Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment.

Decision

That the DRAFT Dorset Council climate and ecological emergency strategy be approved for consultation with the public following the development of a costed delivery plan. 

Reason for Decision

Dorset Council have declared a climate & ecological emergency and established a councillor led Executive Advisory Panel (EAP) responsible for gathering information and working with officers to make recommendations to Dorset Council’s Cabinet on actions that will help mitigate against climate change.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment reminded Cabinet that in May 2019 Dorset Council declared a climate & ecological emergency. The Council established a councillor led Executive Advisory Panel (EAP) responsible for gathering information and working with officers to make recommendations to Dorset Council’s Cabinet on actions that would help mitigate against climate change.

The EAP has overseen the development of a draft Dorset Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy ready for consultation with the public. The strategy was attached as Appendix A to the report a detailed costed delivery plan was also being developed. This would be brought to Cabinet in October 2020 prior to it going out to public consultation. 

The strategy highlighted the importance of engaging with the wider public and key stakeholders and as part of the strategy development views had been sought from the public through a ‘call for ideas’. This received over 780 responses and 32 organisations or individuals where invited to present at one of two inquiry days sessions held by the Council.

In addition, young people were invited to share their views and a specific event was held for town and parish councils. The key themes identified through this engagement had been fed into the strategy and the more detailed responses would be further considered in the development of the delivery plan. 

The Portfolio Holder took the opportunity to advise members of the work already being carried out, including highways space that had been put into cut and collate management. The land that had been brought into ecological improvement and park & recreational use. He also referred to the work of the Local Low Carbon project.

Public Consultation on the draft strategy and delivery plan would take place  later this year.  The final strategy and costed delivery plan would take account of the views of the public and interested parties and would be presented for consideration by members early next year.

Cabinet was informed that Place Scrutiny Committee had considered and supported the report at its meeting on  23 July 2020.(an extract minute from that meeting was circulated to members as a supplement to the agenda). In proposing the recommendation the Portfolio Holder also  took the opportunity to thank officers and the EAP for their hard work in producing the draft strategy. 

The Place Scrutiny Chairman agreed that this was an excellent strategy document and technical papers, but a delivery plan was now urgently required to move the strategy forward. In response to questions the Portfolio Holder confirmed that Place Scrutiny members would be invited to attend the EAP meeting to be part of the formation of the consultative document.

Members welcomed the strategy and supported the recommendations.

Decision

That the DRAFT Dorset Council climate and ecological emergency strategy be approved for consultation with the public following the development of a costed delivery plan. 

Reason for Decision

Dorset Council have declared a climate & ecological emergency and established a councillor led Executive Advisory Panel (EAP) responsible for gathering information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182