Issue - meetings

Covering report and report attached.

The council currently had a number of Environmental and Climate change themed policies, however these needed to be updated and modernised to reflect the contemporary way Havering Council was operating.

Success was based on having outlined clear actions which can be measured by strong governance and effective consultation.

Member discussions had developed key emerging themes that there should be an emphasis on practical actions which benefit residents, businesses and the wider stakeholders in the Borough.

Havering had a number of existing policies relating to areas of Council activity including: waste, transportation, energy management, regeneration, planning, procurement, management of the green space and housing. Work in these service areas was often carried out in individual discreet projects meaning the impact they had could be diluted. It may be important to revise the achievements and policies to bring it all under one easy to manage framework. This would allow the Council to review its actions and be clear about the direction in which it was heading.

It was clarified it was a decision of full Council whether to declare a climate emergency, however if this was is to be the case at any point, it would be important to have the policies set up to back up the declaration.

Details were given to the Sub-Committee of what other Councils had done in this area, what had been recommended by the Climate Change Committee in central Government and what seemed to be practical major areas of activity.

It was agreed that Members of the topic group on climate change would be sought both from the Sub-Committee and from any other non-executive Members who may be interested. The scope of the review would be agreed at the first meeting of the topic group and then brought to the Sub-Committee for approval.