Agenda and minutes

Mr Hall raised concerns relating to the Planning Department. He asked for a copy of his comments to be attached to the minutes.

The Leader of the Council confirmed that the Planning Department was undergoing a transformation and that the new Director of Planning would commence work on 26^th June 2022. The Leader invited Mr Hall back to discuss the Planning Department further in three months, to see what innovative changes the Director of Planning would have made.

The Chief Executive said that he expected the S106 discussions to take place with the two parishes very soon. He confirmed that he intended to fulfil his commitment.

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Criscione, Jones and De Vries.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2022 were approved.

The Chair agreed to hear agenda item 8 next.

To receive a Local Plan update. (Verbal report)

The Chair asked the Leader a number of questions relating to the Local Plan:

• Why the delay?
• Which Members of Cabinet requested further time for consideration of the sites and evidence base? Why and when did they do so?
• What was the proximate cause of this request?
• When did concerns first arise about the Local Plan process that have given rise to this further delay?
• There have been two delays to the Local Plan, totaling eight weeks, announced since 21 March. Are any more delays anticipated? What occasioned these serial delays following eighteen months where the Local Plan had run strictly to timetable?
• Were the delays caused by staffing issues, as identified in the risk register?
• Had the loss of key personnel exacerbated the situation?
• Were there broader project management issues of which Scrutiny should be aware?
• Would the regular project management meetings with Councillor LeCount resume? If so, when? If not, why?
• What effect would this new delay have on the total budget and overall project timetable for the Local Plan?
• Would we still meet the MHCLG deadline of end 2023?
• Where would lost time be made up?
• How would the Regulation 18 consultation falling in the school summer holidays be dealt with?
• Why was potential legislation following the Levelling Up White Paper deemed relevant to the delay?

The Leader of the Council gave a verbal update on the Local Plan. She said that:

• The delay was due to the need to balance meeting key milestones alongside making the right decisions and future proofing plans.
• The first delay was a result of outside contractors
• The second delay was initiated at Chief Executive level.
• The delays were not as a result of staffing issues or change in staff.
• The MHCLG deadline would be met
• The length of the consultation would be extended by two weeks in recognition of the school holiday period
• The Regulation 18 meeting would be scheduled for 11 July 2022
• Full Council would be scheduled for 21 July 2022
• It was important to pause, reflect and ensure the correct decisions were made

The Chief Executive agreed that the vast amount of work had been done and noted the importance of getting the Local Plan right. He said that he hoped to regain most of the additional time during the remainder of the process and that the Regulation 19 milestone could potentially be at risk. It would not be published during the pre-election period. The delay was regrettable, but necessary to get the Local Plan right.

Members asked whether Central Government were content with the slips in the timetable and whether Regulation 18 would be one preferred option or would there be an alternative offer. Furthermore, Members questioned whether additional land had been put forward in the last three months and at what point would the possible eight week delay to the Regulation 19, due to purdah, create a risk for the 2023 deadline.

The Leader confirmed that Regulation 18 would be one of two options and land  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC4

To consider any responses of the Executive to reports of the Committee.

There were no matters to report.

To receive the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Plan was noted.

To receive the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022-23.

To receive the Climate Crisis Action Plan progress report.

Councillor Pepper presented the report. She recommended that Members note progress on the implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan set out in paragraphs 15 to 16 and contained within appendix one.

She extended her thanks to the outgoing Climate Officer.

She reported that the Council has received the following Government funding:

• £1,268,000 from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for energy efficiency grants for low income household owners
• £517,000 to deliver a novel market town clean air initiative in Saffron Walden. This would potentially be a model to be rolled out to the rest of the district and be the exemplar for the rest of the country.

She provided details of the successful Littlebury Energy Awareness Day which was held 23 April 2022. The pilot project between Uttlesford District Council, Essex County Council, Littlebury Parish Council, Saffron Walden Community Energy and UKPE was underway to engage and inform Littlebury residents on insulation and other measures to prepare for the transition to decarbonisation. The learnings from this project would inform a rollout at a scale throughout the district.

She reassured Members that she continued to focus on how to achieve the best return on investments on their Climate Change Projects.

They continued to focus potential projects on the three areas:

• Emissions from transport
• Emissions from domestic energy
• Preserving and enhancing bio-diversity

Members discussed the adequacy of the resources available for the portfolio holder and the need to deliver more, and in a timely manner. They raised the need for additional Officer support and questioned whether other Councils were making more measurable progress.

Councillor Pepper said the following in response:

• The first round of funding resulted in a good number of grant referrals. Members have been asked to continue to advertise the grants
• The Principal Transport and Infrastructure Officer was investigating the provision of mobility hubs at a number of local stations.
• Ninety council owned properties had heat pumps installed
• Eighty council owned properties had oil boilers replaced
• Oil boilers had been upgraded at two of the council owned leisure centres
• Two hundred and eighty council owned properties had external wall insulation installed
• Solar panels had been installed on three hundred council owned properties
• Solar arrays installed at the Bowls Club and the Shire Hill waste depot.
• Unfortunately a solar array could not be installed at the London Road offices due to its listed building status and the orientation of the building
• Solar panels would be fitted at the Little Canfield site, alongside a water recycling vehicle cleaning system
• Cycle racks have been installed at Great Dunmow, Saffron Walden and Audley End Station
• Thirty two electric vehicle chargers have been installed, including eight at the London Road Council offices
• There were 562 responses to the bio-diversity mapping survey
• Rewilding of green verges had been undertaken throughout the summer months
• Green champions had been promoted across the district
• Sixteen new dual recycling bins have been installed
• Recycling guidance had been posted on their social media channels
• Food waste reduction was  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC8

To receive the Sports Provision Scoping Review.

The Assistant Director of Corporate Services presented the document.

The document was noted.

To consider the Scrutiny Annual Report.

The Assistant Director of Corporate Services presented the report.

He recommended that Members approve the contents of the Scrutiny Annual Report.

The Chair praised the work of the Assistant Director of Corporate Services and Members agreed that they were fortunate to have an Officer of such diligence working with the Committee.

Councillor LeCount proposed putting the report to Full Council.

          RESOLVED: To approve the Scrutiny Annual Report

The meeting ended at 20:50.