Agenda item

To review the new policy one year from adoption (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which asked that members review the Partnership Environment Policy one year from its adoption.

The Assistant Director – Regulatory introduced the report and highlighted the following key points:

• The Partnership Environment Policy provided the overarching framework for delivering environmental priorities set out in the Partnership Sub-regional Strategy (2024–2029).
• The policy sought to balance sustainability with economic and social considerations and demonstrated the Council’s commitment to environmental leadership.
• Four key themes underpinned the policy:

• Since adoption, the policy had shaped several strategies and plans, including the Sustainable Products Policy, Tree and Hedgerow Strategy, and the Carbon Reduction Plans.
• A Climate Change and Environment Impact Assessment tool had been introduced to evaluate environmental impacts consistently as part of the decision-making.
• Performance monitoring was achieved through the Partnership’s Annual Delivery Plan and the South and East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network (SELCAN).
• The Assistant Director - Regulatory explained that the policy remained fit for purpose and proposed that the next review should take place in 2028/29 to align with the Sub-regional Strategy.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members asked if the partnership was achieving everything that the policy had set out.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory confirmed that the delivery of actions aligned with the policy’s principles and that progress was being made through associated strategies and plans.

• Members expressed concern that recycling waste rates appeared to have fallen over the past year. How did this policy influence waste and recycling performance.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory explained that recycling performance was largely driven by national policy, which the Council had limited influence over. However, local waste collection policies and service improvements were influenced by the Environment Policy. Planned changes, such as how food waste would be collected, would support improvements over time.

• Members noted that the policy had been in place for a year, yet recycling rates remained low. Did this mean that the policy was ineffective.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory noted that the policy had set long-term strategic goals, and changes to waste regimes required significant investment and time. The policy provided the framework for decisions, but measurable improvements in recycling would take time to materialise.

• Members asked whether there was a risk that the policy was just a high-level document without real impact.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory acknowledged the concern but emphasised that the policy supported operational strategies and projects. It was not intended to deliver immediate results but to guide sustainable decision-making across all services.

• Members asked why the next review was scheduled for 2028/29, and should the Policy be brought back to the Panel before this.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory explained that the review date aligned with the Sub-regional Strategy to ensure consistency between strategic documents. Bringing the policy back earlier would likely result in the same discussion, as changes would take time to implement.

• Members wanted assurance that the policy was committed to minimising single-use items.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory agreed this was a valid point and noted that the Sustainable Products Policy, which sat under the Environment Policy, was driving changes in purchasing behaviour. However, changes across the partnership would take time to implement.

• Members asked how progress on reducing single-use products and paper usage was measured.
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory confirmed that audit work on purchasing behaviours was ongoing and that data would be provided at a future meeting when the Sustainable Products Policy was next due on the review cycle.

Councillor Mark Le sage left the meeting at 8.26pm.

AGREED:

1)    That the content of the report be noted.

2)    That following consideration an update on the Environmental Policy would be provided for review in 2028/29.

Councillor Jan Whitbourn left the meeting at 8.28pm

Councillor D Ashby left the meeting at 8.29pm