Issue - items at meetings - possibly climate change

Report of the Acting Director of Strategy and Governance

99.1 The Head of Sustainability introduced the report which set the context for the recommendations to establish a scrutiny panel to scope what work needs to be done to make good progress in planning for a changing local climate; and to consider whether a Select Committee is required to ensure good progress continues.

99.2 The Committee noted that there was already good local experience in managing risks relating to climate change and that a number of other local authorities are making good progress against the new National Indicator NI 188.

99.3 Members considered whether such a Scrutiny Panel or Select Committee might duplicate work already being done elsewhere at officer and/or Member level or if it would undermine the newly-formed Citywide Sustainability Partnership. There was also a question as to whether the setting up of any Panel should await the publication of the UK Climate Impacts Programme modelling service (UKCIP 08).

99.4 Most Members spoke in favour of the proposal and in particular supported working across Council service areas including key Partners. It was agreed that a Scrutiny Panel would help maintain a comprehensive approach to planning for full service delivery adaptation and resilience and that this need not wait for UKCIP 08.

99.5 RESOLVED:  (1) That a Scrutiny Panel be established to scope what work needs to be done to make good progress in planning for changing local climate.

(2) That Panel will consider as one outcome whether or not a scrutiny Select Committee is required to ensure good progress in this work continues.