Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Environment advised that the report sought to endorse the framework developed to deliver the projects within the Climate Emergency Strategy.  She thanked the Lead Specialist for Strategic Planning for leading the development of the framework and noted that there had been a short delay in the community consultation due to the purdah period leading up to the General Election.

The Lead Specialist for Strategic Planning advised that the document outlined the approach being taken to develop the strategy and in order to deliver it by July 2020 it was proposed to delegate the final Framework document and the draft Strategy and Action Plan to be signed off by the Portfolio Holder for the Environment.  The governance arrangements for the County-Wide Strategy would be reviewed by the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group, the Portfolio Holder Group and the Leaders and CEO’s Group and the final version of the Strategy would be presented to District Executive and Council before July 2020.

In response to questions from Members, the Lead Specialist for Strategic Planning advised:-

·         The final action plans would be tailored to each authority.

·         The South Somerset Environment Strategy and the County Environment Strategy were aligned but the County strategy would have a wider remit.

During discussion, Members noted that SCC had a wider remit than SSDC to achieve carbon neutrality and they would take the lead role in those areas, for example, transport, energy and water, although SSDC and the other Somerset District Councils would link into these and work with SCC to find solutions.

At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to note Climate Change Framework document and agreed that the final Framework document and the draft Strategy and Action Plan may be signed off by the Portfolio Holder for the Environment.