Minutes of the Decarbonisation and Environment Committee Meeting held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday 15 August 2023 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:

East Ward:

Councillor J Craigie (Chairman)
Councillor J McKenzie

North Ward:

Councillor K Bines

West Ward

Councillor A Inch

IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr P Swan (Town Clerk)

1.   ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Councillor J Craigie was proposed by Councillor J McKenzie and seconded Councillor A Inch.

RESOLVED: That Councillor J Craigie is appointed as Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.

(Vote: For: 4, Against:0)

(Councillor J Craigie assumed the Chair and thanked the Members for their vote.)

2.   ELECTION OF A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

Councillor A Inch was proposed by Councillor J McKenzie and seconded by Councillor Craigie.

RESOLVED: That Councillor A Inch is appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.

(Vote: For: 4, Against: 0)

3.   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors J Gubb (East Ward, Personal); M Taylor (West Ward, Work Commitment).

4.   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no Declarations of Interest.

5.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

No members of the public present.

6.   MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 February 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 2, Against: 0, Abstention: 2)

7.   TO SUBMIT IDEAS VIA PROJECT INITIATION FORMS FOR NEXT MEETING

a.   Blank Forms issued

Councillor K Bines expressed interest in what projects have been undertaken thus far by the committee.
Councillor J Craigie explained various project that had been achieved including PV panels on the Pannier Market / Tree Planting / Writing to pension funds to request investment into green shares.
Councillor J Craigie explained that with only 2% of the council budget being assigned to decarbonisation that achieving projects on a large scale was challenging.
Councillor J Craigie also informed that the total CO2 emissions from the whole parish was 120 thousand tonnes per year.
Councillor A Inch requested that CO2 impact be added to the project initiation form.

8.   TO RE-ESTABLISH WORKING GROUPS TO DEVELOP IDEAS TO BRING TO THE COMMITTEE

It was decided to re-establish just one of the former working groups:-

• Nature and Bio diversity

Councillor J McKenzie requested that a TDC officer should join the committee to avoid duplication and embrace synergies.

9.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING TO BE 13TH SEPTEMBER 2023

The Chairman thanked the Members for their attendance and support. He concluded the Meeting at 07:01 pm.