Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment advised Cabinet that the Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel (EAP) continued to gather information and evidence.  This process had included a member and officer workshop session to agree a way forward and the creation of themed groups to look at the specific areas of leadership, transport, buildings and assets, waste and environment and the natural environment. 

The outcome from these group sessions would be feedback to the EAP with a view of bringing a detailed report to Cabinet in the spring.

Other work also continued, including addressing the reduction of vehicle emissions, the importance of keeping vehicles moving in town centres and a recent visit to Sherborne reviewing the damaged caused by vehicle emissions on the school run. 

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Highways, Travel and Environment.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment gave a verbal update on the progress of the Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel (EAP). He advised Cabinet of the launch of a new Climate Emergency page on the Dorset Council Website.  Interested parties could access information on the council’s response since declaring a Climate Emergency at its council meeting in May and other related information.

The Portfolio Holder further advised that the EAP was currently meeting with various organisations to hear their evidence and ideas on how the council could help to reduce the environment impact of its own services, as well as support local communities to do the same.

In a response to a comment from Cllr B Ezzard regarding Town and Parishes, members agreed that it was also important that members looked at their own individual carbon footprint and it was also agreed that all levels of governance needed to address this global issue. 

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Highways, Travel and Environment.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment updated the Cabinet on the work carried out to date.  He confirmed that a group of experience officers and members had been brought together to consider this matter and that Dorset Council took the Climate Change Emergency very seriously. However it was important for officers to gathered all the appropriate information before the panel could consider Dorset Council’s priorities going forward.

The next meeting of the Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel would be receive a presentation from Extinction Rebellion and the meeting dates for the remainder of the year had now been set.

The next meeting of the Advisory Panel was scheduled for 13 September 2019.