The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report and referred to the motion agreed at Council on 26 June 2019, when Swale Borough Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency.  He acknowledged the amendment submitted by Councillor Nicholas Hampshire in pledging that an annual progress report be submitted to Council every January.

The Cabinet Member for Environment went through the progress highlights on page 6 of the report drawing particular attention to the work under way by the Carbon Trust in developing an action plan to achieve net zero carbon by 2025 on the Council’s own estate, including the refurbishment of Swale House. He spoke of the energy efficiency measures requested in planning applications for new developments as well as the provision of new Electrical Vehicle (EV) chargers in the Borough, including near junction 6 of the M2.

In response, the Leader congratulated the Cabinet Member for Environment and Members and officers of the steering group.

The Leader of the Conservative group was critical and disappointed with the lack of progress in the report, and said that it lacked information on the changes required and the impact on residents and businesses in Swale who would need advance warning on what they should do and the policies being introduced to help them, or that may place obstructions in their way, so they could prepare for the longer term.  He questioned the costs and unrealistic timescales of insulating properties and whilst acknowledging the approval from DEFRA in September 2019 for the Air Quality Management Plan, reminded Members that  this was written by the previous administration.  The Leader of the Conservative group questioned what the targets were and how they would be measured, and raised concern over the costs to the public.  Lastly, the leader of the Conservative group questioned whether other services in the Council would be reduced to pay for the plan.

Other Members raised points which included:

·         Not enough detail in the report;

·         developers needed to know what was required before submitting a planning application;

·         there were no on-street charging points, as there were in other Boroughs;

·         disappointed that the steering group was not cross-party;

·         few solutions;

·         needed to have the electric bus depot in the Borough ;

·         the new hotel had new electric charging points;

·         it took time for changes to filter through;

·         there would be more control now that SBC were free from Spirit of Sittingbourne;

·         it was work in progress;

·         20’s plenty would not necessarily assist;

·         glad to see single use plastic reduction;

·         what plans were there to support initiatives such as the recently approved storage facilities at Nicholls Transport?;

·         how would the needs of the largest Industrial site in Kent be met and allowed to continue to grow and thrive?;

·         needed sustainable communities, not being car dependent;

·         should aim high, there was lots to do but were restricted;

·         should lobby Central Government to seek a policy change on the restriction of solar panels on school buildings;

·         drew attention to Plastic Free Sheerness;

·         why turn down development on Cockleshell Walk if sustainable communities were necessary?;

·         highlighted that the amendment to the motion pledged to take steps to avoid any adverse impacts on the most vulnerable residents; the policies should not be disproportionate;

·         if more SBC staff worked from home, what would be the impact on customers to the building?;

·         use of technology – could Council meetings be carried out via SKYPE?; and

·         it was difficult to retro fit insulation, especially to Listed Buildings.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, thanked Members for their enthusiasm and questioned what the previous administration had achieved in their long-term history. He highlighted the out of town retail park for car users with no entrance from the train station and the multi-storey car park.

The Cabinet Member for Environment welcomed the change in attitude of all Members.  He said that this report was the first produced, and was a progress report not an action plan which would be presented to Full Council on 1 April 2020.  The Cabinet Member for Environment said it was too early to give full budget details, welcomed good ideas and sources of funding and explained that KCC needed to be involved to install EV charging, to meet demand.  He added that Plastic Free for Sheerness would be supported, working remotely had already seen a reduction in paper and the priority was for the building of carbon neutral affordable properties near transport links, not 4/5 bedroom homes on greenfield sites.

Resolved:

(1)  That progress be noted.