Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 9 March 2022 were taken as read and approved as a correct record.

RECOMMENDATION: That the Panel considers the content of the draft Final Report and agrees conclusions and recommendations for submission to the Executive.

A copy of the Draft Final Report on Middlesbrough Council’s Green Strategy had been circulated with the agenda.

Members discussed the information provided and suggested recommendations for inclusion in the Final Report.

AGREED that:

1.  the following conclusions were approved for inclusion in the report:

A)  TERM OF REFERENCE A

To examine the Council’s proposals to meet Government targets for greenhouse gas emissions, make Middlesbrough more climate resilient, and minimise the environmental impact of services.

      Since declaring a climate crisis in 2019, Middlesbrough Council set out a ten year plan to take the lead on environmental issues, become net carbon neutral by 2029 and ensure the town is net carbon neutral by 2029. 

      The Council’s Green Strategy, based on the ten One Planet Living principles, will help the Council achieve its aims, along with Government targets, by taking sustained       action on environmental improvements, standards and awareness, community cohesion, culture, wildlife, landscape, travel, materials, consumables,  waste and carbon energy.  

      During the first year of the Green Strategy Action Plan, amongst other achievements, there have been many biodiversity improvements throughout the town, a Big Green Week of action in September 2021, a carbon audit of the Council’s vehicle fleet, and an awareness and education programme introduced to boost recycling rates. 

.     B)  TERM OF REFERENCE B

      To investigate in detail the following elements of Middlesbrough Council’s Green Strategy Action Plan: 

•     Land Use and Wildlife

•     Culture and Communities

•     Sustainable Transport

      All three Action Groups have identified key areas for action and are developing initiatives that contribute to Middlesbrough becoming a greener and more sustainable place to live.

      From the evidence presented, it is acknowledged that for the Council to achieve many of its green ambitions, community awareness and engagement must be encouraged and improved.   Middlesbrough Council needs to lead by example and ensure that the Green Strategy is embedded in, and promoted by, everything that it does.  There are several long-established community groups working hard on environmental issues in the town that could benefit from additional volunteers and publicity.

      The introduction of measures such as the Local Implementation Plan (LIP), additional Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs), Travel Planning Service, Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP) and the Council’s new Infrastructure Plan, will aid the move to more sustainable travel around Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley.   It was however recognised that there was still more action that needed to be taken in respect of improving public transport and encouraging modal shift and that there were no easy solutions.   Similarly it was noted that the technologies associated with electric vehicles were still evolving and the TVCA’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Project would not necessarily meet the demand for EVCPs within the Tees Valley.

C)  TERM OF REFERENCE C

      To identify and investigate examples of best practice that can be adopted in Middlesbrough.

      Sheffield City Council’s Grey to Green Strategy and Sandwell Metropolitan Council’s West Bromwich Market Outdoor Market project provided the Panel with ideas that could be potentially be adopted in Middlesbrough.  As  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21/70

The Chair will provide a verbal update on matters considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 23 March 2022.

The Chair provided a verbal update on the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 23 March 2022.

As this was the last scheduled meeting of the Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel of the Municipal Year, the Chair thanked all present for their attendance and contributions during the last year.