Agenda item

To seek approval for a new South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Environment Policy to underpin the Sub-Regional Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which sought approval for a new South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Environment Policy to underpin the Sub-Regional Strategy.

The Assistant Director – Regulatory and the Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment attended for this item.

The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

• The Environment Policy was a new policy for South Holland. Policies were in place for East Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council which had been reviewed and were to be aligned across the three authorities of the S&ELCP;
• The environment had been identified as one of four key priorities in a new Sub-regional Strategy recently adopted for the S&ELCP. The development of the Environment Policy provided a mandate to deliver the strategy;

• The Environment Policy, at Appendix A, outlined the following four themes which would be considered across all Council operations:
  • Theme 1: Protecting and recovering our environment;
  • Theme 2: Mitigating and adapting to climate change;
  • Theme 3: Protecting and enhancing our built environment; and
  • Theme 4: Ensuring a sustainable approach to waste and resource management.

Several priorities had been identified under each theme, as outlined within the report.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the report to the Panel and stated that it was needed.

• Members queried how the council intended to work with partners who also had an interest in managing the fens/local environment.
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment responded that:
    • Following the approval of the Climate Change Strategy, a South and East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network (SELCAN) had been established which placed a focus on climate change outcomes beyond the councils’ operational requirements; and
    • SELCAN incorporated a range of private, public and third sector partners and associated information was included in the South and East Lincolnshire Climate Change Strategy update at agenda item 11 of the current meeting.

• Members referred to Theme 1, ‘Protecting and recovering our natural environment’ and asked whether the policy could help protect the natural environment from industrialisation. Concerns were raised regarding the Meridian Solar Farm Ltd development which affected areas of the district with the construction of solar farms, battery storage and pylons (National Grid infrastructure). Could the council work with external agencies to instal solar energy sources on buildings instead of constructing solar farms.
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment  responded that:
    • The Planning department adhered to the Local Plan, and the Environment Policy would be influential to Planning Policy and provide ‘hooks’ when the Local Plan was reviewed;
    • In respect of the siting of solar energy sources, this related to the Planning function however the Environment team worked with partners through SELCAN where renewable options for external buildings could be explored; and
    • The new Environment Policy gave the S&ELCP a framework approach for plans and policies that service areas would adhere to, as well as a robust position to co-operate and engage with external partners.
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory added that the Meridian project mentioned was a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which would not come forward to local councils for a decision however the council would be a statutory consultee as part of the process.

• Members referred to the ambition to reduce the carbon footprint and asked what action was being taken in respect of renewable energy sources on council buildings and housing stock.
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment  responded that:
    • An exercise was underway to establish South Holland’s carbon footprint with the baseline of emissions data informing a Carbon Reduction Plan;
    • The council was working with WSP (an environmental consulting company) to plan a pathway towards net zero and identify the main project areas - operational emissions from buildings would be key feature of this work;
    • Experience from Boston and East Lindsey colleagues had shown that the pathway to net zero was a long-term piece of work with the target being set at 2040. South Holland may take a more ambitious approach; and
    • Decarbonisation was not cheap, and assessments would be undertaken to establish where ‘invest to save’ was best served; data and evidence was required to explore and maximise opportunities through external funding.

• Members referred to Theme 3, ‘Ensure planning policy sets strong ambition for low carbon, energy efficient new housing development schemes and retrofits of existing stock which are fit for the future’ and queried whether the council stipulated a minimum energy rating requirement prior to the purchase of HRA (Housing Revenue Account) stock. Could this practice be implemented?
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment responded that:
    • Whilst councils had the power to make local decisions, these needed to align with the national policy framework to avoid legal challenges and appeals;
    • The recently adopted Central Lincolnshire Local Plan was ambitious in terms of its net zero ambitions, and initial feedback had indicated that development had not been impacted;
    • Nonetheless, viability needed to be considered and developers were already required to meet biodiversity net gain stipulations from the Environment Act 2021;
    • It was acknowledged that national legislation/policy needed to strengthen in order to remove the necessity to retro-fit new properties;
    • Local authorities had the power to set the energy rating criteria of the properties they bought, the main consideration to this approach being cost.  A neighbouring council had exercised this position.
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory added that:
    • The Environment Policy and Climate Change Strategy gave credibility to the suggestion raised by members and any areas that members wish to be explored could be raised through Portfolio Holder channels; and
    • The policy would also be reviewed by Boston and East Lindsey and ideas from all three authorities shared across the partnership.

• Members highlighted that a review of the Local Plan was to commence at a meeting of the ‘South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee’ on 1 July 2024. Members were keen that, after approval by Cabinet, the Environment Policy be given a focus during Local Plan review discussions at future Joint Strategic Planning Committee meetings. 
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory responded that upon approval by Cabinet, engagement with the ‘South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee’ would be very much supported in order to raise the profile of the policy and shape future policy development; and
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment added that members comments underlined the importance of the policy. The ambition of the policy represented a culture change in that the impact upon the environment of any activity, needed to be considered at the outset, during development discussions, rather than later on.

• Members noted that the details outlined within the policy were brief and queried whether these should be expanded.
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory responded that the broad design of the policy was deliberate and ensured that the policy could be implemented across the whole partnership to shape and influence detail in service specific strategies and policies; and
  • The Group Manager – Climate Change and Environment added that the broad policy design encouraged and enabled ambition and welcomed fast-paced developments such as those occurring within the technology sector.

• Members agreed that an update in respect of the Environment Policy be presented to the Panel in 12 months.

AGREED:

a)    That the Policy Development Panel recommended the Environment Policy to Cabinet for approval; and

b)    That the comments of the Panel be noted.