Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director, Place and Economy, which sought to set out the route map of future climate change activities. The report had built on the climate framework and action plan, which had been developed by the shadow authority in March 2021 and provided an outline of activities for North Northamptonshire Council to consider and take forward.

The Assistant Director of Growth and Regeneration also outlined progress regarding the spatial planning framework and emphasised that this element of the Climate route map was critical, regarding the management and influence of future growth within North Northamptonshire. 

During discussion, the following principal points were noted:

·         Members expressed concern that with an increasing reduction of land available, which was suitable for development, there would not exist appropriate open spaces available for public use. Members maintained that open green spaces should be protected, as they had helped residents’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, through the promotion of outdoor exercise.

·         It would be useful for Council Planning Committees to be included in the consultation of the spatial planning strategy, to provide decision-makers with greater understanding of what would need to be taken into consideration.

·         It would be valuable for the Panel to receive information regarding the authority’s future plans to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions.

·         Members were encouraged to see that a new Climate Change Officer had been appointed within the authority and that carbon literacy training for Councillors would be proceeding in January 2022.

·         The Panel would be interested to receive updates regarding how recent central government environmental legislation would impact climate activities and planning locally.

·         Regarding the progress of the ‘building homes for healthier lives’ programme, members questioned how the authority had engaged with developers to promote the implementation of environmentally-friendly technology in newly-built developments.

·         Regarding continued work concerning electric vehicle charging points, members expressed concern that existing legislation could, at times, restrict the implementation of such technology across North Northamptonshire and suggested this should be reviewed in future. 

In response, both the Executive Director of Place and Economy and the Assistant Director of Growth and Regeneration clarified that:

·         Planning work was about balance and that striking the right balance between preserving open green spaces and allowing for land development could, at times, be difficult. Nevertheless, maintaining open spaces was a good ambition and the authority would seek to achieve this balance, whilst remaining within financial confines.

·         The newly appointed Climate Change Officer would attend future meetings of the Executive Advisory Panel.

·         Regarding the audit of carbon management, experienced officers within the authority had helped to inform what North Northamptonshire Council would need to do to ensure it measured this correctly. While measuring the authority’s carbon footprint was voluntary and not a statutory obligation, using the toolkit that the local government authority had promoted would be a useful starting point.

·         There was a strong link between recent government legislation and the planning system, as it had called for reviews of the national planning policy framework. They assured the Panel that officers were well aware of the act and the potential influence it would have on the planning system and were therefore, working to understand its impact and what changes would need to be made.

·         The authority had continued to carry out discussions with major developers regarding their willingness to implement more modern, cleaner technology in new homes. While certain major developers did not express a desire to adopt such technology, the authority had been encouraged by the willingness of several developers to do so.

RESOLVED that:

The report be noted.