Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

The Chairman stated that, in her opinion, the appointment of a Parish Charter Member Champion should be taken as an urgent item because of impending meetings requiring a representative to support the work of the Committee.

The following Members were in attendance as observers:

·  Councillor Mrs Blackmore

·  Councillor Garland

There were no disclosures by members or officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.

It was noted that there were no petitions.

It was noted that there were no questions from members of the public.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.

That:

1.  the proposed themes for the Low Emission Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report, for consultation with stakeholders and members of the public including investigating the emission benefit from ‘shared space schemes’ used by some local authorities be agreed;

2.  the Head of Housing & Community Services report back to the Committee with the result of the consultation and the draft Low Emission Strategy no later than December 2015; and

3.  the Carbon Management Plan 2009 be reviewed and updated, and that a report on progress be prepared. This will be incorporated into the Low Emission Strategy.

The Head of Housing and Community Services introduced the Low Emission Strategy.

·  The covering report outlined the rationale behind the Low Emission Strategy, the issues driving its development and its main aims;

·  The Low Emission Strategy would enable the council to develop a new action plan that was more aligned to the council’s responsibilities, available resources and to reflect the latest Strategic Plan; and

·  It was intended that the Low Emission Strategy would evolve to encompass the relevant parts of the Carbon Management Plan which was in need of refreshing.  This would ensure that the key actions from both documents would have a synergy that was tailored to what could reasonably be expected of a district council to deliver.

In response to Members’ questions the following points were made:

·  The Low Emission Strategy looked at all emissions and what Maidstone Borough Council could achieve in partnership;

·  Infraction proceedings made reference to the legalities and potential fines in relation to poor air quality standards. 

·  The strategy was aspirational but tried to remain realistic;

·  The proposals were likely to be cost neutral. The strategy would be developed further and would be brought back to the Committee for its approval at the end of the year.

Members of the Committee were interested in the concept of Shared Space, an urban design approach used to improve traffic efficiencies. It was proposed that the following wording was added to the first recommendation: including investigating the emission benefit from ‘shared space schemes’ used by some local authorities.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Committee agrees the proposed themes for the Low Emission Strategy, as set out in Appendix A, for consultation with stakeholders and members of the public including investigating the emission benefit from ‘shared space schemes’ used by some local authorities;

2.  That the Committee instructs the Head of Housing & Community Services to report back to the Committee with the result of the consultation and the draft Low Emission Strategy for approval by the Committee no later than December 2015; and

3.  That the Committee notes that the Carbon Management Plan 2009 is being reviewed and updated and a report on progress is being prepared.  The Committee agrees that an updated Carbon Management Plan will be prepared and incorporated into the Low Emission Strategy.

 Voting: 9 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

That Councillor John Perry be appointed as the Member Champion for the Parish Charter.

The Committee considered the appointment of a Parish Charter Member Champion because of impending meetings requiring a representative of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That Councillor John Perry be appointed as the Member Champion for the Parish Charter.

Voting: 9 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

6.30 p.m. to 7.13 p.m.