Consideration was given to the report of the Director – Place and Climate Change, which outlined progress made on the Environment Strategy (2020) since the last report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) on 18 October 2021.

Two environmental posts had and would be recruited to.  Projects Officer (Environment) who would focus on project development and delivery; an appointment had been made and was scheduled to start in May 2022 (instead of June).  Environment Strategy Officer who would focus on the Environment Strategy (ES) and delivery of the action plan.  Recruitment for this post would commence in May 2022.  A cross-council staff ‘Green Team’ would be established to consider current operations to improve the Council’s carbon footprint / environmental impact. 

Members were updated on the following projects:

·       Bexhill i-Tree Eco-Study: Completed, data collated and draft document produced by Treeconomics which was being reviewed.  The study gave an accurate estimate of the number and diversity of trees in Bexhill.  The charity Trees for Cities had secured funding of £143,000 for the Rother area from the second round of the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund as part of their ‘Forgotten Places’ project. The project would specifically focus on increasing tree cover in Bexhill; planting was expected to commence in autumn / winter 2022-23.  They were also working with East Sussex County Council (ESCC) on an Urban Tree Challenge Fund project which would focus on Bexhill roadside verge tree planting.  The Field Studies Council was producing a series of tree identification guides and would be running a series of three workshops locally and online to raise the profile of trees and tree planting. The first workshop was scheduled to be held on 7 May 2022.

·       Hedgerow Planting: Completed in Broad Oak Park in December 2021 by Bexhill Environment Group (BEG), as well as some additional planting on Bexhill Down.  The Council would continue to support BEG on tree and hedge planting initiatives / proposals for winter 2022-23.  Tree planting had also been completed at Sidley Recreation Ground as part of the BMX and Skate Park project.

·       Biodiversity: Replaced expensive seasonal bedding displays in the Council’s parks and open spaces with shrubs. Permanent perennial and shrub planting were scheduled to be completed at Manor Gardens and along East Parade seafront.  Flower towers at Marina Gardens had been replaced with an annual meadow mix for summer 2022.

·       Carbon Literacy training: A second session had been delivered to Members and officers in March 2022; training would be ongoing.

·       Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points in Council-owned Car Parks: Approval to procure an appropriate service provider had been granted in March 2022.  Work was progressing with the Council’s legal team on the list of potential car parks and, in consultation with the Energy Saving Trust, an appropriate specification was being drafted for tender.  Not all of the car parks listed in the specification would be viable locations for EV charging points; decisions would be determined by the results of the appointed service provider’s feasibility study.

·       Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Waste Collection Fuel Trial: On behalf of the Joint Waste Partnership, Hester Management had completed research on carbon reduction proposals for the waste contract.  An extensive trial had commenced in mid-March (five weeks) in Wealden using HVO instead of diesel in 13 of the waste collection vehicles; if successful the use of HVOs would be extended to Rother and Hastings.  Results of the trial would be reported to the Joint Waste and Recycling Committee at the meeting scheduled to be held on 1 July 2022.

·       Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): A new process for distributing CIL funding was recommended by Cabinet in March 2022, which would require formal full Council approval in May 2022.  Subject to CIL criteria requirements, funding could be allocated to projects that addressed climate emergency or those with a distinctive environmental benefit.  Based on current CIL collections, £700,000 was available.

The Climate Change Steering Group (CCSG) had met four times since the previous update and a list of agreed projects was detailed in Appendix A to the report.  Four projects were considered eligible for CIL funding and these would be considered by the Strategic CIL Allocations Panel at their next meeting.  ‘Green Tip’s and a staff ‘Digital Suggestion Box’ had been substantively completed, although work on a ‘public’ suggestion box was ongoing.

The Director – Place and Climate Change outlined the proposed next steps which included the establishment of a programme of work and project delivery to continue to drive and accelerate the Council’s ‘net carbon-zero’ ambition.  He also advised that the Sussex Wildlife Trust had been contracted to undertake a review of the current ES plan and project proposals.  Recommendations would be made to the CCSG and presented to the OSC at the next scheduled ES progress update in six months.

During the discussion the following was noted:

·       alternative forms of energy e.g. hydrogen (zero-carbon) fuels to be considered instead of electricity to alleviate national grid pressures;

·       all new buildings, private rented and Council-owned properties should be suitably insulated with recyclable products; this was a national issue that would require national solutions and government funding;

·       it was understood that the Head of Housing and Community was actively working with the Council’s main affordable housing Registered Provider (Optivo) to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by retro-fitting all properties, where possible;

·       the district had a significant amount of listed buildings.  Concern was raised that it would be difficult to upgrade / improve energy efficiency, as listed building regulations were complex and restrictive; the Council was legally required to uphold and respect legislation.  However, as part of the Council’s current review of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy, due regard would be given to local policies;

·       explore the opportunity of introducing and encouraging developers to include “grey water” (recycled bath and shower water, filtered and disinfected) methods within planning applications; 

·       it was clarified that BEG had planted approximately 1,000 native trees on Bexhill Down, of which 870 had been under planted with wildflowers at King Offa Wood.  BEG met fortnightly to mulch and maintain the trees.  Prior to planting, advice from relevant experts / authorities regarding appropriate species and locations was sought and obtained;

·       important that the appropriate species were planted, and that the future “canopy” allowed other plants to grow.  Some wooded areas across the district had suffered from Ash dieback (fungal infection), therefore it was important that affected trees and traces of the disease were removed / eliminated;

·       hedgerow planting was just as important as tree planting particularly within the High Weald; 

·       the Council should actively support all parish and town councils, community groups, schools and organisations across the district with the “green agenda” and tree planting projects;

·       relevant organisations and full community engagement were considered key and necessary to ensure successful delivery of all environmental projects;

·       Members were advised that ESCC had been awarded £81m towards providing a rural “greener” public transport bus service;

·       Members requested that the next 6-monthly update report included information on environmental projects completed by the parish and town councils or local community groups / organisations; and

·       baselining data would be reported as part of future performance reports.

RESOLVED: That:

1)    progress made against the Environment Strategy (2020) be noted;

2)    information on environmental projects completed by the parish and town councils or local community groups / organisations be included within the next 6-monthly update report; and

3)    the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee particularly with regards to alternative forms of energy, tree and hedgerow planting, grey water, insulation and listed building policy matters be considered by the Climate Change Steering Group at a future meeting.

(Councillor J. Barnes declared a Personal Interest in this matter as a member of Sussex Wildlife Trust and Vice-Chairman and Company Executive Director of the Council’s Housing Company and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(Councillors Courtel and Gray each declared a Personal Interest in this matter as members of Sussex Wildlife Trust and Bexhill Environment Group and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(Councillor Drayson declared a Personal Interest in this matter as an Executive Director of the Council’s Housing Company and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(When it first became apparent, Councillor Field declared a Personal Interest in this matter as a Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(When it first became apparent, Councillor Maynard declared a Personal Interest in this matter as an Executive Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).