Agenda item

To present the 21-22 Annual Report on the 2030 Strategy and Master Plan for approval

The 2030 Strategy Manager explained that the 2030 engagement board had been established and the report reflected on progress made across the 7 key priorities and continued future progress over 2022-2023. The report had been used to engage with communities to encourage communities and to follow the example of SDC and partners.

Councillor Mossman referred to the amendments made to the 6 June 2019 Environment Committee minutes which referred to the establishment of a cross-party Member and Officer group and for urgent action to be taken to ensure budget discussions for 2020-2021 included funds to install multiple charging points, including superfast points in SDC car parks and land. Councillor Mossman believed these actions had not happened. The 2030 Strategy Manager advised the budget was used for fleet vehicles and charging points in SDC estates with a small budget (around 12K) remaining for good decision making on wider economic developments. An Officer Action Group had been set up and were looking at electric vehicle infrastructure in consultation with the South West Energy Hub. A business case needed to be explored in respect of SDC car parks. Councillor Mossman asked for an estimated timeline for completion and the 2030 Strategy Manager advised an options appraisal would be within the next 6 months.

The 2030 Strategy Manager, Head of Planning Strategy and Economic Development and the Chair, Councillor Turner, answered Members questions in relation to the report with the following answers:

• The 2030 Strategy Manager would discuss with Councillor Brown outside of Committee on the specific information he was seeking on the Council housing stock retrofit.
• SDC lowest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) was an F and the Council were working towards an average EPC across SDC stock of a C rating.
• The Biodiversity and Nature Recovery Officer was a separate post to the potentially joint funded SDC and Forest of Dean District Council post for the Severn Estuary.
• The Sharpness Railway bid was unsuccessful primarily based on unconfirmed growth in the area. The emerging Local Plan had a commitment to develop public transport and sustainable access with one aspect being reintroducing passenger services to the trainline to the Sharpness development settlement.
• Environmental Health were looking at air quality monitoring provision including monitoring locations, the potential to extend existing provisions and partnering with the Community Liaison Group.
• Terminology such as ‘waste hierarchy’ related to waste services/curbside collections and was kept in due to a focus on recycling still being prominent with the public and Council.
• GCC’s Director of Economy and Environment had identified a potential project to address the excess waste heat from the incinerator at Javelin Park however, further conversations were required on feasibility. SDC did not have the ability to enforce as it was a GCC project and instead Members could only encourage actions.
• The 2030 Strategy Manger would check with biodiversity colleagues on whether SDC had responded to DEFRA’s Biodiversity Net Gain Regulations and Implementation consultation and would inform Councillor Jones.

The Chair, Councillor Turner, asked Committee if they would accept a friendly amendment to the decision to include ‘and RECOMMEND to Council that the decision to approve the 2021-2022 Annual Report is endorsed’. Committee agreed to accept as a friendly amendment.

Proposed by Councillor Mossman and Seconded by Councillor Layfield.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.