Agenda item

To receive an update on the Climate Change expenditure and budget.

The Climate Change Lead Officer provided a verbal update on the Climate Change and Budget Expenditure.

She said that:

• They planned to take stock and review the action plan and actions for 2023
• There was currently £344,000 committed spend and £150,000 grant funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24
• There were commitments to a couple of transport related consultancy projects
• The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWHIP) was a district wide plan and the value of the contract was between £50k and £70k. The County Council were not offering any additional funding and as the District Council had budgeted £50k, consideration would need to be given to what elements could be removed if necessary

In response to questions from Members the Climate Change Lead Officer said that:

• There was an ongoing transport study for the Local Plan and a number of ongoing consultancy projects
• They were working with the planner and in the new year would bring the projects together to ensure that the recommendations aligned
• The results of the parking study were in, but not yet published and included areas of overlap

The Environmental Health Manager – Protection said that:

• Members could expect a comprehensive range of studies and detailed strategies
• The Local Highways Panel had conducted a feasibility study regarding cycling for Saffron Walden
• The three studies looked at a more robust transport strategy that leads on the work done from the Local Plan which would seek to provide recommendations to improve transportation
• Attention would be paid to ensure that a comprehensive strategy was put in place to hold developers to account to and seek funding and grants and S106. It could be a key document to secure big changes to transportation, and linked with developer contributions, would enable money to be clawed back to contribute to the schemes
• Transport would evolve within the district and the funding could be used for officer time, cycle ways and other matters to encourage active travel

The Climate Change Project lead said that the main things arising from the Littlebury Decarbonisation Project were:

• Understanding what comes into the economic development team
• Next steps and identifying where the most impact can be achieved
• The action in the plan needs further work to ensure that all opportunities to collaborate are achieved

The update was noted.

Councillor Pavitt provided an update following a recent meeting with Anglian Water. He said that:

·       He had requested a map for their plans for the whole of Uttlesford to get a proper picture of how the rivers would be updated

·       There was mounting evidence that the rivers were alive with superbugs and antibiotic residue

·       There were high levels of combined sewerage overflows in many local rivers

·       There may be grant funding available to get rid of pollutants before the water goes back into the water table

·       He had requested details of opportunities where Anglian Water could create wetlands

Councillor Smith left the meeting at 8.53pm.

·       He would like to see teams of people in every community keeping an eye on what is happening and reporting data back to Anglian Water. Dunmow and Thaxted already have established river volunteers in place

·       A significant catch up was required as investment in water in Uttlesford did not commence until 2005

Councillor Pavitt left the meeting at 8.59pm.

The Chair thanked everyone for their hard work and their attendance at the meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.02pm