Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair of the Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

The Committee elected a Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED: That Andy Croy be elected as Chair of the Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

The Committee appointed a Vice-Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED: That Chris Johnson be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

To consider any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Michael Firmager and Chris Johnson.

Pauline Helliar-Symons and Andrew Mickleburgh attended the meeting as substitutes.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2023 were confirmed as a correct record.

To answer any public questions. A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice. The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting. 

For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no public questions.

To answer any Member questions.

There were no Member questions.

To consider progress against the recommendations made by the Climate Emergency Task & Finish Group in 2020 and 2021.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 11 to 32, which gave details of progress against the recommendations of the Climate Emergency Task and Finish Group (2020 and 2021).

Sarah Kerr, Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Resident Services, attended the meeting to present the report and answer Member questions. Councillor Kerr noted that she had been a member of the second Task and Finish Group (2021).

To scrutinise how the Climate Emergency Action Plan is embedded into the Local Plan Update.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 33 to 44, which gave details of the actions taken within the Local Plan Update (LPU) to embed the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP).

Lindsay Ferris (Executive Member for Planning and the Local Plan) attended the meeting to introduce the report and answer Member questions, supported by Ian Bellinger (Service Manager for Growth and Delivery).

The report reminded Members that the Council was currently preparing an update to its planning policies, known as the Local Plan Update (LPU). The LPU was being prepared in the context of existing national planning policy, guidance and legislation. Its principal aim was to set out the strategy and associated policies for managing future development in the Borough.

In the ensuing discussion, Members raised the following points and questions:

What steps were there to future proof key planning documents to ensure that sustainability was embedded? It was confirmed that the updated Local Plan would provide a comprehensive definition of sustainability. A key aim was to require developers to provide accurate information on the sustainability of new developments.

Was the Climate Change Interim Position Statement (CCIPS) in place and being implemented? It was confirmed that the statement was in operation. It encouraged developers to go beyond existing standards and had been useful in some planning appeals. However, the new Local Plan would be the key document moving forwards.

The importance of embedding the CEAP into the LPU was emphasised. In order to ensure that Members were up to speed on progress, it was suggested that specific training and briefings be provided for all Members.

In relation to environmental standards for residential and non-residential development, what were the prospects for including the provision of solar panels in new buildings? It was confirmed that some councils were adopting a “fabric first” approach which promoted heat pumps and solar panels. Update building regulations could include a menu of options including solar panels.

In relation to changing behaviour, what teeth did the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To scrutinise progress against the traffic reduction targets in the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

The Committee considered a report, set out in the Supplementary Agenda, which gave details of progress against the traffic reduction targets in the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.

Paul Fishwick, Executive Member for Active Travel, Highways and Transport, attended the meeting to present the report and answer Member questions, supported by Rob Curtis (Transport Planning Team Manager).

The report gave details on the current traffic levels in the Borough and explained the progress made on each of the transport interventions in the CEAP. It outlines some of the current drivers for active and sustainable

travel and explained how this led to a reduction in traffic.

The DfT’s Decarbonising Transport strategy set out a number of commitments under the heading “Increasing Cycling and Walking”.This included a commitment to deliver a world class cycling and walking network in England by 2040. Government guidance was being reflected by the emerging guidance for Highway Authorities to follow when producing their Local Transport Plans and would be reflected in Wokingham Borough

Council’s LTP4.

Transport was key a priority area for Carbon Savings as set out in the Council’s CEAP due to higher than average car ownership in the Borough and it being a key emissions contributor. The CEAP stated that 10% of the targeted Carbon Savings were to be achieved from an increase in “Active Travel” such as walking and cycling. This work, along with the work of the My Journey programme was essential if we are to support residents, particularly those on lower incomes, to be feel safe and confident enough to walk and cycle more.

The report stated that walking currently accounted for only 5% of the total distance travelled in England. Around 49% of trips in towns and cities under 5 miles were made by car in 2021, with around a quarter of all car trips in England less than 2 miles. Many of these trips could be walked, wheeled, or cycled, which would help to reduce the 68 megatons (Mt) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emitted from cars in 2019. Active travel could also reduce the proportion of people driving children to school by up to 33%.

The report gave details of progress against the key transport targets in the CEAP, including:

·           Development of an Electric Vehicle (EV) strategy for the Borough.

·           Reviewing business and residential electric charging infrastructure.

·           Supporting local businesses to transition their commercial fleets to EV.

·           Promoting lift sharing opportunities through the My Journey programme.

·           Developing and implementing a Bus Service Improvement Plan.

·           Reviewing home to school transport contracts.

·           Developing and implementing the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

·           Completing the Cross-Berkshire Cycle Route.

·           Producing Local Transport Plan 4 to achieve greater coordination and opportunities for Government funding – the aim was to seek approval of LTP4 by the summer of 2024.

The report stated that monitoring and evaluation of the CEAP in terms of decreasing car use and motorised vehicle mode share and the subsequent emissions calculations would be more formally defined by the Local Transport Plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme for 2023/24.

The Committee considered its Work Programme for 2023/24, as set out on Agenda page 45.

RESOLVED: That the next meeting of the Committee consider the fourth CEAP Progress Report and use that document to inform the Work Programme for 2023/24.

To consider the regular Action Tracker report.

The Committee considered the regular Action Tracker report, set out on page 47 of the Agenda.

RESOLVED: That the Action Tracker report be noted.