Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosureofinterests

 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared: -

 

Councillor P K Jones – personal – Minute No 12 – Member of Swansea Friends of the Earth and Trustee of Swansea Environment Centre.

 

Councillor M Sherwood – personal – Minute No 12 – Employee of Gower Power, which owns a solar farm.

 

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Equalities & Future Generations Policy Development Committee held on 24 September 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

The Chair noted that the amended Consultation & Engagement Strategy 2020-23 had now been received and would be circulated to the Committee and a further update on the key milestones of the Co-production Strategic Framework would be scheduled in due course.

The Director of Place and The Cabinet member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation / Joint Interim Deputy Leader were present for consideration of ‘Climate Emergency Action and the Climate Charter’.

 

The Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation / Joint Interim Deputy Leader provided a brief overview of the current position and noted that this was a whole Council issue. She noted that there was no additional funding being provided, but there was a key drive to make progress. Communication would be important, in clearly setting out what would be possible and what would be bound by legislation or other barriers.

 

She thanked the Director of Place for the considerable work done on the Carbon Emission Strategy.

 

The Director of Place provided a presentation on ‘Climate Emergency’ which included:-

 

·            Content

·            Notice of Motion

·            Climate Change Charter

·            Charter – Comments Received to Date

·            Scope and base line assessment

·            Consultation and Engagement

·            Swansea Environmental Forum

·            Policy Context

·            Other Emergency Actions or Opportunities

·            Comments / Questions?

 

Questions and discussions focussed on: -

 

·            Developing policy in line with the Notice of Motion

·            Charter was designed to be a Statement of Intent that the Council and other organisations could sign up to – generic but the specifics would then link into individual action plans

·            Comments / suggested amendments received on the Charter

·            Expansion / greater generalisation on some wording to have a wider appeal  - i.e. amend reference to engagement with schools to children and young people

·            Further amendments to be considered and researched as part of the action plan, i.e. on reduction of consumption of meat and fish

·            Inclusion in the Charter of reference to calling upon UK and Welsh Government to provide necessary powers and resources  

·            Consideration of the Scope – being mindful on unintended consequences and challenge and control on a wider scope

·            Welsh Government had indicated that it was looking to provide guidance on scope and base line assessment

·            Example of previous positive actions – reduction of Carbon emissions

·            Possible positive impacts of solar farm and Swansea Bay tidal lagoon

·            Action Plan – outlining and separating quick wins and medium / longer term strategy

·            Learning from good practice shown by other organisations

·            Difficulties in measuring progress and effect

·            Engagement – use of the Swansea Environmental Forum, Market type events and Stakeholder Forums. 

·            Link with Biodiversity Working Group

·            Effective communication  - ensure that everyone is aware of what was being done already and what was possible

·            Policy Map – to identify overlaps / gaps and any competing interests / policies

·            Possibility and securing of grant funding

 

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers for attending and their work on this matter.

 

The Cabinet Member thanked the Committee and public in attendance.

 

Resolved that the Director of Place would amend the Charter with the Committee’s approved amendments and provide an update at the Committee Meeting scheduled for 17 December 2019.

The Chair provided a brief update on the Strategic Equality Plan Working Group. Those members who had expressed an interest had met with Richard Rowlands, Strategic Delivery & Performance Manager, to discuss objectives. These would be circulated to the Committee.

 

Resolved that the amended objectives of the Strategic Equality Plan Working Group be circulated to the Committee.

The Chair presented the Workplan 2019/20 and highlighted that the next meeting was scheduled to look at the Gender Pay Gap and Workforce Diversity. An update on the Climate Emergency Actions and Climate Charter would be added to the WorkPlan for December.

 

Resolved that the Workplan as amended be noted.