To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022.

The Chair requested that Councillor White’s title be corrected to Executive Member for Housing and Development.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022 as a correct record, noting the above amendment.

Report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency

This report provides a summary of Manchester’s Annual Climate Change Report for 2022 which is based on the latest emissions data released by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The Committee considered the report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency that provided a summary of Manchester’s Annual Climate Change Report for 2022. This annual report was based on the latest emissions data released by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         The Annual Report enabled Manchester to track its progress against the carbon reduction targets, carbon budget and zero carbon date of 2038 that were set out in the city’s Climate Change Framework, and its recent 2022 Update;

·         Describing that the city achieved a 12% reduction in emissions in 2020 (the most recent data from BEIS) which, despite being a greater increase than previous years, was still below the original 13% per annum target and was largely driven by reduced activity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns;

·         Providing an estimate of emissions for 2021 which predicted an increase of 6% compared to 2020, driven by an increase in activity as we came out of lockdowns;

·         Providing a high level summary of activity that had been carried out in support of the city’s Framework by Manchester Climate Change Partnership, its Advisory Groups, and Manchester Climate Change Agency in 2022; and

·         Noting that it did not identify new priorities for next year, as in previous Annual Reports, as these had been captured in granular detail in the 2022 Update to the Framework.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Expressing concern that the situation in regard to the city’s carbon budget was worse than anticipated;

·         Noting that was even when the pandemic was taken into consideration;

·         More information was sought on the next steps in response to the report;

·         The need to report measurable milestones and progress against established targets, noting this was important to give residents confidence and keep people motivated;

·         The need for the Council to lead on this agenda and seek to use all its powers of influence and leverage on the issue of carbon reduction, especially in regard to buildings and travel;

·         The need to engage landlords in the Private Rented Sector on the issue of retrofitting;

·         Everyone needed to take immediate actions and responsibility to address climate change;

·         Further information and updates on the work of the Zero Carbon Coordination Group were requested for consideration by the Committee;

·         More information was sought on the approach to Green Growth in the city;

·         The need to promote the Manchester Climate Ready website, noting that this was a very useful resource;

·         A report on indirect emissions should be submitted for consideration by the Committee; and

·         The need for a just transition (A just transition seeks to ensure that the substantial benefits of a green economy transition are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically – be they countries, regions, industries, communities, workers or consumers.)

The Director, Manchester Climate Change Agency supported the call for the Council to use all of its spheres of influence and their duties and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer

This report provides an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan during Quarter 2 2022-23 (July - September 2022).

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer that provided an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) during Quarter 2 2022-23 (July - September 2022).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Noting that a refresh of the CCAP 2020-25 was approved by the Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee and Executive in September 2022;

·         That the refreshed CCAP will be implemented across all workstreams from Quarter 3;

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Highlighting the key messages from the Quarter 2 Progress Report, noting that the Council was making good progress in meeting its target to reduce its direct CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2025; and

·         Key achievements.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Noting the progress reported and thanking all officers involved for their continued commitment on this important work;

·         Noting that emissions associated with business travel had increased and virtual meetings should be prioritised;

·         Further information on the Fallowfield Loop/Manchester Cycleway was requested;

·         An update was requested on the activities of the Zero Carbon Finance and Investment Sub-Group;

·         The need for the Council to lead on this agenda and seek to use all its powers of influence and leverage on the issue of carbon reduction;

·         Despite the reluctance from government to adequately respond to the climate crisis, Manchester and the wider city region were taking action to address climate change;

·         Active travel, including safe pavements to promote walking and that installing bike stands in appropriate places needed to be prioritised;

·         Specific resources should be allocated to deliver active travel in the city; and

·         Good practice and lessons learnt from other cities needed to be shared and consideration given as to how they could be implemented across Manchester.

In response the Committee’s discussion, the Executive Member for Environment and Transport stated that she was in discussions with other Core Cities regarding good practice and lessons learnt and commented that Manchester was regarded as leading on this agenda. She advised that she was committed to the issue of Active Travel and that a report on this was scheduled to be considered by the Committee in January 2023, and this would include information on the findings of the public consultation. She advised that Climate Change was embedded across all Council strategies, such as Public Health. In regard to funding to support Active Travel she advised that in addition to the continued lobbying of government for fair funding, all opportunities for funding were explored across Greater Manchester. The Committee noted that budget related reports were scheduled for consideration. She further advised that Highways was reported to the Economy Scrutiny Committee.

In response to the questions raised regarding the Fallowfield Loop the Executive Member for Environment and Transport advised that all affected ward Members had been consulted and updated, however if Members had specific questions they could contact her directly. She further added that she would pick up the issue raised in relation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

Report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing

This report provides an overview of the draft Manchester Biodiversity Strategy.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing that provided an overview of the draft Manchester Biodiversity Strategy.

The Committee had been invited to comment on the report prior to it being considered by the Executive.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Providing a definition of biodiversity;

·         Describing the benefits of biodiversity;

·         Information on the new Environment Act requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain and Nature Recovery Networks;

·         Providing a narrative on the development of the Biodiversity Strategy; and

·         Describing the aims and objectives of the Biodiversity Strategy, noting that the Council was committed to supporting the new biodiversity strategy.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Welcoming the legal commitment to improve biodiversity on development initiatives by 10%;

·         What monitoring of these developments would be undertaken and would developers be held to account;

·         Did these initiatives have to be delivered on the site or could they be delivered in other locations;

·         Could we ask developers to commit to more than 10%;

·         More needed to be done with partners, such as Transport for Greater Manchester and Metrolink, to ensure the land they owned was managed to support biodiversity and to act as nature corridors;

·         Noting the importance and need for nature corridors to support biodiversity;

·         The need to ‘retrofit’ the city centre, noting the lack of shade from trees and the support these offered to biodiversity;

·         The need to lobby government for appropriate funding to support improvements to biodiversity;

·         Recognising the importance of green spaces for the mental health of all residents; and

·         Noting the positive example of delivering quality green space in the Mayfield development and that this should be used as an exemplar model for developers.

The Planning and Infrastructure Manager advised that ideally the 10% biodiversity improvement would be delivered on the site but recognised that this would not always be practical. He advised that in those circumstances alternative sites would be considered in Manchester, or in Greater Manchester if a site could not be identified in the city. He said that an action plan for the agreed site and project would be agreed and this would be a mechanism to monitor the project. He stated that 10% was the minimum requirement; however, the Local Plan could be used as a mechanism to increase this ask if it was felt to be appropriate.

The Senior Policy Officer stated that the concept of connectivity was understood, adding that every space was part of the wider network and this evidence-based Strategy would inform all decision making. He advised that there were a number of stakeholders who were committed to the Strategy, and this would serve as an important catalyst to improve biodiversity across the city and the wider city region. He further stated that the Strategy would also improve the wider environment and also address social inequalities. He stated that ultimately nature would be the barometer to measure success  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on progress in delivering waste, recycling, and street cleansing services. Describing how the activity contributes to the climate change agenda and key priorities for future.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an update on progress in delivering waste, recycling, and street cleansing services, describing how the activity contributed to the climate change agenda and key priorities for future.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Information on a variety of activities, inducing the waste strategy; recycling contamination rates; food waste, textiles and fly-tipping;

·         Key updates in relation to Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) activity;

·         Key updates in relation to the Waste Collection and Street Cleansing contract;

·         Information in relation to the investment in the Waste Collection and Street Cleansing Services;

·         Information on a range of Waste and Recycling Campaigns and Initiatives, including case studies; and

·         Listing the priorities identified for 2023/24.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Waste and Recycling Centres should be open to all to dispose of waste and to reduce incidents of flytipping;

·         Providing an example of inconsistent messaging provided by staff employed at Household Waste and Recycling Centres;

·         More compliance and enforcement activity was required to address flytipping and influence behaviour change;

·         Communication between officers within the compliance team with both residents and Members needed to be improved;

·         More information was sought in regard to the investment in alleyways;

·         More information was sought as to where the 200 new litter bins would be situated;

·         The call for attention to those areas that were not designated as formal district centres but were well used in neighbourhoods;

·         How many full time contract monitoring officers were employed:

·         Questioning the compliance rate figures provided in relation to contract monitoring;

·         Recognising the significant contribution local volunteers played in keeping the city tidy and thanking the Keep Manchester Tidy team for their continued support;   

·         Had consideration been given to underground waste storage;

·         The need to ensure cycle lanes were cleaned regularly to ensure they were safe for all users; and

·         More needed to be done to address the issues related to commercial waste, particularly that experienced in the city centre.

The Strategic Lead, Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing noted the issues reported by the Member following his recent experience when attending a Household Waste and Recycling Centre. She stated that she would raise the issue with SUEZ. She stated that it was important to reiterate that these centres were for household waste only and businesses were required to have their own waste management arrangements. In response to the comments raised in relation to compliance and enforcement activity she stated that she would relay the comments from the Committee back to the relevant strategic lead with responsibility for this activity, adding that enforcement and compliance activity was reported to the Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee. She added that both services did work closely together and added that prosecutions for flytipping were publicised.

In response to the point raised regarding underground waste storage, the Strategic Lead, Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing advised that consideration had been given to this however  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This is a monthly report, which includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and any items for information.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

As stated during consideration of the previous agenda items the Chair advised that she would meet with the Executive Member for Environment and Transport to discuss and agree the scope of reports to schedule into the Committee’s Work Programme to pick up on the themes discussed during the meeting.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.