Agenda item

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management introduced the proposals for the Council Plan for 2025-2030, seeking the views of the committee on the issues that related primarily to health and environment, including input on the challenges to be faced, the improvements to be made and gaps to be filled as a result of current council plan performance and asked the committee to consider where the council needed to be by 2030.

The Senior Policy and Programme Manager gave a presentation which summarised the process being followed to develop the next council plan for the period 2025 to 2030 and set out the background and a number of key factors, including the challenges faced, the engagement processes and the roles of various committees prior to the consideration of the draft council plan by Cabinet in December 2024 and its subsequent determination by full Council for adoption in January 2025.

Members were asked to review and comment on the direction of the council plan, including the vision, themes and priorities, focussing on the responsibilities of the committee in respect of health and environment, namely:

1.       Living Well

2.       Cost of Living

2.       Climate Emergency/Greener Faster

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary the following matters were raised which were responded to by the Leader and the Senior Policy and Programme Manager.

(a)       A question was asked about the process for engaging with the rural      economy and outlying settlements, given the perceived urban-centric     focus of the engagement process.

(b)       Clarification was sought on the evidence-based approach of the process, expressing concerns about the introduction of subjectivity       before the full data from resident surveys was available.

(c)       A question was raised regarding the consultation with businesses,        specifically how the council plans to consult all Chambers of          Commerce and whether councillors could assist in this process.

(d)       Further clarification was requested on the derivation of the PESTLE       analysis, particularly cooler home plans (as well as warmer) and the          absence of references to the grid under technological pressures.

(e)       A question was asked about the emphasis on protecting blue spaces,      in addition to green spaces, highlighting the importance of rivers and    water bodies.

(f)         Clarification was sought on the changes in local health and          environment challenges since 2020, with a focus on the      interdependence between climate and nature challenges.

(g)       A question was raised about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and other socio-economic factors on the council’s ability to provide       affordable homes.

(h)       Further clarification was requested on the potential social isolation of          young people due to increased digital connectivity and the lack of     physical gathering spaces.

(i)         A question was asked about the increased prevalence of mental health     and anxiety issues among younger people and the council’s role in          addressing these challenges.

(j)         Clarification was sought on the council’s biodiversity policies and their          effectiveness in preventing the destruction of biodiversity.

(k)       A question was raised about the impact of smartphone use in schools    and the overuse of technology on children’s health and wellbeing.

(l)         Further clarification was requested on the challenges of achieving           carbon neutrality for the district by 2030, given the increasing difficulty of reducing emissions outside the council’s direct control.

(m)     A question was asked about the potential impact of artificial intelligence      on the council’s services and the need for better understanding and     preparation for its effects.

(n)       Clarification was sought on the council’s plans to address localised          flooding and other extreme weather events expected to worsen due to     climate change.

(o)       A question was raised about the importance of resilience and mitigation    in the face of environmental and political instability.

(p)       Further clarification was requested on the council’s plans for critical           infrastructure, including water and food supply chains, and the need for         cool hubs in addition to warm hubs.

(q)       A question was asked about the inclusion of dementia-friendly facilities in new developments, considering the ageing population.

At the conclusion of debate, the Leader thanked the committee for their helpful thoughts and comments and the Chairperson thanked those in attendance for their input and the Senior Policy and Programme Manager for an informative presentation.

          RESOLVED:

                     That the contents of the presentation be received, and the         comments raised by the committee, as summarised above, be noted.