Agenda and minutes
PDF 161 KBVenue: Council Chamber - South Kesteven House, St. Peter's Hill, Grantham. NG31 6PZ. View directions
Contact: Email: Democracy@southkesteven.gov.uk
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Comments from Members of the public
To receive comments or views from members of the public at the Committee’s discretion. Minutes: No comments were received
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Apologies for absence
Minutes:
Members noted that Councillor Dean Ward had been substituted by Councillor Bob Adams and Councillor Hannah Westropp had been substituted by Councillor Hilary Westropp, for this meeting only.
All other Committee Members were present. |
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Disclosure of Interests
Members are asked to disclose any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting. Minutes: There were none. |
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Action Notes from the meeting held on 26 January 2021
Minutes: Members agreed the Action Notes of the meeting held on 26 January 2021, as a correct record. |
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Updates from the previous meeting
Members to receive an update on Actions agreed at the previous meeting Minutes: Members noted the updated from the previous meeting, held on 26 January 2021.
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Trees in South Kesteven
To consider joint initiatives with the Woodland Trust for future working to protect, preserve and replace protected trees, hedges and woodland.
Presentations from the Woodland Trust and Hugh Dorrington (Aveland Trees Ltd).
Additional documents: Minutes: Aveland Trees Ltd The Chairman introduced Hugh Dorrington, Aveland Trees to the Committee. Mr Dorrington spoke about the work of Aveland trees, as a plant nursery for woodland planting and the creation of hedgerows. The Committee heard of the opportunity for woodlands that could be established on smaller agricultural fields that were currently funded by a Central Government Grant but are not suited for modern farming machinery. The Grant was set to end in 5 years, it would be able to provide the opportunity for areas like Ropsley, to create woodlands to separate residents and farmers, providing a benefit to both.
The committee received a presentation on a Woodland in Dunsby. The presentation noted that the layout of woodland could be designed to allow for easy maintenance, whilst at ground level appearing to have natural spacing between trees. Members were invited to examine the work of Aveland Nursery.
Members questioned the scale and density of tree planting that could take place. They were advised that 1600 trees per hectare with 2 ½ metre spacing between trees, was the most. Members discussed the need for tree planting meeting local conditions, that a mix of woodlands and smaller scale tree planting would be best suited to the area.
Woodland Trust
The Chairman invited the Regional Officer from the Woodland Trust to provide a Presentation to the Committee. The Officer spoke of the history of the Woodland Trust with the headquarters being based within Grantham. The Woodland Trust had worked extensively in partnership with both the public and private sector. The committee examined the Woodland Trust’s work with Sheffield Council, after the removal of 5000 healthy mature trees, they helped with the creation of a Street Tree Strategy and a Wide Woodlands Strategy. The officer spoke of the Climate Emergency, Biodiversity Emergency and the Covid-19 pandemic and the ways that tree planting could help by capturing carbon, providing a habitat and a place for the local community to enjoy. The Woodland Trust had created an Emergency Tree Fund which provided funding for organisations like local authorities.
A Member queried what work had taken place in protecting ancient woodland and trees, where planning applications would potentially endanger them. The Officer advised that this could be challenge. The Woodland Trust were not statutory consultees for Planning Application and they relied on the work of Councillors and members of the public in bringing these applications to their attention.
The Committee spoke of the Design Code adopted by the Council and expressed an interest in the Woodland Trust informing them how other councils were planning on managing their maintenance costs in managing an increasing number of trees. A member expressed their interest in considering if this should form Part of the Council’s Planning Policy and mandate a set percentage of tree coverage in large developments. The committee discussed the Councils Policy around Tree Protection Orders and questioned if it should be altered from one sapling being planted, to a larger number of saplings, after the ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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DEFRA: Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England
To receive a summary overview of DEFRA’s latest consultation Minutes:
The Cabinet Member outlined the key areas that would be affected the most. The Committee was informed of the proposal to extend food waste collection across the country from 2023/2024 and that South Kesteven District Council, with its own food waste trials already taking place, were at an advantage compared to many other authorities.
It was highlighted to the Committee the that Green Waste collections may be required to move to a free service, which would have a considerable impact on Council Budgets.
Members discussed the future of waste collection and the possibilities of a ‘pay as you throw’ model being adopted in the future but agreed that such a model would require intervention from Central Government to assist with the Capital costs for equipment needed to adopt such a model.
The Cabinet member encouraged the Committee and as individual Members to take part in the consultation. The Chairman requested that Committee members take time to review the consultations and forward any ideas or concerns to her, so that a joint response from the Committee could be submitted.
The Chairman requested the Strategic Director, Commercial and Operations distribute samples from the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership’s response to Committee members.
ACTIONS:
4. That Committee members take time to review the consultation and forward any ideas or concerns to the Chairman, so that a joint response from the Committee be submitted.
5. The Strategic Director, Commercial and Operations to send the Lincolnshire Waste Partnerships response to the Committee. |
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Corporate Plan - Key Performance Indicators
This report outlines South Kesteven District Councils performance against the Corporate Plan Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2020/21.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Assistant Chief Executive introduced an update to the Key Performance Indicators.
It was noted that some data which informed the report had been collected from external sources, on an annual basis, which meant that some indicators were from the previous Quarter.
Members discussed the presentation and made suggestions as to how it could be improved.
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Climate Change Update
Members to receive verbal updates on: · Climate Change Action Task & Finish Group’s meeting on 12 March 2021. · Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Grant Funding. Minutes:
The Committee were updated on the Group’s success in securing a budget for the next 2 financial years and that the Council has received Grant Funding for the improvements of 4 key Council owned sites, to improves their Carbon efficiency. The works would begin as soon as possible, before the March 2022 deadline set by the Grant.
Members queried the Climate Change Budget and heard that the climate change task and finish group could examine proposals to utilise that budget. A Member noted advances in technology that allowed for greater efficiency and gave the example of modern street lighting, which would allow the Council to gain in efficiency.
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Work Programme 2021/22
Members to discuss the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021/22 Minutes: The Chairman Invited the Committee to consider items for the Work Programme.
ACTION:
6. Members requested that the following items be added to the Work Programme:
· Bourne cycling festival update – Date to be agreed. · Plans for tree planting in South Kesteven – 28 September 2021 · Annual Climate report – 28 September 2021 · Biodiversity in council parks and looking at the use of contractors in relation to this – Date to be agreed.
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Any other business which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, decides is urgent
Minutes: There was none. |
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Close of meeting
Minutes: The Chairman closed the meeting at 13:06. |