- TO FOLLOW

The Director – Place and Climate Change updated the Climate Change Steering Group (CCSG) on the following projects:

·         Blackfriars: One of the most sustainable housing developments in the south-east regarding construction e.g. thermal insulation etc.

·         Doctor Surgeries in Bexhill: Built to BREEAM (sustainability assessment methods) high performance standards.

·         Bexhill Town Hall: The regeneration project was being designed to a sustainable Passivhaus (rigorous energy efficient design) standard.

·         Broad Oak Park: Rewilding grazing land with plants and wildflowers to improve bio-diversity.

The Director – Place and Climate Change advised that the “Green” agenda had changed the way the Council operated, and he suggested that over the next six months project information would be collated and reported to the CCSG.

During the discussion the following was noted:

·         Councillor Mrs Cook advised that the Guides and Brownies in Battle had started an incredible edible (national) project; building planters out of recycled pallets and placing them around Battle.  It had been difficult to source suitable places to deposit the planters, as licences were required in some locations.  It was suggested that planters be located on Council-owned land e.g. car parks across the district etc.  It was noted that incredible edible projects had also been delivered in Egerton Park, Bexhill and Robertsbridge;

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

·         progress was sought on the Electric Vehicle Charging Project.  The Director – Place and Climate Change advised that the project was being progressed by the Head of Neighbourhood Services.  A report had been presented to Cabinet in early February which included all information on the project and timescale details;

·         important that all projects were promoted / advertised through the Council’s Climate Action Communication Plan;

·         Members suggested that a community engagement “suggestion box” be established on the Council’s website to allow the public to upload their project suggestions on how to reduce the district’s carbon footprint.  Suggested projects that were completed be communicated back to the public via the Climate Action Communication Plan;

·         carbon footprint indicator / measure be allocated to each project;

·         as suggested at the last meeting, the creation of a ‘green stamp’ business accreditation / rating system was reiterated;

·         Members were encouraged to spread the Council’s “green agenda” within their wards;

·         a dedicated “green agenda” page on the website to indicate all the proposed, instigated and finished projects, as well as providing key networking opportunities to indicate how the public can get involved etc.;

·         Councillor Gray advised that the tree cover in Bexhill had significantly increased where approximately 1,000 trees had been planted over the last year;

·         promote and discuss the Council’s Environment Strategy with parish and town councils, local organisations and community groups etc. by visiting them across the district;

·         Members requested that a more in-depth project update be presented at the next meeting; and

·         it was clarified that the CCSG could recommend projects that were potentially eligible for Community Infrastructure Funding (Climate Emergency Bonus Fund – 20% apportion) to the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Allocations Panel for consideration / determination. Distribution of CIL would be in accordance with the proposed CIL Governance and Funding Protocol.  Projects forwarded to the Planning Policy Team were electric vehicle and electric bike charging points, outdoor gyms to generate power, solar litter bins, subsidise community bus services to go electric; help village halls to install solar panels and increase public transport.

RESOLVED: That:

1)    a community engagement “suggestion box” and dedicated “green agenda” page be established on the Council’s website; and

2)    more in-depth project update be presented at the next meeting.