Agenda and minutes

To note the names of apologies given and deputy members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed members.

All members were in attendance.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note:  Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.      

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

No disclosures of interest were declared.

There were no Chairperson’s announcements.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 December 2020.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 December 2020, be approved and adopted.

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public on matters which fall within the remit of the Committee.

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services
three clear working days before the meeting

(contact: democracy@winchester.gov.uk  or 01962 848 264).

No members of the public were present to make representations.

During discussion, Members’ raised points in respect of the number of reports coming forward to committee versus information provided via presentations and requested information regarding air quality data from the Council’s housing stock to track progress on reducing carbon emissions in the District.

In response, the Strategic Director: Services advised that he would take the comments forward to deliver a balance between reports and presentations wherever possible for the next municipal year.

RESOLVED:

            That the work programme for 2020/21 be noted.

The Chairperson reminded the committee that this item had been deferred from the last meeting held on 8 December 2020 due to the late running time of that meeting.

The Service Lead: Public Protection gave a presentation which set out an annual overview and update on the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), the Council’s compliance and the monitoring and analysis processes of nitrogen dioxide and particulates, specifically in the town centre. In addition, an outline was provided on the installation of electric vehicle charging points throughout the District and usage statistics. The presentation is available on the Council’s website here.

Councillor Murphy clarified that largely as a result of the pandemic, air quality had significantly improved during 2020 and that this would continue to be monitored closely by the Air Quality Steering Group going forward when normal travel resumes.

Members asked questions and raised comments regarding the availability of usage data for electric vehicle charging points, the changes in traffic numbers and carbon emission data in the AQMA as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, park and ride bus emissions and the use of electric buses, sustainable travel options and behavioural change which were responded to by relevant officers and the Cabinet member accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the presentation be received and the comments of the Committee be noted.

Councillor Murphy provided an update on the Council’s latest positon with the climate emergency programme of works and reported that the annual report would be available soon, highlighting the Council’s progress in reducing its own carbon footprint and areas such as transport and behavioural change where further work had been identified and sought the views of the committee regarding priorities that should be focussed upon going forward. The Service Lead: Communities and Wellbeing gave a presentation which provided an update on the progress achieved over the last year and set out key points and targets for transport and behavioural change to be explored.  The presentation is available on the Council’s website here.

Members asked questions, raised comments and suggested points regarding community outreach and aligned work with existing community action groups and town and parish councils.  These included providing affordable housing in the town centre, infrastructure change, sustainable transport and rural transport, new job posts, internal member and officer groups, bids for funding, WinACC annual reports and public meetings with Ward Member involvement, recycling contamination, reducing plastics, education campaigns and revisiting previous behavioural change project work carried out by SSE led by WinACC. The questions and comments raised were responded to by relevant officers and the Cabinet member accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the presentation be received and the comments of the committee be noted.