for the creation of two new posts in the Street Scene Team who would have the responsibility for the watering and maintenance of newly planted trees.  Members were assured that the Council would take advantage of all opportunities such as funding, although it was recognised that existing pressures would always be there.

Balancing Economic Development and Aspirations within the Strategy – It was recognised that it was challenging to deliver the objectives of economic development whilst protecting and developing nature.  An example was provided of a recent approach negotiated with three housing sites that included; Miller Homes, Keepmoat and Strata, which involved Rose Hill, Carlodge and Hungerhill sites, where the number of homes had been reduced to allow for more habitat and nature.  It was hoped that such progress would influence how other developers would move forward in the future although it was recognised that this could impact the overall capital receipt.

Members were reminded that the Council was charged with the delivery of houses and Iand for housing, generating more financing for Council Tax through housing and Business Rates through employment sites, which was not always conducive with protecting the environment.  It was felt that there needed to be some consideration of this at a national level, as the Local Plan target level was above the option that could have been taken.  It was recognised that there was a drive to generate money shaping the local economy, which was a challenge to do so without impacting on the natural environment.

Legislation around Waste and Recycling Rules –It was explained that there were a number of local companies that would assist with waste and recycling, although costs had risen in line with demand.  Members were informed that in respect of domestic collections, there were separate skips at the Household Waste Recycling Centres across the Borough that were still taking collecting those as bulky waste items.  Members were informed that they were still able to collect fly tipping and that performance had improved.  Regarding general or domestic waste, it was explained that there was a contract with SUEZ.  It was felt going forward, that there was a certain responsibility on businesses and residents to assist to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, although this had been a challenge and had been impacted by Covid.   In light of forthcoming changes to environmental regulations, it was noted that they could impact collections, for example, it was raised that there were some authorities that charged for green waste.  Finally, it was stressed that behaviour and education (with residents and businesses) were areas that would be continued with in trying to influence change.

Supporting Businesses in this Agenda – It was explained that the Council was engaging with those businesses who had been awarded grants, in order to understand what their future plans were and provide support and encouragement.  It was explained that the grants awarded ranged from seed and match funding to invest in  developments such as installing solar pv panels on premises to improve the motors on shutter doors and initiating lease payments on new EV cars.  It was hoped that an update could be provided in the future on what local businesses were achieving.

It was noted that it was a significant challenge to decarbonise businesses across the borough as the vast majority of microbusinesses had a small number of employees and unlikely to have a business plan with objectives (relating to becoming more environmentally friendly and decarbonising).  Reference was made to small grants made locally through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) that would help and support businesses at the beginning of their journey.

Climate Champions – It was noted that the Council had created a brand of ‘Climate Doncaster’ and that the Council and its partners had undertaken a great deal of work towards this. It was hoped that ‘Climate Doncaster’ would help to identify with individual change and point towards achievements taking place within neighbourhoods.  It was explained that this information would be pushed out through the media and the press as well as being collected under the Climate Doncaster banner to help show what was being done and influence others.    Members were told how the Council was helping to fund community groups with their work as part of ‘Environmental Pride’, which was a partnership approach.  Members were provided with an example of a grant awarded for ‘Growing Together Education’ a Community Interest Company which was a working farm shop that provided a Community Café, Community Craft Shop, education and training programmes, was SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and practiced Green Social Prescribing.  Members were informed that work was being undertaken with schools to develop climate champions for the future. 

The Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Waste, commented how work that had taken place was very much commended and had made great strides over recent months, tackling ambitions within the strategy.   It was noted that this work crossed a number of areas that had included waste, housing and EV charging points.  It was recognised that all Ward Members, businesses and schools all had their part to play. 

Reference was made to the Team Doncaster level group, which brought the Council, NHS and Blue Light Services together to plan a joined approach to environmental issues.  Members were told of the NHS’s new Green Plan, which looked at all aspects of the organisations operation and included looking at what materials were purchased, how sites were run, how they recycled and finally, the environmental treatments of the estate.  It was considered important that the Council exercised its place leadership role although acknowledged that there was a framework in place where all big landowners and agencies come together to plan that work

RESOLVED that the Panel note and consider the information received.