Issue - meetings

To highlight proposed items scheduled in the work programme for the Cabinet Panel on the Environment for 2022/23, agreed at the initial meeting. The Work Programme/Action Tracker at Appendix A allow the scene to be set for evaluation of such actions, and the agreement of topics for 2022/23 civic year.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the information report.

Audio recording – 4 minutes 42 seconds

The Chair invited Georgina Chapman, Policy Officer, to present.

Ms Chapman thanked the Chair, gave a presentation and advised:

·       The Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP) is made up of ten districts, Hertfordshire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

·       HCCSP had asked the Council to review the four action plans for Water, Biodiversity, Carbon Reduction and Transport and to present the updated version of the plans.

·       This update would include updated contacts, archived actions and delivered actions. All of the targets will be updates using the SMART format.

·       The Council had also reviewed the Climate Strategy Plans of other Local Authorities to see how we can partner with local community action groups.

·       NHDC was leading in the biodiversity sub-group. We have created a new plan of action and meetings would reconvene on Wednesday 18January 2023.

·       North Hertfordshire’s Solar Together bulk scheme had now ended. As a district, there had been 2,262 expressions of interest, which was one of the highest rates in the area.

·       Out of those expressions of interest, 410 people had accepted offers and installations had started.

·       All installations would be completed by April 2023, and weekly updates covering installation and issues would be received.

·       107 people who already had solar panels installed expressed interest in battery storage. Eighteen of those also accepted their offer.

·       As a county, Hertfordshire had  10% more  expressive  interest than  was  expected which totaled  around 13,000 expressions of interest.

·       The Council was awaiting data from iChoosr, the company running this scheme with Local Authorities. This data would illustrate the locations of interest and acceptance within the District.

·       The Heritage Foundation had an additional application process for any residents interested in Solar Panels.

·       The Behaviour Change subgroup was continuing its work and are due to take a paper to HCCSP.

·       The Adaptation subgroup is continuing to identify Climate risks across different areas in the County whilst working with relevant Councils.

·       The Council has looked to produce a summary of the Council’s Carbon Emission reports completed over the last couple of years. This will give the Council a baseline of Carbon Emissions. This summary would give a baseline for carbon emissions in an accessible format with current Carbon-saving figures. This would be presented to the Cabinet Panel on completion.

·       Some items on the Action Tracker were on hold due to the COVID pandemic. This would be reviewed at the start of the Civic Year in May, in collaboration with other Cabinet Panels to find the best way forward.

In response to a question from Councillor Chris Hinchcliff, the Policy Officer advised that iChoosr had collected data as to why some residents rejected their Solar Panel offers.

Overall, cost was the largest factor affecting participation in the Scheme.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the information report.