Agenda and decisions
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Contact: Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk 01462 474655
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting.
Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting. Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dominic Griffiths. |
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MINUTES - 11 FEBRUARY 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 11 February 2026. Decision: RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 11 February 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. |
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CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Climate Emergency
The Council has declared a climate emergency and is committed to achieving a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 and helping local people and businesses to reduce their own carbon emissions.
A Cabinet Panel on the Environment has been established to engage with local people on matters relating to the climate emergency and advise the council on how to achieve these climate change objectives.
A Climate Change Implementation group of councillors and council officers meets regularly to produce plans and monitor progress. Actions taken or currently underway include switching to green energy, incentives for low emission taxis, expanding tree planting and working to cut food waste.
In addition the council is a member of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership, working with other councils across Hertfordshire to reduce the county’s carbon emissions and climate impact. The Council’s dedicated webpage on Climate Change includes details of the council’s climate change strategy, the work of the Cabinet Panel on the Environment and a monthly briefing on progress.
Ecological Emergency
The Council has declared an ecological emergency and is committed to addressing the ecological emergency and nature recovery by identifying appropriate areas for habitat restoration and biodiversity net gain whilst ensuring that development limits impact on existing habitats in its process.
The Council has set out to do that by a) setting measurable targets and standards for biodiversity increase, in both species and quantities, seeking to increase community engagement, b) to work with our partners to establish a Local Nature Partnership for Hertfordshire and to develop Nature Recovery Networks and Nature Recovery Strategy for Hertfordshire and c) to investigate new approaches to nature recovery such as habitat banking that deliver biodiversity objectives and provide new investment opportunities.
Declaration of Interest
Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote. Decision: (1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.
(2) The Chair drew attention to the item on the Agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
(3) The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency, and that Officers and Members should have this in mind when carrying out their various roles and tasks for the District. More details on this could be found on the Agenda front sheet.
(4) The Chair informed those present that the theme for this Panel meeting was ‘Waste and Recycling’ and that Officers from the Waste Team, as well as speakers from Veolia, Timberpak Pearce and Biogen were in attendance to present on this topic at Agenda Item 6.
(5) The Chair clarified the procedure for asking questions.
(6) The Chair advised of a change to the order of Agenda and Agenda Item 6 would be taken before Agenda Item 5. |
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NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.
The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered. Decision: There was no other business notified. |
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INFORMATION NOTE: COUNCIL ACTIVITY UPDATE AND ACTION TRACKER INFORMATION NOTE OF THE POLICY & STRATEGY TEAM LEADER
This note highlights the topic for this Panel meeting as well as a Council Activity Update, and Action Tracker Review (at Appendix A) for the Cabinet Panel on the Environment.
Additional documents: Decision: Officers from the Policy and Strategy Team provided a verbal update on the Information Note entitled ‘Council Activity Update and Action Tracker’. |
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PRESENTATIONS To receive presentations from the following organisations:
1) North Herts Council Waste Team and Veolia – New Waste Service Provision
2) Timberpak Pearce – Mixed Recycling Facilities
3) Biogen – Food Waste Recycling
Decision: Presentations were received from the Shared Waste Communication Officer and speakers on behalf of Veolia, Timberpak Pearce and Biogen, which covered various topics related to ‘Waste and Recycling’. |
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public. Decision: The Chair led a discussion with members of the public under the ‘Presentations’ and ‘Information Note’ items at the meeting. |